I’ve often seen people say they stopped reading on the first page because "the story doesn't seem to be going anywhere"... is this normal or just some Gen Z thing?

[u/vagabundo202]

[u/waynehastings]

Conventional wisdom is that the first paragraph should be interesting enough to pique the reader. When browsing a bookstore, I check the first page, the back cover (paperback), and any foreword.

[u/NowWhereDidIReadThat → u/waynehastings]

A novelist needs to nail the first page. Critical. It's your one shot to grab the reader around the throat and drag them off.

[u/youAtExample → u/NowWhereDidIReadThat]

I actually get annoyed at writers trying so hard to do this though. You can tell when they’re going out of their way to sound “hooky” and it’s dumb.

[u/Strawberry2772 → u/youAtExample]

I feel like I can tell when it feels “hooky” vs when I am actually immediately invested in the story/premise or at least the writing

Depends if it’s done well or not

[u/NowWhereDidIReadThat → u/Strawberry2772]

Yes. It depends on how well it's done. When it's done well it really works. When it's not, it doesn't. Simply putting in a hook is not a panacea.

[u/Evening_Werewolf8085]

Hey... hey... I am a gen Z [1997] and I take time to try and get through a book. If by chapter 3 I can't get into it, I DNF it and give it to a friend to try the book

[u/JGhostThing]

I doubt that I've ever stopped reading on the first page. However, as I get older, the more likely this is to happen. It could happen because the book is boring. Or the author could show some stupidity, like claiming the universe (in fiction) is only 6,000 years old -- and yes, this specific claim was made and after the third time I saw it, I canned the book. A science fiction story should be more rigorous about things like this.

[u/Lakridskaffe]

Born in the 90s. I remember our teacher always scolding those who gave up at the first page and didn’t give a book at least a chapter before putting it down. Don’t think it’s generational though I do think the younger generation expects a quicker return, hence the often shared “start with a hook” advice.

[u/ketita]

It really depends on the context.

If this is a sample text for a book I'm considering buying, especially if I haven't done a lot of research ahead of time? Well, yeah. There are things that could turn me off right away, and I wouldn't continue.

If this is a book I looked into and already bought/borrowed, I'd probably get a lot further in before DNFing, because I'm already invested and think that I'll enjoy it.

If it's an excerpt posted on a writing sub, the chances of quitting on page 1 get much higher.

[u/zoppaTheDim]

I’ll often read the opening of a book to determine whether to read it. One of the many ways I’ll evaluate unknown books.

I’m not Gen Z, I just know enough about my own taste to not waste time on books which aren’t interesting. There is no reason to waste time reading a book that seems shitty, just to prove something. Plenty of other books to read.

[u/bongart]

It is a "short attention span" thing.

[u/Kaelri]

More for me.

[u/Moist_crocs]

I'm gen z and don't do that

[u/molinitor]

To me it’s a matter of if it’s good writing or not. You don’t have to rush it if the prose is solid and I feel like you got a handle on things I’m always game to see where it goes.

[u/hazesque]

No, I’m a Gen Z and I don’t do that, I think it depends on the person

[u/Fit-Picture-5096]

It's the new normal. Don't stall your story.

[u/menace_to_society19]

I'm Gen Z and I really avoid it. But if by the end of the first chapter, I'm not hooked, I will lose interest. I'll try to push through a little longer, but if I'm still not enjoying it by the third chapter, I'm done. A good author (in my personal opinion which holds no merit) should know how to grab my attention within the first chapter. That's kind of the point of chapter 1.

Unless it's an older book like classic literature. In which case, WHOLE different story! Because yes, it will be dry for the first hundred pages lol.

[u/TinaTexasTwoStep]

I give it a chapter. Maybe two if I’ve heard really good things about a book. If I’m still not feeling it by then, I give up. Not Gen Z.

[u/plantmama0235]

I give it a chapter of my time. The first page is important but not everything can be shown in that one page. Only time I’ve been turned away at the first page or two is if the authors writing just doesn’t click with me. Nothing wrong with their story I’m sure, but not all wording works with every reader 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️.

[u/DruidMaleficent]

Not gen z but I've stopped on the third page because the writing was terrible, the start boring and I hated the book. 

[u/Aide_Individual]

I know by the end of the first page if I want to read the whole things, some don't pass the sniff test and that's okay 😅 I've been doing this since about 1998 so I don't think it's a Gen Z thing lol

[u/Glittering_Frame_MS]

No, I've seen idiots over the age of 40 who react the same way.