How to nail the crucial first five pages of your novel

I recently wrote about books that can help with style and craft when writing your novel, and now I want to look at those crucial first five pages. 

When it comes to capturing the attention of a literary agent, these opening pages are make-or-break territory. 

Agents receive dozens of submissions daily, and often, they’ll decide within those first few paragraphs whether your work has the potential to go further. 

But what should you do in those crucial opening moments to stand out? Based on lessons from Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages, here are four steps to help you get it right.

Step 1: Start Strong with a Vivid Opening

Your opening lines don’t have to be flashy but must immediately pull the reader into your story’s world. Consider the stark, impactful beginning of George Orwell’s 1984:

'It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

From that single sentence, readers are intrigued by the off-kilter detail of the clocks, hinting at a world that’s both familiar and eerily different. Or look at Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, where Stevens’s reflections on his role as a butler immediately establish the novel’s mood, voice, and central themes.

In your writing, focus on creating a first sentence or paragraph that sets the tone, suggests the stakes, and compels the reader to keep going.

Step 2: Establish a Clear, Engaging Voice

A unique, engaging voice in the first few pages is one of the most effective ways to stand out. Think of Holden Caulfield’s unmistakable voice in The Catcher in the Rye. From the first line:

'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like…'

J.D. Salinger gives us a narrator who feels alive, flawed, and worthy of following. Hone the narrative voice when crafting your opening pages, making it distinctive and confident. This will help readers connect to your protagonist and invest in their journey.

Similarly, consider the opening of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, where her vivid, multi-layered voice draws readers into a story about identity, history, and family with sharp wit and a clear sense of purpose. 

'Early in the morning, late in the century, Cricklewood Broadway.'

When crafting your opening pages, spend time honing the narrative voice, making it distinctive and confident. This will help readers connect to your protagonist and invest in their journey.

Step 3: Introduce Tension and Conflict Early

Even subtle conflict or an unresolved question can keep readers hooked. The opening scene in Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway sets the stage for internal and external tensions. 

Clarissa Dalloway’s simple act of quickly stepping into the day to buy flowers takes on emotional weight as we learn about her thoughts on time, identity, and past decisions. 

While you don’t need to launch straight into high drama, consider how even small moments can hint at more significant conflicts. This gives readers a reason to keep turning the pages to discover what happens next.

Avoid Too Much Exposition Too Soon

One of the biggest pitfalls in the opening pages is overloading the reader with backstory and exposition. It’s tempting to explain everything upfront, such as who the characters are, their pasts, and the world they inhabit, but this often slows momentum and risks losing the reader’s engagement. Instead, think of the backstory as seasoning rather than the main course. Drop hints, weave in details naturally, and trust that the reader doesn’t need to know everything at once. If they’re invested in the story, they’ll stick around to uncover the layers over time.

Step 4: Keep Your Prose Tight and Purposeful

Noah Lukeman often stresses that unnecessary words can distract or bore readers—and agents. Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea demonstrates the power of simplicity. The sentences are clean, direct, and carry weight, making every word count. 

Ian McEwan’s Atonement offers another example, where his precise, carefully crafted prose sets the stage for a story of memory, truth, and misunderstanding:

'The play – for which Briony had designed the posters, programmes and tickets, constructed the sales booth out of a folding screen tipped on its side, and lined the collection box in red crepe paper – was written by her in a two-day tempest of composition, causing her to miss a breakfast and a lunch.'

In your first five pages, eliminate redundant descriptions, choose strong verbs, and ensure each sentence drives the narrative forward. This not only improves readability but also makes a professional impression on agents who value crisp, purposeful prose.

Final Thoughts

The first five pages aren’t just an introduction—they’re your chance to prove that you’re a storyteller worth investing in. By focusing on a strong opening, a distinct voice, early tension, and polished prose, you can make the impression that compels literary agents to keep reading.