Your Opening Pages MUST do this episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 4, 2026 · 1H 4M

Your Opening Pages MUST do this

from Story Nerd · host Valerie Francis, Melanie Hill, Kathleen Foxx

Kathleen and I run the gamut of opening pages advice in this episode. We discuss the pros and cons of time travel stories (why we love them and why they're so prone to plot holes), setting up reader expectations, writing working scenes, genre identification, and the one thing your opening pages MUST do if you're to hook your reader. This is a jam-packed episode that you'll want to bookmark and keep. Enjoy! -V.   The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 4, 2026

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Your Opening Pages MUST do this

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This episode was published on September 4, 2026.

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