Agents and First Chapters

Posted by Rita Lorraine
Categories Writing Tips
Date December 11, 2009
Comments 2 comments

Hi All,

Just stopping by to share a wonderful article I found by writer Livia Blackburne, who recently attended the Writer Idol Event at the Boston Book Fest.

Ms. Blackburne outlines the seven major reasons Literary Agents STOP READING first chapters, and the most surprising thing about this article is that none of the reasons are very surprising.

Do yourself a favor and read this article. It will help you re-think your writing, and perhaps even get it back on track.

Here’s the link: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/7+Reasons+Agents+Stop+Reading+Your+First+Chapter.aspx

Best wishes and happy reading!

Rita Lorraine

Hello Everyone! I am a former special education teacher, and am currently a full-time children's writer, book blogger and freelance editor. My newest picture book,
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read (Random House) debuted as the No. 1 Picture Book in Women's Biographies and Children's American History. It has since won the 2022 Texas Bluebonnet Award, the 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite, and the 2022 Rhode Island Children's Book Award. It has received STARRED REVIEWS from Kirkus, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly and School Library Journal, and received a great review by The Wall Street Journal. My first picture book, Hammering for Freedom: The William Lewis Story (Lee and Low) debuted on September 24, 2018. It is a School Library Journal selection and received positive Kirkus and Horn Book reviews. I penned African Americans of Chattanooga: A History of Unsung Heroes, and I earned the 2014 SCBWI Letter of Merit for an unpublished multicultural novel. I am the author of several educational books for teens, and I occasionally review books for The New York Journal of Books. Thanks for visiting!