We know that for many writing can be more of a compulsion than a choice! But it can be a lonely business at times. Friends, even those close ones with whom you have loads in common, can struggle to understand what it is like to feel the need to write, as well as how terrifying and exposing it can be to share that writing.

But if you sometimes feel overwhelmed or isolated, there are things that can help. Let’s take a look...

Writing critique groups are a wonderful way to find other people to help hone your story, as well as grumble about the troubles of writer’s block and the need for more hours in the day!

You may find there are local independent groups near you, or you could try the SCBWI British Isles or SCBWI USA. They have organisations all over the world and can connect you through critique groups, conferences and seminars. They are so positive, warm and friendly to new writers, it really is worth checking them out.

Organisations such as WriteMentor can help equip you with the tools to polish your manuscript as well as offering invaluable advice on all aspects of writing, whether you are new to it all or a seasoned published author.

If you’re unable to afford any formal groups then keep an eye out for online opportunities for writers, many of which are free or low-cost. The WriteOnCon conference allows writers to tune in from wherever they are in the world and features heaps of useful content, from workshops to talks to opportunities to post and get feedback on your opening pages or submission email. Facebook and Twitter offer many paths to link with other writers, or the chance to just lurk and read others’ posts and feel the comfort of not being alone.

If you’re looking for people to follow then it’s worth checking out your favourite authors as well as bloggers, reviewers, editors and agents who post frequently about the business. Maybe take a look at who they are following too.

There are lots of great hashtags on Twitter – #UKMGChat, #UKTeenChat, #WritingYA, #AmWriting, #AskAgent to name but a few – which lend themselves to writing discussions where you can find new people to follow and, if you’re feeling brave, chat to and get to know better. Many agents do the occasional #AskAgent session on Twitter which could be an opportunity for you to ask any burning questions you’ve been wondering about. In fact, keep an eye on our Twitter posts because we’ll be doing one soon and we’ll flag it there!

And if you’re looking for more advice and reassurance, check out our other blog posts which cover lots of interesting and useful topics, such as optimum manuscript wordcounts for different age groups, taking on board feedback, coping with the interminable waiting, handling rejection, and many others…

Today I’ve been thinking about that famous first line of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Out of respect for copyright I won’t quote it here (look it up! 😊), but I’m sure it’s already familiar to many of you because it’s a great opening! It offers an intriguing start to the story and du Maurier does not disappoint with what follows. Rebecca is an incredibly atmospheric novel and the dream-like (or possibly nightmarish) atmosphere that pervades the book is brilliantly evoked here in the very first sentence. I want to talk about opening lines because, as agents, we are so often asked by writers, ‘What can I do to make my novel stand out on submission?’

There are a lot of things that help a submission: checking an agent’s website thoroughly, making sure you give them the material they’re asking for (not everyone wants just the first three chapters, for example, we ask for the full right away), a cracking elevator pitch, an entertaining covering email. All these things have a part to play in hooking the reader and making an agent want to dive into your novel. But the truth is that the most important part of any submission package is the novel itself. You could supply an overly long synopsis, get the agent’s name wrong and write a covering email that’s dull as ditchwater, but if your book shines then every agent I know will overlook all those peripheral things. We are all seeking a story that hooks us from the very first page, the very first line. And there you have it! If you can make your first line, and then your first paragraph and then your first chapter really work hard to lure the reader in, grab them with something unexpected, startling or mysterious, and then keep them hooked with luscious writing and good plot development, you’re winning!

It really is worth examining the opening of your novel carefully. Is every word necessary? Does each one contribute something to the reader’s understanding that is vital, compelling, atmospheric? Be ruthless – cut away anything that isn’t driving the story forwards and generating excitement or intrigue. Are you starting your book in the right place? Remember that your reader hasn’t yet got to know and care about your characters, so don’t bore them with the character’s back-story or their start to the day. Much better to throw the reader in at the deep end, at a point in the story that’s different from other stories, that signals your novel has something fresh and new to offer.

If you can surprise and delight with your opening line then you’ve already made your novel stand out from the crowd! Of course, then you have to deliver on that promise – so that opening needs to be true to the story, not a trick to sucker the reader. If you deliver a great opening only to then tell us ‘it was all a dream’, your reader won’t feel kindly! But if you can find an opening line that’s simultaneously authentic and compelling then you’ve started us on that winding path that makes for a great story, and if you can do that then we’ll overlook almost everything else. What can you do to make your novel stand out on submission? Write a great book, obviously, but more than that – write a great opening line...