A review by perilous1
The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman

4.0

If they ever compile a Writer's Bible, this ought to be one of the very first books found in it. I could have spared myself a great deal of rewriting, rejection, and insult if I'd used something like this as a guide. I began reading this while awaiting the judge scores of a contest I'd entered several months prior. To my amazement, two of my four judges made reference to this book on my score sheet as a resource that would most improve my work.

It is a mercifully quick read--and to the point--categorizing errors that will get your manuscript thrown out in order of priority and stigma. The author claims to cover 99% of rejection reasons in the first half of the book alone, and I am inclined to believe him. The second half has more to do with refining your work in terms of tone, characterization, subtly, focus, and pacing.

While it is filled with hyperbolic examples of the issues being addressed, I felt it would have been even more effective if there had been more simplified tips included. (i.e., in structuring your hook, pick up a number of books you own and read the first line, then the first paragraph.) I may be abnormally dense about things like this, however. Though it's less instructional and more encouraging, I suggest reading the epilogue first. It may help you to decide if you are -truly- a writer.