Struggling With Chapter One? Let's Fix That.
Fast, practical strategies from an editor of 300+ books. HELP ME SPOT THE PROBLEMS
Stronger Story Openings Start With the Right Techniques
Your first pages set the tone for the entire book. If you’ve ever wondered how to write your first chapter so it grabs attention, this self-paced course will give you the tools.
When you’re opening a novel, you have minutes to hook your audience. Publishers, agents, and even readers skimming Amazon previews quickly decide whether to keep going—or move on.
That’s why I created the First Pages Quick Fix Clinic, a step-by-step course showing you exactly what editors look for in those critical first pages.
If you’ve agonized over whether your opener will reel in your target audience, this course will help. Discover what makes for excellent story openings and what falls short.
How This Course Helps You Nail Your First Chapter
✨Learn what editors look for when reviewing story openings.
✨Spot common first-chapter mistakes that weaken a manuscript.
✨Develop editorial instincts you can reuse for every book.
✨Know exactly how to begin your story and feel confident about your next steps.
✨Save money on editing by fixing issues before hiring an editor.
Maybe you’ve revised your beginning ten times, and it still feels off. That kind of uncertainty is paralyzing, and it can stall your whole draft.
It’s hard to keep writing when you’re stuck at chapter one, unsure of how to begin a story that hooks readers. Don’t let your opener hold everything else hostage.
Writers Who’ve Taken the Clinic Say…
LOVED THIS SHORT COURSE
“Any editing seems difficult and daunting, but with Stacy’s simple-to-follow tips and tricks, I feel more in control. I loved this short course that focused on powerful editing tools.“ Heather
HOW TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE
“This is possibly the area I struggle with most—knowing where and how to start and inserting a hook. You concentrated on how to get from HERE to THERE. I saw the impact of the changes you suggested. Little things make SUCH a difference.” Judy Broad
I had an Insight About where to Start
“It was helpful knowing how an editor looks at a scene. I had an insight about where to start the opening scene of my work in progress. Now that I’ve seen it, it seems so obvious.“ Janis
Here’s What’s Waiting for You Inside
• Focused lesson showing how genre, voice, and dialogue shape your opening scene.
• Quick-reference cheat sheet so you remember the most important takeaways.
• Nine opening-scene excerpts (approx. 750 words each) across genres, all marked up with editorial comments and insights you can apply to your own pages.
• Downloadable, 40-page ebook to review the critiques easily.
• 33-minute video lesson where an editor breaks down openings step by step.
• Lifetime access so you can revisit lessons every time you start a new novel.
What Sets the First Pages Quick Fix Clinic Apart
• Real editorial insights — Watch a 33-minute video with an editor explaining why specific changes improve a scene, so you can apply the same techniques to your work.
• Full critique access — Learn from nine edited excerpts of first chapters (approx. 750 words each), with Track Changes line edits and editorial commentary.
• Learn by example — Instead of just hearing advice, every edit is marked up for you, helping you spot and fix weak openings in your own stories.
• Reusable strategies — Build editing habits you can apply to every book, not just your current draft.
Learn From an Editor Who Has Evaluated 300+ First Chapters
I’m Stacy Juba, an author and editor who knows what it’s like to deal with a messy beginning. Over the years, I’ve revamped first chapters for my young adult ice hockey novel, paranormal YA thriller, two mysteries, and two chick lit books. Those novels have collected over a thousand Amazon reviews with average ratings of between 4-and-4.5 stars.
As a freelance developmental editor and line editor, I can tell a lot from those early pages. Often, they reveal whether the technique is solid, or whether problems will repeat throughout the book.
That’s why I built the First Pages Quick Fix Clinic—to help you master how to write your first chapter so you can keep building momentum instead of getting stuck.
Follow My Simple 3-Step Framework for Opening Scene Success
Learn the fundamentals
Discover what makes an excellent story opening.
Explore the critique library
Study first pages marked up by a professional editor.
Evaluate your opener
Apply the same strategies to your own work.
Once You Watch an Editor Dissect a First Page, You’ll Start Noticing Things You Never Saw Before.
$47
You're protected by the Shortcuts for Writers No-Hassle Guarantee.
First Pages Quick Fix comes with a 100% money-back guarantee, so your purchase is risk-free.
