An intriguing page-one murder is the perfect hook that keeps readers engaged and eager to discover the author’s other surprises. Delivering a gut punch right from the start is a foolproof method of capturing their interest. But BEWARE—this is a cautionary tale.

Starting with a shocking twist immediately raises expectations, and readers will expect a thrill ride. 

Readers of these genres are bookies and gamblers with a penchant for high stakes. They know they misplaced their bet when successive chapters deliver a slow-paced narrative. Every page of lackluster storytelling reduces the chance readers will seek out or recommend another title by the same author.

Use these tips to keep your narrative on pace:

1. Create impossible predicaments

If you’ve written an early cage-rattling hook, you’ve promised readers a turbulent ride. It’s time to flex the old writing muscle and dole out one shuddering, bone-cracking, agitating, unsettling crisis after another. Dealing out impossible predicaments for the protagonist to wiggle their way out of will keep the breakneck pace readers crave.

2. Whew! It’s getting hot in here.

Escalate the danger and the repercussions of failure with staggeringly high stakes. When the protagonist can’t take any more, offer a glimmer of hope that will make readers’ hearts soar with hope. Snatch their hope away at the last moment, and readers’ stomachs will lurch as they plummet down with the protagonist. Reader investment hinges on your protagonist’s level of investment.

3. Crack the whip on your protagonist

Get creative in your list of obstacles, crises, death traps, derailments, catastrophes, and cataclysmic events. You know what your characters are capable of. As soon as the character overcomes a challenge, throw a couple more at them and see if they can handle the heat. You are your story’s puppet-master, make your protagonist dance! Blindside your characters and readers. Don’t be afraid to get a little nutty with your list of impossible feats. You can pull back on the crazy reins as you write or when you close plot gaps. Unlikely or unusual challenges can be believable if you have invested in a comprehensive character analysis. Knowing how the protagonist will react and respond to different scenarios will make the scene believable.

Want more? The Absent-minded Bookworm Contact jolie@absentmindedbookworm.com or visit www.absentmindedbookworm.com for more writing support.