What can a First Page Read do for you?
I attended a First Page Read for the first time about ten years ago and it was the single best thing I had done for my writing up to that point. It went something like this…
I submitted my page to the pile of anonymous entries and sat not-entirely-patiently while the panel read aloud and critiqued the work of other attendees. I worried they wouldn’t get to mine. While listening to other submissions, I began to recognize certain elements the agents consistently liked or disliked, and began making predictions about what they might say about a given page.
Then it was my turn. At first I was relieved–they enjoyed the writing itself. The bad news was that there were larger, structural issues: I hadn’t given them enough to be invested in the character or story. Some of them had latched on and were willing to read further, but the others said they’d give it a pass.
I found myself, at first, mentally defending the work and my choices. “But wait!” I wanted to explain, “you’ll find out about XYZ in chapter two!” I didn’t know whether or not to be encouraged, especially since what I’d turned in was the best writing I could do.
Their words sunk in on my drive home, once I’d gotten over the initial injury to my pride. The feedback changed not just how I viewed that specific project but my writing in general.
What I learned:
1.) If I felt the urge to say, “But wait! Let me explain!” then I hadn’t done my job. It needed to be there on the page.
2.) My first words had to make my readers care, or at least be curious, about the characters and story. I was going to have to figure out a way to arrange the words on the page, to introduce my characters and elements of the story, in a way that would entice my audience to read more.
2.) Sometimes agents disagree; what works for one might not work for another.
3.) Even my best writing could improve, and it was going to have to.
I’ve been to other First Page Reads since then, and I’ve learned to apply feedback to my work even if they don’t get to my page. I hope that you’ll have a similar experience in our Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night First Page Reads during Agent Fest Online 2024. Read the guidelines and consider submitting your first page!
Please note that at Agent Fest Online 2024 we do NOT record the First Page Reads in order to protect your intellectual property. If you submit a First Page, it may or may not be drawn at random to be read and discussed during one of the First Page Read sessions.
