How do you begin to tell a story without informing your reader of the where, when, who, and why? Known as an “information-dump” in the writing world, this needed information can often be boring. It must be woven into the story line without the reader’s realization.

Can you appeal to the reader’s emotion, or attract their curiosity? Will your first page be worth reading the rest of the book? Are you using the appropriate hook for your genre?

The editors of Reedsy.com offer nine great suggestions on what they look for in a great book.

READ MORE: How to start a story: 9 tips from our editors • Reedsy Blog

Reedsy is founder of best-selling books. It is a London-based online company which connects you with editors and designers.