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3. Get your best ammunition on the first page. Put whatever makes this science fiction or fantasy up front. Also, don't start with an extended scene that only functions as an info dump. If you think you need a prologue, try breaking the information up instead and salting it throughout the story. Prologues can slow down a reader's immersion in the story.

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While it's not a good thing to focus on the first 13 to the exclusion or detriment of the rest of the story, it is something we should continue to work on and refine.

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Inarticulate Babbler wrote:
Kathy, an aside to the original question:

How much of a speculative element do you like to see on page 1? Can we hint at one, while we're establishing milieu and character and make the transition to the core element early on the second page?

I ask because--as is often tried in a workshop I frequent--I see so many people try to cram everything into that first page (13 lines), that it becomes obvious that you can't. Can you give us some advice on how to give enough character and "speculative element" on the first page for it not to be robbing something else?

Thanks,

-Rich

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Yes, a hint is all the editor needs to stick with you. Cramming everything in on the first page is trying too hard. The editor just wants to know that reading further is not a waste of time because this story fits his/her guidelines.

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