Grand Openings: The All-Important First Page

A strong opening page is vital to attracting the attention of an agent weeding through her slush pile, an editor seeking the next big project, and a reader looking for a good read in the bookstore. Why do some opening pages capture our attention, evoke curiosity, make us want to step into the book’s world, or invite us to sympathize with the protagonist?

In this workshop we do a deep dive into the opening pages of a range of well-known and award-winning books to discover some of the techniques authors use to create compelling, dynamic, engaging openings. We examine books from a variety of genres including historical fiction, nonfiction, memoir, contemporary literature, mystery, and young adult: The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead), The Diamond Eye (Kate Quinn), The Library Book (Susan Orleans), Beloved (Toni Morrison), Lab Girl (Hope Jahren), The Tenderness of Wolves (Stef Penney), Out of the Pocket (Bill Konigsberg), and What I Saw and How I Lied (Judy Blundell).

This intense focus on the first page (no more and no less) of a variety of books enables participants to identify specific techniques that they can then use to strengthen and shape the first pages in their work-in-progress.

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Details: Grand Openings: The All-Important First Page with Karen Odden takes place Saturday, March 22 from 1:30-3:30pm remotely online via Zoom.

‍Prerequisite: An emerging level fiction workshop

‍Genre: Fiction

‍Level: Intermediate

‍Format: Craft Talk

‍Location: This class takes place remotely online via Zoom.

‍Size: Limited to 25 participants

‍Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by December 16.

‍Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.

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