The First Page Test: How to Hook Readers in Paragraph One

Readers are ruthless. They’ve got a hundred books in their TBR pile, a thousand distractions, and only one question on their mind when they open yours:

“Do I care enough to keep going?”

That’s what the first page test is all about. Not impressing them with clever prose. Not dumping backstory. Just hooking them—fast, clean, and deep. 🎣

Here’s how to make sure your first paragraph grabs your reader and doesn’t let go:

💥 Start In Something

Drop us into motion, tension, or a moment of emotional weight. We don’t need to understand everything—we just need to feel something happening.

Avoid:

“It was a sunny day in June.”
Try:
“The knife clattered to the floor, and nobody moved.”

Lead with something that makes us lean in.

🎯 Establish a Voice

Your narrative voice is your handshake. Whether it's lyrical, snarky, eerie, or grounded—your first few lines should sound like your story.

→ Make us trust the voice enough to follow, even if we don’t know where it’s going yet.
→ Don’t be afraid to let personality shine through immediately.

🔍 Tease a Question

Give readers something to wonder about.
Why is she lying?
What just went wrong?
Who—or what—is about to walk through that door?

The best openings don’t answer questions—they create them.

🙅‍♀️ Skip the Setup

You’ve got the whole book to explain the world, the weather, the protagonist’s tragic past. Don’t waste the opening paragraph on logistics.

Drop us into a moment that matters. Then fill in the rest after we’re invested.

🧠 A Quick Gut Check

After you write your opening paragraph, ask yourself:
– Would I keep reading if this weren’t mine?
– Is there conflict, tension, or voice on the page already?
– Am I intrigued, confused in the right way, or emotionally pulled in?

Bottom line?
Your first paragraph is a promise. It tells readers: Here’s what kind of story this is, and you’re in good hands.

So make it count. Make it sharp. And above all—make us care.

Need support while drafting your story? Our Storyteller’s Weekly Journal is the perfect coach for you!