Hello, writers!
We often judge entire books by their openings, which is probably why so many writers are under pressure to get their opening pages just right. Often, we think of the opening through the reader’s point of view. Whether it’s an agent deciding to read further or an imagined reader picking your book off a shelf, the opening’s importance is somewhere far off in the distance and not necessarily tied to the writing process.
But novel openings are actually crucial to the writing process because they set the stage for the rest of the book. A good opening will propel you through to the end, while an opening not doing the work it’s supposed to will leave you floundering. Put simply, an opening can mean the difference between finishing the novel or not.
That’s why we’re excited to be offering the class “Starting Your Novel: How to Create an Opening in Dialogue with Your Ending” with John Pipkin on Saturday, October 1st. If you’re having a difficult time getting started or have hit a road block along the way, this class is for you. And if you’re hoping to take your novel writing even further, don’t forget to check out “The Novelist’s Toolkit” Class Package or access to four novel writing classes and an exclusive meet-up.
All the best,
Sam Babiak
Program Director
