✨ Writing an Opening Chapter That Ticks All the Boxes ✨

A masterclass in first chapters, and much more ✨

Is your opening chapter doing the heavy lifting it needs to?

On The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast this week, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe interview a 30-year veteran of the publishing industry and an internationally bestselling author to discuss query advice from a publicity and marketing perspective, how to include enough of a hook in a query without spoiling the story, dealing with negative reviews, and much more. Check out the latest episode below!

In this episode’s Books with Hooks section, Carly and CeCe speak with Kathleen Schmidt, a 30-year veteran of the publishing industry. As they critique three submissions, they discuss:

• social media marketing

• how to include enough of a hook in a query without spoiling the story

• burying the lead

• making it obvious how an author wants readers to feel about certain things

• longer query letter word counts

• personifying the antagonist

• query advice from a publicity and marketing perspective

• polished pages on a scene level

• character personality and plot point clarity

• how to show an imbalance of power in opening pages

• writing a query letter based on the synopsis (and why this doesn’t work)

• the difference between explaining a book and pitching it

• the importance of time stamps

• ensuring we know enough about the character on the first pages so there’s no confusion

Bianca interviews Hannah Mary McKinnon, the author of The Christmas Wager (writing as Holly Cassidy). They discuss:

• Hannah’s use of a pen name

• the first chapter of The Christmas Wager as a master class in first chapters

• the difference between writing a thriller first chapter and a romance first chapter

• tips for balancing disposition and dialogue

• setting up the stakes for the protagonist

• how to approach back story in opening pages

• how Hannah approaches negative reviews about her novels

You can find Kathleen Schmidt on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Kathleen also publishes the newsletter

Publishing Confidential

which we recommend ☺️

Hannah Mary McKinnon can be found on Instagram and at her website.

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🤔 Got a burning question? Need help with finding a comp title? 🤔

If you have a question about writing or publishing or would like a comp title recommendation, you can use the link below to ask us. You have one minute to leave us a voice recording which will be aired on the podcast if your question gets selected. If you’re requesting comp titles, please give as much information as possible, including tone of the work, intended audience, genre, etc.

You can submit your voice message here.

Heads up: if you’d like your question answered in the October Bonus Episode, please ensure we have it by October 18 ☺️

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We hope your writing has been going well this week and that you get some time to snuggle up with a book this weekend 📚

Until next week, happy scribbling!

❤️ The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Team

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