What stops an agent from wanting to read more of your story?
One of the most popular events each year at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference is a workshop called SIWC Idol. Think American Idol except for writers. Anybody who’s brave enough can submit the first page of their manuscript to be read in front of a panel of judges—four literary agents.
Author Jack Whyte, in his deep and resonant voice, reads a random selection of first pages in front of the 200 or so writers. He reads until at least two of the agents raise their hand indicating this is where they’d stop reading if they were reading the submission in their office. The agents then explain why they stopped where they did.
I was lucky enough to be one of the few submissions where a hand wasn’t raised. But what exactly stops an agent from wanting to read further?
- Too much description up front that’s not interwoven into the action and dialogue. A long paragraph of description. Read more
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