Seven Tips for Crafting Beginnings That Hook Young Readers

Today we have Dr. Mira Resiburg. She is doing a wee dive into crafting beginnings that hook young readers from the very start. The first few pages of your book are like a magical gateway to the adventure inside, so let’s explore seven tips to make those beginnings truly enchanting.

1. Create Immediate Curiosity: Begin your story with a question, a mystery, a goal, a problem, or an unexpected scenario. This piques the curiosity of young readers and makes them eager to discover what happens next. For example, your character’s typically ordinary day may suddenly be very extraordinary! Readers will want to find out “why” and flip the page to learn what happens next.

2. Introduce Relatable Characters: Your main character should be introduced early on in a fun or meaningful and memorable way. Kids love characters they can connect with, so give them someone whose experiences resonate with their own.

3. Dive into Action: Children are drawn to action and excitement. Start with an event or activity that propels the story forward. It could be a race, an adventure, or a surprising discovery that sets the tone of the book and captivates readers from the beginning. Or it could be a big emotion. (See #5)

4. Use Vivid Imagery: Engage young readers’ imaginations by painting a vivid picture of the story’s setting. Describe it in a way with minimal words that allows them to visualize and immerse themselves in the world you’re creating, but make sure to also leave room for the illustrator’s interpretation of the text.

5. Spark Emotions: Connect with young readers on an emotional level. If your story elicits laughter, surprise, or empathy in the first few pages, you’ll have them hooked. Show characters experiencing feelings that mirror those of your audience.

6. Set the Tone: Establish the tone of your story early on. Whether it’s whimsical, mysterious, or heartwarming, the tone should be evident from the beginning so that readers know what kind of adventure they’re in for. Tone is created by word choice. Using a word bank can help you brainstorm synonyms to infuse a different style of voice to your story.

7. Create Tension or Suspense: If you can, add an element of tension or suspense. Can something be time-sensitive, or do you need or problem feel desperate? Posing a problem or challenge that needs solving, leaves readers eager to see how it unfolds.

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Now, I’d love to talk about a fantastic opportunity to further elevate your picture book writing skills. If you’re ready to take your storytelling to the next level, connect with an inspiring community of fellow writers, and enjoy some phenomenal submission opportunities, join us in our online, interactive “The Ultimate Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books” course.

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Dr. Mira Reisberg’s hard-working students have now published or contracted well over 1,400 books with many of them from this very course. There are literally tons of testimonials about how awesome this course is. You can take multiple cheaper courses, but it’s unlikely that you’ll ever take a course as effective or as fun as this one.

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You can find out more about her here: https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/about-us.html and here www.mirareisberg.com https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/yuyi-morales-picture-book-scholarship.html

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy