I critiqued 78 first chapters in 30 days

I critiqued 78 first chapters last month, and I saw the same mistakes over and over. 🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: https://writingwoods.com Today, we're covering the most common issues in the opening pages and how to fix them. Write stronger story openings, make readers care, and hook agents in the first ten pages. ⏱️ TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:27 - Drafting vs revision mindset 01:20 - Conflict 04:09 - Why is the reader reading? 05:38 - Grounding the reader 07:31 - Organic exposition 08:56 - Prologues 13:19 - Focused pages 14:45 - Stronger first chapters 🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple 📚 BOOK EDITING Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com 📌 FOLLOW ME Instagram →   / vgriffinauthor   Facebook →   / vgriffinauthor   ⸻ #WritingTips #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingTips #WritingAdvice #StorytellingTips #NovelWriting #CreativeWriting #WritingCraft #WritingWoods

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You’ll stop writing into the void (with one change)
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You’ll stop writing into the void (with one change)

You'll master your writing genre (counterintuitive approach)
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You'll master your writing genre (counterintuitive approach)

The fastest way to lose a reader
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The fastest way to lose a reader

First book? Ignore my writing advice
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First book? Ignore my writing advice

Surprising things that happened when I stopped spending money
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Surprising things that happened when I stopped spending money

The real reason writing communities drain introverts
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The real reason writing communities drain introverts

This has totally changed my understanding of Lord of the Rings
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This has totally changed my understanding of Lord of the Rings

The 3-Act Structure is Killing Your Novel
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The 3-Act Structure is Killing Your Novel

You'll win at writing
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You'll win at writing

Your Book Could Get You Sued (And Most Authors Don't Know Why)
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Your Book Could Get You Sued (And Most Authors Don't Know Why)

You'll write 3x as fast with this one change
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You'll write 3x as fast with this one change

Why readers don't care (and the incredibly simple fix)
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Why readers don't care (and the incredibly simple fix)

The Reading Crisis: Are Bookish People Part of the Problem?
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The Reading Crisis: Are Bookish People Part of the Problem?

Before you skip your writing session, let’s chat
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Before you skip your writing session, let’s chat

The Anti-Life or How Capitalism Will Die (with Math)
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The Anti-Life or How Capitalism Will Die (with Math)

Booker Prize Winner Gives His Best Writing Advice (Yann Martel Interview)
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Booker Prize Winner Gives His Best Writing Advice (Yann Martel Interview)

If A Writer Makes This Mistake The Story Is Over - Steve Douglas-Craig
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If A Writer Makes This Mistake The Story Is Over - Steve Douglas-Craig

8 Writers and Books I Find Extremely Difficult to Read
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8 Writers and Books I Find Extremely Difficult to Read

Western books that capture the RDR2 vibe
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Western books that capture the RDR2 vibe

You want to be a writer, but you don't want to write.
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You want to be a writer, but you don't want to write.