How to Make Your...

First Pages Pop!

Did you know that you have only five pages in a novel to grab the attention of an agent or editor?

Yikes! But true! Only. Five. Pages.

No matter how great your book is after that, they won't find out if they don't read on.

With First Pages Pop, learn the keys to craft powerful opening pages that will make a reader say, "more please!"

Make Those Pages Pop!

You’ve pitched story ideas and had positive feedback, but after agents or editors read your opening pages...they stop.

You can’t figure out what’s missing (or what’s too much).

With this short course, I walk you through the 5 key things you must have in your opening pages in order to grab a reader and keep them wanting more.

And you’ll finally know that you can write, in story after story, opening pages that pop.

Write Opening Pages That Pop Today!

Perfect for writers who:

Are writing novels for any age audience
Can’t seem to get editors and agents to read past the opening pages
Want to know the keys to writing opening pages that will grab readers
Have great story ideas that start too slowly

WHY LEARN FROM JANET?

Janet Fox

Back when I wished with all my heart that I could see just one book with my name on the cover, I never would have believed...

...that I'd be represented by a top agent in children's publishing

...that I'd be the author of 13 published books

...that many of those books would be published by houses like Simon & Schuster and Penguin

...that most of those books would win awards

...that several of those books would sell tens of thousands of copies

...that one book would sell over one hundred thousand copies in 7 countries

...that I would teach at venues like SCBWI, Women Writing the West, National Council of Teachers of English, libraries, schools, and numerous other events and programs

"Your words rekindled my hope that I can do what I'd love to do! THANK YOU!!!"

— Deborah

Aspiring Picture Book Author

Brooke

Aspiring author

I support your work because you support mine! Thanks for sharing your expertise with writers.

Eric

Aspiring middle grade author

Janet helped me identify my audience when I didn’t realize I even needed one.

Aspiring middle grade author

You found the ideal combination (for me) of craft instruction and encouragement. Your understanding of the middle grade environment was especially helpful.

Kelsi

Aspiring author

Thank you for jolting me out of my tired rut!

You don't need:

To feel stumped any longer as to why your opening pages aren’t working.
To worry that the next submission will be a rejection…yet again.
To pay huge sums for feedback that doesn’t work for you.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

(And why this short, affordable course will be a game-changer for all your opening pages from here on.)

Step One

The 5 key things crucial to writing opening pages that pop

Step Two

What those 5 key things do for your story, and why they are important

Step Three

The importance of opening pages through examples from successful stories

I’m ready to start writing my children’s book now!

What You’ll Find Inside
First Pages Pop:

An understanding of the Five Key Things that must (or those things that must not) appear in a story's opening pages.

The Four Grounding Details that pull the reader into your story from the start.

The precise way to present your Story Theme in your opening pages.

The power of Character Desire and Story Goal, and how they can be hinted at in successful opening pages.

I’m ready to start writing my children’s book now!

If you’ve been pitching stories for a while and can’t get a reader to go past the opening pages, this course is for you.

If you’ve got a great concept that excites a potential reader but they never keep reading, you need to know why.

This is the course that will catapult your story from premise to published.

Start Writing Now — Only $39!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the course take to complete?

The course is designed to be completed in about 1–2 hours. You can go through the lesson and handout in one sitting and immediately apply what you learn to your opening pages.

Is this course really enough to help me create a publishable story opening?

Yes. This course focuses on one specific outcome: helping you evaluate and shape your opening pages using a clear 5-step framework so you can move forward with confidence.

What if I already have a draft written?

Perfect—you’ll use your existing draft throughout the course to test, refine, and strengthen your opening pages.

Does this work for picture book writers?

This method primarily works for middle grade and young adult novels. Although the principles of strong opening pages work for all types of kidlit.

Is this for beginners or people who have been writing for a while?

Both! For beginners and early-stage writers, there are clear examples and a simple step-by-step approach. And even more experienced writers can struggle with weak or unclear opening pages. This course helps you diagnose and fix that problem quickly.

Will this help me know if my story is publishable?

It will give you a strong, practical framework to evaluate your opening pages against industry expectations—so you can make smarter, more informed decisions before you invest time writing query letters or looking for an agent.

What if this course isn’t right for me?

No problem. This course comes with a refund policy—if it’s not a good fit, you can request your money back.

Janet here!

I believe in happy endings.

I believe that children need our books more than ever.

First Pages Pop will hook those readers - whether an agent, an editor, or that kid who lives next door - and keep them reading so they fall in love with the story of your heart.

Yes, I want to write the story of my heart!