Pretty self-explanatory of this article. A good handful of agents were surveyed by Writer’s Digest and asked what they hate to receive in queries and submissions. Their answers?
Some of them are obvious, sure, like:
“I hate it when a book begins with an adventure that turns out to be a dream at the end of the chapter.”
—Mollie Glick, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
—Mollie Glick, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
But some might be helpful when going back to revise that crucial opening chapter:
“I don’t really like ‘first day of school’ beginnings, ‘from the beginning of time,’ or ‘once upon a time.’ Specifically, I dislike a Chapter 1 in which nothing happens.”
—Jessica Regel, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
—Jessica Regel, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
“Avoid any description of the weather.”
—Denise Marcil, Denise Marcil Literary Agency
—Denise Marcil, Denise Marcil Literary Agency
“I don’t want to read about anyone sleeping, dreaming, waking up or staring at anything.”
—Ellen Pepus, Ellen Pepus Literary Agency
—Ellen Pepus, Ellen Pepus Literary Agency
Check through the rest and see if you fall into any of those traps. Of course, agents are subjective just like anyone else in this business, so there will always be exceptions to the rule, but most of these suggestions are pretty good ways to improve the materials you send across their desk/through their inbox.
Hope this helps.
I see that smile.
Thanks for that glimpse into the mind of an agent. It’s always good to know what not to do, and some of their answers made me chuckle. Gosh, I guess I better toss out that hot guy who sneaks into the willowy blond’s bedroom so he ponder his life before Chapter 1.
Of course, if some guy woke up in the middle of the night to find a woman sneaking into their bedroom, unfortunately the reaction might be a little different. That might make for an interesting cliched-opening switchup for Chapter 1.