In this special episode 47 of The Page One Podcast, host Holly Payne, accompanied by acclaimed author Nina Schuyler, delves into the meticulous craft behind the first page of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See. They explore how Doerr's writing hooks readers through precise language, rhythmic prose, and active verbs. Schuyler highlights the skillful use of suspense, detailed imagery, and musicality in the prose, illustrating why this is one of the best demonstrations of the power of enough. Sometimes less is more, especially when you begin with a single word: leaflets. Check out this special episode—the first POP1 (Power of Page One) pick of the month following the launch of the Power of Page One Substack. Tune in each month as they not only talk with a master storyteller on the struggles and stories that went into their latest book, but now dive even deeper with a page one analysis of some of their favorite books with Nina Schuyler of Stunning Sentences on Substack. If you’re interested in joining a growing community of writers and book lovers, find us on Substack at Power of Page One.
Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.
About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
Tune in and reach out:
If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime!
The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.
Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack!
In service,
Holly