At the beginning of your story make sure you:
introduce your character–please be interesting
grab your reader–let something happen
show us there’s something a-brewin’–start on the day something new happens
make a promise to the reader, then keep it–writing a mystery? Let the reader know soon
let us hear voice–a true young adult or middle grade voice
write your heart–if you write what matters to you, there’s a good chance it will matter to others
Throwing Up Words 