There’s a good reason clients and students describe me as generous, professional, enthusiastic, and insightful—it’s because I put tremendous care into every course and stand behind everything I teach.
If you go through the lessons and feel the course didn’t deliver the clear, practical guidance promised, just email us within 7 days and you’ll get a full refund.
If you request a refund, we will ask you for feedback on how the course didn’t meet your expectations, so we can improve our marketing messaging in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who will benefit most from this course?
A. This course is best suited for fiction writers who want to strengthen their opening pages and understand what editors look for in first chapters. It’s especially helpful for writers who feel stuck revising chapter one or unsure whether their opening is working.
Q. Will my first pages get critiqued in this course?
A. No. This course does not include personalized critiques. Instead, you’ll study nine professionally edited opening scenes with detailed commentary so you can apply the same techniques to your own work.
If you’d like personal feedback on your opening pages, though, check out the First Impressions Edit on my developmental editing service page.
Q. What makes this different from general advice I can find online?
A. The course focuses on real editorial examples rather than general tips. You’ll see first chapters marked up with in-line edits and explanations, helping you understand not just what to change, but why those changes matter.
Q. Is this course more helpful for drafting or revising?
A. The course is designed primarily for revising opening pages, but many writers also use it while drafting to avoid common first-chapter mistakes from the start.
Q. What makes for an excellent story opening?
A. Strong story openings drop readers into the action, reveal character voice, and hint at conflict to come. Through nine full critiques across genres, this course shows you the common mistakes to avoid and the simple fixes that make your opening stronger.
Q. Can I reuse what I learn for future books?
A. Yes. The techniques taught in the course are designed to be reusable, helping you evaluate and strengthen opening scenes across multiple projects and genres.
Q. What happens once I purchase, and how long do I have access?
A. Purchases will be made through the Shortcuts for Writers Thrivecart Learn platform. You will be directed to set up a password and will be granted access to the classroom where you will find the lessons, videos, and downloadable files. You’ll have lifetime access, so you can revisit the lessons at any time.
Q. Can I share this course with my writer friends or clients?
A. You’re welcome to share a link where others can buy the course. In fact, you’re invited to join the affiliate program and earn a commission on sales.
However, your purchase may not be shared or copied, and the First Pages Quick Fix content can’t be distributed to anyone who hasn’t purchased it. For more details, you can read the full Terms & Conditions here.
When you download, print, or otherwise use our products for personal study, you do not gain ownership rights. The content remains company property. Therefore, any reproduction or unauthorized use of materials from the program will be treated as infringement.
Get Instant Access to. . .
• Focused lesson showing how genre, voice, and dialogue shape your opening scene.
• Quick-reference cheat sheet so you remember the most important takeaways.
• Nine opening-scene excerpts (approx. 750 words each) across genres, all marked up with editorial comments and insights you can apply to your own pages.
• Downloadable, 40-page ebook to review the critiques easily.
• 33-minute video lesson where an editor breaks down openings step by step.
• Lifetime access so you can revisit lessons every time you start a new novel.
Clear and Helpful
“The course helped me with things I needed to incorporate to make the opening more concise. It was clear and helpful.” Susan
HELPED ME SEE WHERE I COULD MAKE CHANGES
“The course helped me plan and recognize my mistakes, and the examples gave me a reference point to use. In the final lesson, there were visual examples of several genres, which helped me see where I could make changes to make my novel stronger, more transparent, and more engaging.” Ardith
Clear and Concise
“You were clear, concise, and the info was helpful.“ Jacquetta
Turn a Weak Opening Into a Strong Start
For just $47, you’ll study nine professionally edited story openers—each with in-line edits, revision notes, and commentary—so you can learn exactly how to fix your own first chapter. You’ll know where to begin revising, avoid common pitfalls, and craft an opener that keeps readers riveted.
Give your opening pages the edge they deserve—enroll in the First Pages Quick Fix Clinic today.
Privacy Policy: We will occasionally track your web activity on pages owned by Shortcuts for Writers and we will occasionally send you emails related to the course material. In all circumstances, your private data is kept confidential and you can unsubscribe from our emails at any time (except for transactional emails necessary to fulfill our contractual duties).
Terms & Conditions: You have 7 days starting the day after payment is received to preview the course material before your refund period expires. If you request a refund after the 7-day period, your request will be denied. Please read the full terms and conditions for this course here.