A practical editorial guide for writers
Your First Ten Pages
A clear, thoughtful guide to the opening pages that shape an agent’s, publisher’s or reader’s first impression of your manuscript.
Written by Shelley Routledge, The Book Editorial Expert
What you will discover
- What readers notice before they become absorbed in the story
- How to make your opening feel confident, purposeful and compelling
- The common problems that weaken otherwise promising first pages
- A practical checklist you can use while revising your manuscript
Keep the guide beside you as you revise. Small, considered changes in the opening pages can transform the way the whole manuscript is received.
Tell me about your manuscript.
I work with a limited number of projects at a time. Send the genre, word count, current stage and the kind of editorial support you are considering.
Start a conversationLinkedIn© 2026 The Book Editorial Expert · Shelley Routledge