The hardest page to write

Every writer knows the terrifying demands of the first page. Blank screen. Flashing cursor. Coffee going cold. You know this page will decide whether a stranger leans in or clicks away, whether they keep reading or quietly return your book to the shelf.

First and last pages are the hardest to write, but at least the last one has leverage. If your story delivers, readers will forgive the odd stumble. They’ll cheer for your protagonist, stay with you through detours, and close the book feeling satisfied.

But the first page? That’s a different beast. It’s a ‘take it or leave it’ moment. The door slightly ajar makes someone wonder whether to step inside. And here’s the tricky part: a ‘welcome mat’ won’t do. You need something more, something magnetic enough to pull readers across the threshold.

The good news? You don’t have to get it perfect. You just have to get it curious.

The narrative hook: your reader’s first taste of magic

Think of the opening line as the scent drifting out of an open kitchen – a hint of what’s to come. It doesn’t give away the recipe, but tempts you to take a seat at the table.

A strong narrative hook does exactly that. It spikes curiosity, hints at tension, and makes readers ask questions they can’t yet answer. It might start with action, thought, or contradiction. What matters is that it’s irresistible.

Consider Anna Mazzola’s House of Whispers:

‘I dreamt again of the burning. The first one, when I was seven years old, the sky above Piazza Oberdan stained blood-red, the flames hissing, the men in black shirts dancing and shouting.’

Or Donna Tartt’s The Little Friend:

‘For the rest of her life, Charlotte Cleve would blame herself for her son’s death, because she had decided to have the Mother’s Day dinner at six in the evening instead of noon, after church, which is when the Cleves usually had it.’

Each one raises instant questions: What happened? Why? Can this ever be undone? That’s narrative gravity.

This is why you shouldn’t open with the weather or your protagonist yawning in bed. Those things don’t invite curiosity but boredom. Instead, use your first lines to disturb the still water. Let readers sense a ripple before they even know what caused it.

The story promise: a contract of trust

Your first page isn’t just a hook; it’s a handshake. It tells readers what kind of story they’ve entered, what emotional landscape they’re stepping into, and what kind of payoff to expect.

This is your story promise,a quiet understanding between writer and reader that says, You’re safe with me; I know where we’re going.

Break that promise, and your readers will feel betrayed (and probably mention it in their reviews). Fulfil it, and they’ll trust you completely, even when you twist the road.

If you promise a tale of redemption, don’t switch it to nihilism halfway through. If you open with gothic suspense, don’t end with rom-com quirk. Give readers a map and lead them somewhere they never expected, but always wanted to go.

Rein in the backstory: mystery over explanations

There’s an unspoken rule for openings: no backstory is good backstory. At least, not yet. Your reader doesn’t need to know what your character ate three years ago or which school they attended. They need to feel the pulse of ‘now’ – the desire (goal), tension (obstacles), and momentum that will carry them into the story.

Tease that there’s more beneath the surface, but don’t excavate it all at once. Gaps in the narrative create curiosity. Curiosity keeps pages turning.

The universal magic of beginnings

The best thing of all is that the first-page magic isn’t only for novels. The same energy that pulls a reader into fiction can transform anything you write: a blog post, newsletter, or article. Whenever you write an opening, you’re offering an invitation: Come closer. Let me show you something worth your time.

That’s the real work of an opening page. Not perfection, but pull.

The first page isn’t a picture-perfect postcard. It’s a misty road leading to a mysterious house.
You don’t know what waits inside, but you certainly want to know. And that’s what your reader wants too.

Curious how your opening holds up?

If your first page feels flat or uncertain, it might not be the writing but the promise underneath.
That’s something we can untangle together.

Book your Opening Pages Review.

Get tailored feedback on your first 300 words and make your story’s beginning irresistible.