SPRING AND FICTION

In my part of the country, the arrival of the first crocus is cause for celebration: spring is right around the corner. If that first blossom doesn’t bring a smile to your face, then you don’t live in a climate beset by four months of frigid temperatures and habitual snowfall. I’m not complaining about winter in Colorado – I love the changing seasons – but the season of rebirth trumps them all. The crocus gives way to daffodils and tulips, and the flowering of apple and pear trees is not far behind.

The first five pages of a good work of fiction are like the sprouting of the first crocus; you know you’re in for something special if the author does his job. In five pages, your readers will know whether or not they like your style of writing; sounds simple, but I’ve given up on any number of books because I wasn’t taken by the author’s use of words.

In five pages, a good writer has set the hook. No, the reader might not know exactly where your story is going, but he or she is captivated enough to move beyond those opening pages with a certain amount of enthusiasm.

With the arrival of the crocus and it’s hardy, delicate bloom, the changing of the season is a given. Sure, a late snow or two might still rock the ship a bit, but your mind is all spring: you’re planning your garden, thinking about the hikes you’ll take, and throwing your tennis racquet into the back of the car.

As a writer, when you hit a homerun with your first five pages, you’ve set the hook. Your readers are all in: they’re already thinking about when they can sneak in a couple of more pages during the day; they’re already anticipating their bedtime read. You’ve got them. And that’s a great feeling, both for the writer and the reader.

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