First 15 Pages Critique
Is your opening line doing its job?
Is your first page doing its job?
What about your first chapter?
While every word in your manuscript matters, the opening lines and pages have extra work to do. They have to convince the reader who just picked up your book to keep reading.
A reader is most critical of your work on the opening pages when they’re not yet emotionally invested in your story and are wondering if their precious time will be well spent on this book in their hands.
Your first line and first page need to grab the reader and make them want to know more.
Is your opening doing its job?
Sometimes clunky writing gets in the way of the emotional connection a reader is starting to make with your character and story.
Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
Scroll down to see my rates.
This First Pages Critique is my favorite way to help authors identify blind spots in their manuscripts and offer ways to address them throughout.
It’s possible to tell a lot about a manuscript based on the opening pages. This critique service, with a quick turnaround, could be just what you need to strengthen your story without a hefty price tag.
While a critique of the first twenty-five pages can never replace a full manuscript critique or developmental edit, it can point out weak spots that might keep a reader from continuing. It can also turn up foundational problems that will affect the rest of the manuscript.
When you learn how to spot (and fix) weak areas in the opening pages, chances are good you’ll be able to find and fix similar trouble throughout the remainder of the manuscript.
This critique will consider potential problem areas such as:
impact of the first line
effectiveness of the opening scene
scene vs. summary
showing vs. telling
character development
pacing
world building without info dumping
narrative drive
POV
mood/tone
theme
and more
Delia
“The things Tiffiny caught in my opening pages were spot on. I can’t believe I missed them myself. I was particularly concerned about the pacing and my characters’ names. Tiffiny’s feedback on my opening pages set my manuscript on a better path.”
Tonia
“Tiffiny helped me unscrambled a very intimate story. I had worked so closely with the narrative that I could not see the forest for the trees. Her analysis pointed out areas that might send readers in a wrong direction or worse, confuse them and impede my message. I was able to take her comments & edits and continue to move the story forward to clarify my intentions. I am very grateful for her assistance.”
What’s NOT included:
proofreading/copy-editing
style sheet
book map
follow-up call
What’s included:
two reads of your first 15 pages
some in-line comments
editorial letter
follow-up via email
Your investment:
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$98
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$100