Get to the promise

Readers have a lot of options in the world.

They have a lot of things they could be reading, and many of them won't stick with a book that isn't giving them what they want. Right away.

There's a lot said about making sure your opening line hooks your readers. What's also important, is making sure that you're giving those readers what you've promised.

If you promoted your story as a horror, scare people from the first chapter. If you are writing a humorous piece, make people laugh on the first page.

Readers can close a book if it isn't giving them what they want. They can stop reading, put a book back on the shelf, and not buy it if they don't see the character they were promised. They can change their minds and not look at any other book from the same author.

If you've promised something to your readers, deliver and deliver early. Otherwise, they won't be your reader.