In her excellent book Polish Your Fiction, Jessica Bell covers 10 strategies for ensuring your fiction work is ready to capture an editor’s interest. This checklist is just as important for non-fiction writers, especially if you include ‘names-have-been-changed’ examples!

You must catch most editors with the first sentence. Bell suggests you:

  • …”introduce a conflict that has the potential to spark reader’s interest.”
  • Hint at genre. In non-fiction, you might hint at the topic.
  • Keep it short, yet long enough to “conjure vivid imagery and intrigue.”
  • Relate it to the plot of your story (or the theme of your non-fiction piece).

Example: Weak First Line Hook

My mother showed me a the boxes of manuscripts her mother had given her.

Example: Strong First Line Hook

“What do I do with them?” My mother opened a closet full of boxes–titles taped to each.

Even though punctuation rules require me to use two sentences in the second version, it’s worth it.

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