[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1591057745731{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”45373″ img_size=”” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^45600|url^https://bluepencilagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/artist-shape-01.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^artist-shape-01|description^null” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”initial” bg_image_posiiton=”20px 50px” seperator_enable=”seperator_enable_value” seperator_type=”tilt_right_seperator” seperator_position=”bottom_seperator” seperator_shape_background=”#ffffff” css=”.vc_custom_1608159578689{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”First Line, first page, first chapter” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:26|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1608159963840{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”mulled_wine” align=”align_left” el_width=”50″ css=”.vc_custom_1608128490829{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1608003853146{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]

It’s not only agents and editors who judge a book by the first page: in an industry driven by  ‘Look Inside the Book’, the opening of a novel or memoir is one of the keys which draws a reader in irresistibly – or lets them wander off.

But none of that’s any good if the rest of the book doesn’t live up to the promise of the opening. In this tutorial we will look at what makes an irresistible opening across different genres, basing some of the discussion on examples from participants. You should leave with a clearer idea of how to grab your reader from the first line, whether you’re writing a gritty thriller or the lightest of comedies – and how to see that promise through. 

[/vc_column_text][ultimate_spacer height=”15″ height_on_tabs=”10″ height_on_tabs_portrait=”10″ height_on_mob_landscape=”10″ height_on_mob=”10″][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” gap=”10″][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1608124630445{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #f3f4f4 !important;}”][ultimate_spacer height=”60″][dt_icon_text layout=”layout_1″ dt_text_title=”Author and Writing Coach” dt_text_desc=”Emma Darwin” dt_text_content_font_style=”normal:normal:none” dt_text_custom_content_color=”#000000″ show_btn=”n” icon_picker=”far fa-address-book” dt_text_icon_size=”22px” dt_text_icon_bg_size=”50px” dt_text_icon_border_radius=”0px” dt_text_icon_border_width=”1px” dt_text_icon_color=”#2b2681″ dt_icon_bg=”n” css_dt_carousel=”.vc_custom_1608160165435{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][ultimate_spacer height=”15″ height_on_tabs=”10″ height_on_tabs_portrait=”10″ height_on_mob_landscape=”10″ height_on_mob=”10″][dt_icon_text layout=”layout_1″ dt_text_title=”Date:” dt_text_desc=”Tuesday February 16, 2021″ dt_text_content_font_style=”normal:normal:none” dt_text_custom_content_color=”#000000″ show_btn=”n” icon_picker=”Defaults-calendar” dt_text_icon_size=”22px” dt_text_icon_bg_size=”50px” dt_text_icon_border_radius=”0px” dt_text_icon_border_width=”1px” dt_text_icon_color=”#2b2681″ dt_icon_bg=”n” css_dt_carousel=”.vc_custom_1608160270483{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][ultimate_spacer height=”15″ height_on_tabs=”10″ height_on_tabs_portrait=”10″ height_on_mob_landscape=”10″ height_on_mob=”10″][dt_icon_text layout=”layout_1″ dt_text_title=”Time:” dt_text_desc=”6.00 – 8.00 pm GMT” dt_text_content_font_style=”normal:normal:none” dt_text_custom_content_color=”#000000″ show_btn=”n” icon_picker=”icomoon-the7-font-the7-clock-01″ dt_text_icon_size=”22px” dt_text_icon_bg_size=”50px” dt_text_icon_border_radius=”0px” dt_text_icon_border_width=”1px” dt_text_icon_color=”#2b2681″ dt_icon_bg=”n” css_dt_carousel=”.vc_custom_1608160031583{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][ultimate_spacer height=”15″ height_on_tabs=”10″ height_on_tabs_portrait=”10″ height_on_mob_landscape=”10″ height_on_mob=”10″][dt_icon_text layout=”layout_1″ dt_text_title=”Location:” dt_text_desc=”Zoom Platform” dt_text_content_font_style=”normal:normal:none” dt_text_custom_content_color=”#000000″ show_btn=”n” icon_picker=”Defaults-video-camera” dt_text_icon_size=”22px” dt_text_icon_bg_size=”50px” dt_text_icon_border_radius=”0px” dt_text_icon_border_width=”1px” dt_text_icon_color=”#2b2681″ dt_icon_bg=”n” css_dt_carousel=”.vc_custom_1608124794911{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][ultimate_spacer height=”15″ height_on_tabs=”10″ height_on_tabs_portrait=”10″ height_on_mob_landscape=”10″ height_on_mob=”10″][dt_icon_text layout=”layout_1″ dt_text_title=”Cost:” dt_text_desc=”£42″ dt_text_content_font_style=”normal:normal:none” dt_text_custom_content_color=”#000000″ show_btn=”n” icon_picker=”Defaults-cc-paypal” dt_text_icon_size=”22px” dt_text_icon_bg_size=”50px” dt_text_icon_border_radius=”0px” dt_text_icon_border_width=”1px” dt_text_icon_color=”#2b2681″ dt_icon_bg=”n” css_dt_carousel=”.vc_custom_1608193820667{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1591057618624{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}”][dt_team_masonry post_type=”posts” img_border_radius=”0px” bwb_columns=”desktop:1|h_tablet:1|v_tablet:1|phone:1″ post_title_font_style=”normal:normal:none” post_title_font_size=”28px” custom_title_color=”#0a0a0a” post_title_bottom_margin=”5px” team_position_font_style=”normal:normal:none” team_position_font_size=”20px” team_position_color=”#7c7c7c” show_team_desc=”n” read_more_button_text=”Read more” show_soc_icon=”n” posts_offset=”0″ posts=”40804″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1591057607165{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}”][dt_team_masonry post_type=”posts” img_border_radius=”0px” bwb_columns=”desktop:1|h_tablet:1|v_tablet:1|phone:1″ post_title_font_style=”normal:normal:none” post_title_font_size=”28px” custom_title_color=”#0a0a0a” post_title_bottom_margin=”5px” team_position_font_style=”normal:normal:none” team_position_font_size=”20px” team_position_color=”#7c7c7c” show_team_desc=”n” read_more_button_text=”Read more” show_soc_icon=”n” posts_offset=”0″ posts=”4037″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”51210″ img_size=”” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” 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Assistance to writers on low incomes and/or from communities under represented in publishing

We are offering a free place on each of our online tutorials and Q & A sessions for UK based writers on low incomes and/or from under represented communities in publishing.

Writers may apply for a free place on one of the sessions by contacting BPA with a short bio and a summary of their writing career to date.

Please click here to Contact BPA with your application and in the case of writers on low incomes, proof of financial eligibility such as: Jobseeker’s Allowance; Disability Benefit; Income Support; Working Tax Credit; Child Tax Credit; Proof of being a full-time student; Housing benefit; Proof of being a full-time carer.

All details will be kept confidential. Decisions on who receives the free places rest with the BPA team not the tutors.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”5″ element_width=”3″ gap=”5″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1638056526356-14c064b7-dc29-7″ taxonomies=”333″][/vc_column][/vc_row]