What does an agent want to see in those first submitted pages? Character? Voice? Pacing?

What about your first line? Is it enough to pull the agent in and get him or her to read more?

The First Five Frenzy is a series of agent interviews that helps aspiring writers understand what works and what flops in those first pages they submit. With each new interview agents reveal what lines caught their attention, and how good writing draws them in and encourages them to request more. This series is a must read for any aspiring author who wants their first pages to shine in the submission process.

Bridget Smith – Dunham Literary, Inc.

Michael Carr – Veritas Literary Agency

Kate McKean – Howard Morhaim Literary Agency

Mary Kole – Movable Type Management (no longer an agent)

Amy Boggs – The Donald Maass Literary Agency

Diana Finch – Diana Finch Literary Agency

Brandi Bowles – Foundry Literary + Media

Alyssa Eisner Henkin – Trident Media Group

Elizabeth Kracht – Kimberley Cameron and Associates

Laurie McLean (formely of Larsen Pomada) now with Fuse Literary

Stephen Fraser – Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

Sarah LaPolla – (formerly with Curtis Brown, Ltd., now at Bradford Literary Agency)

Kathleen Rushall – Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (now with Andrea Brown Literary)

Jessica Sinsheimer – Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency

Tricia Lawrence – Erin Murphy Literary Agency

Annie Bomke – Annie Bomke Literary Agency

Carlie Webber – CK Webber Associates (now with Fuse Literary)

Michelle L. Johnson – Inklings Literary Agency

Andrea Somberg – Harvey Klinger, Inc.

Melissa Jeglinski – The Knight Agency

Molly Jaffa – Folio Literary Management

Mollie Glick – Foundry Literary + Media (now with CAA)

Amy Tipton – Signature Literary Agency

Jennifer Skutelsky – Veritas Literary Agency (no longer an agent)

Pete Knapp – Park Literary Group

Mackenzie Brady – Charlotte Sheedy Literary (now with New Leaf Literary)

Roseanne Wells – Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

Marietta Zacker – Nancy Gallt Literary Agency

Nicole Resciniti – The Seymour Agency

Adriann Ranta – Wolf Literary Services (Now with Foundry Media)

Pooja Menon – Kimberley Cameron and Associates

Taylor Haggerty – Waxman Leavell Literary Agency (now with Root Literary)

Courtney Miller-Callihan – Greenburger Associates

Lara Perkins – Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Beth Phelan – The Bent Agency

Katie Shea Boutillier – Donald Maass Literary Agency

Sara Megibow – Nelson Literary Agency (with KT Literary now)

Dr. Uwe Stender – TriadaUS Literary Agency

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg – Formally with Foreword now at D4EO Literary

Carrie Howland – Donadio & Olson

Elizabeth Harding – Curtis Brown LTD

Rebecca Strauss – Defiore and Co.

Maria Vicente – P.S. Literary

Michelle Richter – Fuse Literary

Cate Hart – Corvisiero Literary Agency

Heather Alexander – Pippin Properties

Patricia Nelson – Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Jessica Watterson-Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

Thao Le – Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

Kaylee Davis – Dee Mura Literary

Kirsten Carleton – Waxman Leavell Literary

(Now with Prospect Agency)

Rebecca Podos – Rees Literary Agency

Shannon Hassan – Marsal Lyon Literary

Brent Taylor – Triada US, Inc.

Eric Smith – P.S. Literary

Alex Barba – Inklings Literary Agency

Noah Ballard – Curtis Brown, Ltd.

Saba Sulaiman – Talcott Notch Literary Services

Jennifer Johnson-Blalock – Liza Dawson Associates

Melissa L. Edwards – The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency (now with Stonesong Literary)

Caitie Flum – Liza Dawson Associates

Shannon Powers – McIntosh and Otis

Stephanie Fretwell-Hill – Red Fox Literary

Latoya Smith – L. Perkins Agency

Tracy Marchini – BookEnds Literary

Kelly Van Sant – D4EO Literary

Amy Elizabeth Bishop – Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret

Hannah Fergesen – KT Literary

Hillary Jacobson – ICM Partners

Kari Sutherland – Bradford Literary Agency

Stephanie Delman – Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc.

Stacey Graham – Red Sofa Literary

Alexandra Levick – Writers House

Jennifer March Soloway – Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Jennifer Grimaldi – Chalberg & Sussman Literary

Ann Rose – Prospect Agency

Whitney Ross – Irene Goodman Literary Agency