Hooking the Reader with Your First ChapterIf you’re walking through the grocery store and an employee offers you a free sample of a new brand of cheese. You’re likely to taste it. If you like the cheese, you might buy some. But if it tastes terrible, you won’t buy the product. Reading behaviors aren’t any different. Hooking the reader with your first chapter is a critical and yet overlooked element of being an independent author or publisher. A snazzy cover and singing blurb only gets you so far. If the story doesn’t deliver, you’ll lose the sale. Lucky for us, we know readers always start the book with chapter one. Join J. and Zach as they discuss the anatomy of a strong first chapter so you’ll know what to do and what to avoid in yours. The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon share their struggles and successes as full-time authors, advice for improving your writing craft, and honest discussions of what it takes to build a successful career as an author. In this episode, you’ll discover: The mindset you need for that first chapterWhich logistics to considerElements of characterization that are importantHow form and style can set your writing apart Also, J. recommends an outline and productivity tool.  Send us your ways and hacks - https://thecareerauthor.com/waysandhacks/  Leave us a comment: What are your tricks or tips for writing your first chapter? Thanks to our new Patron, Stephanie Bond.  Podcast sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://writinglife.kobobooks.com  Get exclusive bonus content by supporting The Career Author Podcast on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thecareerauthor Want to work with us? Get the details at https://thecareerauthor.com/services/ Links:Workflowy - https://workflowy.com/  2021 Events - https://thecareerauthor.com/events/  J.’s monthly mastermind membership - https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com/join/ The Career Author YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/thecareerauthor Three Story Method - https://books2read.com/threestorymethod  Three Story Method Workbook - https://amzn.to/37SAR1a  Molten Universe Media - http://www.moltenuniversemedia.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.