Comments on: How to Polish Your First 5 Pages for Agents https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/ A Blog On Writing Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:17:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 By: Sandy O https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173298 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:17:06 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173298 This article is really helpful, with practical tips for editing fiction.
Thanks

]]> By: Jennifer Windrow https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173293 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:51:48 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173293 In reply to Jerold Tabbott.

It sounds like you’ve got a solid foundation for creating a strong opening. And yay for seeing that you’ve hit all the points in this point through side by side comparison!! That’s fantastic!

]]> By: Jerold Tabbott https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173292 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 01:24:36 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173292 Jenn – Nice, clear, organized article. Honestly, these are only five pages combined. The rest are longer, but I assure you there's a method to my madness.

I pulled up my first three chapters alongside your piece for re-evaluation, and was pleased to see I've pretty completely covered all your points. One reason is that I've continually picked at my story openings throughout the writing process. Another is that I've benefited from being member in several local critique groups, so quite a few have had a shot picking at it.

And, I swear by PWA. To preserve the sanctity of my marriage, I keep my wife's Chicago style book by my desk and run my work through PWA about three times before I ever hand it to her. She's a professional editor and certifiable grammar Nazi, and we both remember the sea of red ink which bled all over my first novel's (clearly not final) draft.

After extensive editing and three beta reads, I began querying my second novel, but it'll be an uphill battle, if for no other reason because of length. It's about 149,000 words–theoretically okay for a second novel in a sci-fi series (since these have more world-building than most other genres), but not so okay for an unknown author. I love reading complex stories with lots of characters and moving parts, so that's what I tend to write.

]]> By: Jenny Hansen https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173290 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:08:22 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173290 In reply to Jennifer Windrow.

You're the sweetest!

]]> By: Jennifer Windrow https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173284 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:15:24 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173284 In reply to Colin Guest.

Rewriting is the best way to make sure it all makes sense in the end!

]]> By: Jennifer Windrow https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173283 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:14:50 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173283 In reply to Jenny Hansen.

You know you’re welcome to send me anything at anytime!! And I’ll admit, I go back to opening quite a few times as I’m writing to add things I’ve discovered while writing!!

]]> By: Jennifer Windrow https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173282 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:13:43 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173282 In reply to N. Christine Samuelson.

I’m so happy to hear that! And I’m glad you found it useful.

]]> By: Jenny Hansen https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173280 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:17:29 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173280 In reply to Lynette M Burrows.

Really great advice, Lynette!

]]> By: Jenny Hansen https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173279 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:17:06 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173279 (Note: I just approved a comment for you.)

My biggest challenge? I have to re-write the first five pages several times at the end because I didn't really know where I was going at the beginning. It's like writing the synopsis AFTER the book is done. And then, after I've done it the first few times, I can't see the forest for the trees.

I need people like you to go over it and steer me correctly!

]]> By: N. Christine Samuelson https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-polish-your-first-5-pages-for-agents/#comment-173278 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:57:17 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55496#comment-173278 Excellent advice and knowledge - thanks so much, Jennifer, for sharing this with us! - One of the best and most concise pieces I've read on this subject!

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