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This event starts in 10 days
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Most writers know their opening chapters matter. But knowing how to make a reader need to keep going is another thing entirely. A slow beginning, too much backstory, or pages of setup can lose a reader before your story ever has the chance to show them what it can do.
In this practical masterclass, former Big Five editor and literary agent Hannah VanVels Ausbury breaks down what your first three chapters need to accomplish to hook readers from the very beginning.
In this session, you’ll learn:
- How to create a hook that immediately gives readers something to care about
- How to establish the status quo without starting on an ordinary, uneventful day
- How the inciting incident creates momentum and signals where the story is headed
- Ways to introduce setting and worldbuilding without slowing down the narrative
Join us for this Reedsy Live and you'll leave with new ways to sharpen your hook, build momentum, and turn those crucial first chapters into an invitation readers can’t resist!
📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
🕐 Noon PT • 3pm ET • 8pm London • 12:30am Mumbai • 3am HK • 5am Sydney
