In today’s competitive literary marketplace, a compelling first page is vital to attracting the attention of an agent wading through his or her slush pile, an editor seeking the next big hit, or a reader prowling through the bookstore. Many of us have had the experience of reading a first page and feeling swept into the story, of thinking, “Wow, that’s an amazing opening!” — without necessarily knowing why.
In this workshop, we drill down on this. We examine 10 opening pages from award-winning and notable books in a variety of genres (mystery, historical fiction, memoir, YA, etc.) to identify 14 distinct elements of successful openings that suggest conflict, create engagement, generate surprise and suspense, and compel the reader to turn the page. Identifying these elements enables us to then employ them to strengthen our own opening pages.
This is a hands-on workshop, and a hand-out will be provided.
Contact Karen for participation information.
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About Karen
Karen Odden received her Ph.D. in English from New York University in 2001, writing her dissertation on Victorian literature. Subsequently, she taught at UW-Milwaukee and edited for the academic journal Victorian Literature and Culture. When she finally turned to writing fiction, she set all her novels in her beloved 1870s London. Her first mystery, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller. Her fourth, Down a Dark River, was an Oprah Daily pick; and the sequel, Under a Veiled Moon was nominated for the Lefty, Agatha, and Anthony Awards for Best Historical Mystery. Her sixth novel, An Artful Dodge, about an all-women thieving gang in 1879 London, is forthcoming from Soho Crime in June 2026.
Since 2019, Karen has offered over 40 writing workshops for libraries, professional groups, and conferences, and she has received awards and grants for her work to promote literacy and support the writing community. Karen serves on the national board of Sisters in Crime, reviews books for Publishers Weekly, and divides her time between Arizona and Utah, where she loves to hike while plotting crimes. Read More