Relationships—connections—create effective openers

If you can’t put your finger on why your material isn’t working for readers—including agents, publishers, or producers—consider building better relationships with readers via relationship techniques on your pages.

I’m suggesting a technique that goes deeper than a mere “hook.”

A relationship is defined as a connection, association, or involvement. That can be with any “thing” or person.

The relationship might be a dependence, an alliance, or kinship or something that is the opposite. It captured your attention.

A relationship matters deeply EMOTIONALLY somehow. It speaks to our heart, our intellect, our experiences.

Readers want a relationship with your words. They want to feel.

On page one or two, bring your READER into a kinship or alliance with your character (or other being or entity, depending on story).

How do you do that?

Marry emotions and thoughts WITH action when you can (current or remembered action).

Reveal with few words WHY the character is acting or feeling something.

Choices abound as to how you create an instant relationship on pages one or two or anywhere in your material. If your book or script starts out well but you’re told it fizzles in its second half, then fire up better relationship material.

Here are categories of things humans have relationships with:

• People
• Place (any planet/home/space etc.)
• Weather
• Pets
• Nature (animals, plants, microbes etc.)
• Job
• Hobby
• Art
• An object
• Time
• Special dates
• Religion
• Organizations

Relationship material might come from backstory. Don’t be afraid to mine it on any page including page one. Get the big emotional intrigue in there fast. (There are no rules, so if you’ve been told repeatedly backstory has to wait until later, now make your own rule. Teasing something or flirting with it is part of building a solid hook relationship!)

In any of those categories listed, what worries your character? Mention it on pages 1, 2, and 5 or pages of your choosing. Sharing worries is one of the quickest ways to establish a relationship.

Was your character ever embarrassed by something? Or are they afraid something from their past has now come back to haunt them? Put it on page one. It will resonate.

Relationship information gives readers PROOF your character is somebody worthy of a connection.  

Be careful your character isn’t merely moaning about things without much reason. Readers don’t like trite reasoning or whiners, but through any number of techniques whining, too, can be elevated to work well to kick off a book. Sometimes whining is comical.

Confessions are another relationship-building technique with readers. “The day I made the biggest mistake of my life with…” is a beginning sure to make us read on. We’ve all made some mistake or we fear making mistakes. When we IDENTIFY with the mistake, you’ve created a relationship with readers.

What would help readers identify with your characters and stick with them after page one?

For examples of “relationship building” on early pages, study openers of major award-winning or talked-about novels, screenplays, and memoirs. Study the emotional resonance. Is it a word or phrase? An action or reaction? A piece of information? Notice the “feeling” you get. Why are readers drawn to the words?

Your writing will be rewarded by readers when you take the time to build RELATIONSHIPS via your words.