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THE
FIRST FIVE PAGES:
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster Format: Trade
Paperback original
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Endorsements "I had a look at THE FIRST
FIVE PAGES and will be glad to promote it widely; wonderful advice. In
fact, I've already plugged it, at a science fiction writing convention
last weekend. I was amazed reading it....if I'd wanted to write a book on
critiquing, this is the one I would have written. Good job!"
Reviews "I have to tell you, [The First Five
Pages] is one of the best [books] I’ve read. I’ve written (and
seen published) pretty close to a dozen novels in as many years… but I
wish I had read Lukeman’s book when I began writing fiction. I’m
glad I did now. It has helped, immediately….Lukeman’s editorial eye
is sharp. If every novelist and short story writer in this country had
Lukeman as an editor, we’d have a lot more readable prose out
there.… The First Five Pages should be on every writer’s
shelf. This is the real thing." "The difference between The First Five
Pages and most books on writing is that the others are written by
teachers and writers. This one comes from a literary agent--one whose
clients include Pulitzer Prize nominees, New York Times bestselling
authors, Pushcart Prize recipients, and American Book Award winners….
Lukeman has plenty of solid advice worth listening to. Particularly fine
are his exercises for removing and spicing up modifiers and his remedies
for all kinds of faulty dialogue." "The First Five Pages is most
useful in its guidance on preparing and submitting your work. Lukeman
grinds his teeth over amateurish writing, too, and offers practical
corrections." "Here are two books about the craft of
writing which, in our opinion, far surpass most books on that
subject....The one that appealed more strongly to this reader (and
closet writer) is literary agent Noah Lukeman’s The First Five
Pages." "Tricks of the trade…add to The First
Five Pages’ value, as do tips on grammar, style, voice and dialog,
and writing exercises…A bargain when you consider all the information
packed into [it]." "Noah Lukeman has compiled the ultimate
writer’s guide to staying out of the rejection pile.….This is no
ordinary writing book. Lukeman has stared at thousands of manuscripts,
and he can pick out poor ones with a glance….Lukeman has done a great
service to the writing community by providing this glimpse into the
abyss…. The First Five Pages is worth its weight in gold, and
should be read by all experienced and unpublished authors." "Lukeman’s book is a gutsy
reminder.…New writers will pore over his exercises in detail, while
more skilled writers will use them to throw new light on specific
problem areas….Lukeman is in fact offering a much larger opportunity
to any writer who wants to seize it….It’s an excellent book and at
such a reasonable price it’s also a great investment." "Wonderful advice….I was amazed
reading it…I was terribly impressed….The book neatly describes the
majority of what I personally find wrong with beginners’ (even much
professional) writing….The title is from the widely practiced, but
perhaps not as widely known, concept that you only have the first few
pages to make an impression….This is the book to read….I agree with
him so much, and like it so well, my only regret is that I didn’t
write it myself." "In the world of writers’ how-to
books, you are often confronted with hyperbole and rash promises when
what you need is practicality and frank advice. With Lukeman, a veteran
literary agent, you get just what you need…Sensible (occasionally
unorthodox) solutions and apt quotes are offered...Lukeman is
unflinchingly realistic, but compassionate as well. He recognizes the
determination and devotion that writing requires. Pragmatic, intelligent
and readable, The First Five Pages …will certainly help writers
of any kind defeat rejection and possibly score." "Lukeman knows the publishing
industry from the inside out and the outside in.… The First Five
Pages is an entertaining example of good literary style delivered by
a qualified expert on selling or not selling books to publishers." "When you read The First Five
Pages, you’ll hope Noah Lukeman will one day teach us more. …I
don’t usually praise books on writer’s craft on my site…but The
First Five Pages is exceptional… I read The First Five Pages
in two sittings (and plan to read it again). I own about 100 books on
craft…In my opinion, yours ranks among the best." "A small book in size only, this one
is well worth the price. I read every page the day I bought it, then
immediately started rewriting the first three pages of my novel.…I
highly recommend this book for writers who hope to publish and will deal
with editors and agents." "Noah Lukeman has great insight into
what it takes to keep an editor reading your manuscript. Writers will
definitely benefit from a thorough study of Lukeman’s many suggestions
which can help them get past the first hurdle to getting
published." "Mr. Lukeman has written a
definitive handbook on the pitfalls to avoid in your work..…The
information contained within its covers will help you improve your
technique and perhaps provide you with the tools to make your story leap
off the pages. As writer, I found this book to be extremely useful….I
highly recommend The First Five Pages to anyone who is serious
about their writing." "In this well-organized, clear and
pointed guide, Lukeman - himself a literary agent who has evaluated
thousands of scripts - details how to quickly create a positive first
impression and keep out of the reject pile. With exercises at the end of
each chapter, this invaluable reference will help all types of
writers-novelists, journalists, even poets-improve their technique,
overcome bad writing and attract attention." "There are hundreds of good books
that explain how to write. Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages
is different. Lukeman’s approach is methodical and practical,
beginning with presentation and working through common blunders with
modifiers, style, dialogue, point of view, characters, tone, focus and
pacing..... Let’s hope for a sequel..... The First Five Pages
is an excellent resource that writers should keep on their shelves. The
chapters on repairing dialogue (including "informative,"
"commonplace," "melodramatic" and "hard to
follow") are especially fine, full of insights that I haven’t
seen elsewhere….And even though his task is to explain all the things
that writers do wrong, it’s clear that Lukeman genuinely likes us and
understands what makes us keep writing, even in the face of repeated
rejection." "If you write fiction, this one is a
must! Lukeman works his way from the most obvious to the most subtle,
telling just what agents look for to give them an excuse to reject your
manuscript." "[The First Five Pages] is a
dandy little writing manual that serves as an excellent checklist of a
manuscript’s health….It will give you new eyes with which to view
your book. ..This book is a gold mine for the fledgling
writer….Lukeman not only details what should and shouldn’t be done,
but often explains why. Having identified the problems, he offers
solutions and provides numerous examples and end-of-chapter exercises to
assist in working on weak points. There is an vast scope of information
in these pages, and in addition to being extremely helpful, it’s a fun
read." "The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman is a thin little book that packs a wallop. In my dream of dreams, every aspiring writer would read it not once, but multiple times. Like Strunk and White's Elements of Style, the information contained in Lukeman's 197 page "how to write" book is too much to remember through one reading, but invaluable to every working writer. His literary agent perspective provides a unique view from the other side of the writing fence; one we may not like hearing, but information we can use to our advantages."
Full Description * A weak opening hook With exercises at the end of each chapter, this invaluable reference will allow novelists, journalists, poets and screenwriters alike to improve their technique as they learn to eliminate even the most subtle mistakes that are cause for rejection. The First Five Pages will help writers at every stage take their art to a higher -- and more successful -- level.
World Rights: Contact Lukeman Dramatic Rights: Contact Lukeman |
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