If there's no dialogue in the first five pages?

I think that's an impossible question to answer. It depends on what's going on in those five pages. If those five pages contain nothing but backstory, and that's why there's no dialogue, that's a no-no. But if there's no dialogue simply because the MC is alone, or there's no reason to talk, then that's okay.

So, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that my answer is... it depends.

It definitely depends on the book. If there's a huge chunk of action, then there might not be any time to talk.

Actually I think this is a very valid concern. Speaking as a former reluctant reader I know as a kid I would pick up a book off a shelf and once I'd read the back cover I'd flip through it to see how much dialogue was in it. If there wasn't much, back on the shelf.

It's one of the reasons I added the prologue to my novels, in fact, THE reason. I realised there was very little dialogue in the opening chapter of each, and I really wanted kids to know this would be a fun, funny, full of dialogue experience. So I wrote my prologue with that as my sole intention.

Yes, of course, if the writing is strong and if you believe that that is the only way to tell your story, go for it. But I do see it as a valid concern. Especially in MG/Chapter Books.

Toothpaste said:

Actually I think this is a very valid concern. Speaking as a former reluctant reader I know as a kid I would pick up a book off a shelf and once I'd read the back cover I'd flip through it to see how much dialogue was in it. If there wasn't much, back on the shelf.

It's one of the reasons I added the prologue to my novels, in fact, THE reason. I realised there was very little dialogue in the opening chapter of each, and I really wanted kids to know this would be a fun, funny, full of dialogue experience. So I wrote my prologue with that as my sole intention.

Yes, of course, if the writing is strong and if you believe that that is the only way to tell your story, go for it. But I do see it as a valid concern. Especially in MG/Chapter Books.

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Oh, definitely. I think dialogue is very important in children's books. Not only is dialogue entertaining and insightful (showing characters interact, etc), but it adds white space to the page, which is less intimidating for child readers.

But lack of dialogue in the first five pages isn't an automatic turnoff, provided there's enough to keep reader interest, and there's still plenty of white space (I think paragraph breaks are particularly important in children's books), in my opinion.

Smish

ILove2Write said:

I've been going to the bookstore a lot and picking up books to look at the first page. It seems like the first page always has dialogue - at least the ones I've looked at.

The manuscript I'm working on doesn't have dialogue in the first five pages because the MC is alone. Now I'm wondering if this is a bad thing. I wish I could remember what I liked as a kid or at least have a kid handy to ask.


P.S. Smish, your picture of your cat looks just like mine. (Not my avatar)

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Yes, I'm sure it's the norm to have dialogue pretty quickly in MG. Admittedly, my own work (so far) always has dialogue by the second page. But that doesn't automatically mean yours isn't working, in my opinion. Maybe post your opening in SYW for feedback?

My cat actually does look a little like your avatar at times. She's crazy. Usually, she's cuddly and sweet, and she follows me around everywhere, and always greets me at the door after work. But sometimes, for no reason and without warning, she bites me. Hard. I'm covered in scars. That's what I get for taking in the abused stray... but I adore her.

Smish

Lots and lots of books start without dialogue. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, which I finally started reading, would be a good example. No dialogue, but we're following a mass murderer around the house as he searches for his last victim, so... the action is enough, I guess.

And I've seen plenty of things in SYW that start with dialogue, but still aren't strong beginnings. Dialogue doesn't really help unless it's about something that matters.

To use Toothpaste's Alex as an example (I hope you don't mind): Yes, the prologue uses dialogue. But it also raises a creepy mystery that isn't revealed for several more chapters. So the reader can spend the next few chapters taking some time getting to know the MC because we know something bad is on its way. Dialogue, just to have dialogue, wouldn't have had the same effect.