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Seeking reader feedback on first 10 pages
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Hi Maron,I understand where you're coming from with not wanting to give away details of the book that may take away from the pull of the opening pages. It is true that if a reader isn't interested within the first 10 pages, you may lose them as book purchasers.
However, because any real-world reader will choose your book to sample or buy based on the book's description, it is helpful if anyone reviewing the first 10 pages is also clued into what the book is about. Also, you want to be careful that the description you're presenting to the reader is in line with what they're getting with the first 10 pages.
All that said, I'd be more than happy to lend you my opinion of your opening pages. If you'd also like to give me the book description, that would make my job as a reviewer all the more easy, but I will respect your wishes if you are adamant about keeping that to yourself and will read your piece all the same.
- A.M.
A.M., thanks for your willingness to provide feedback. I don't mind providing a brief description of the book if that would help. If you're interested in reading the first ten pages based on the description below, please send me your email address (mine is maronanrow@gmail.com) and I'll send the pages. (However, I'm at the airport about to leave on a trip, so I won't be able to send the pages immediately.) If you don't want to read it after seeing the description, no worries. Thanks for your time!The novel is a portrait of close relationships--familial, romantic, and platonic--set against the backdrop of a deadly epidemic. An apathetic youth, a sexually loose pharmacist, and a codependent couple each struggle to balance their fears and desires as an insidious illness threatens the end of everything.
Back cover synopsis, first para and first page are the deal-makers. Possibly you could insert a "turning-point" or fantastic para as the opening para, something which hooks the reader into the story and makes him/ her want to continue, but the next para goes into flashback or fast forward, so he/ she is tempted to buy instead of saying bye... e.g. Will she? Won't she? Heads or tails? Buy or bye? Will she buy me or choose that overdeveloped gorilla?
I am a freelance editor and reviewer and my Email ID is ashok_lr@yahoo.co.in.
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I reside in Chennai, India. The last book I edited is for the Indian bestselling author Ashwin Sanghi, co-author of Private India with James Patterson.
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Maron -Sounds like an interesting read. I'm happy to help you further. I will email you directly so that you can send those opening pages whenever you're able.
- A.M.
If you're interested in reading the first 10 pages (approx. 4,000 words), please reply here or send me a private message. I don't need extensive feedback. I'm just hoping to get a few people's opinion on whether the first few pages captured their interest and made them want to keep reading, or if the beginning still needs work.
The novel is a character-driven story with an element of suspense. I don't want to reveal too much about the plot because I'd like to know if the first few pages are interesting in their own right (without the reader knowing anything else about the book).
Thanks for your time!