Choose the right excerpt: highlight your voice without spoiling the plot

A sharp 300-word excerpt can seal a publishing deal, yet one misplaced reveal may kill reader curiosity. Follow this guide to select, polish and deploy the perfect sample of your work—one that showcases style, stakes and tone while leaving buyers desperate for the full manuscript.

Why your excerpt is a power tool

An excerpt is more than a teaser. It is a friction-free gateway that lets agents, editors and readers hear your unique voice in seconds. A strong selection can:

• Prove craft fast: vivid prose beats a pitch deck in demonstrating skill.
• Create emotional buy-in: readers invest when conflict is clear but unresolved.
• Unlock opportunities: a shareable clip feeds newsletters, social posts and author portfolio hubs.

The three criteria of a “right” excerpt

1. Standalone clarity
   The scene must make sense without prior chapters. Ground the reader in who, where and what is at stake within the first two sentences.
2. Tonal accuracy
   Match your book's dominant mood. A single slapstick scene misrepresents an otherwise somber thriller.
3. Controlled curiosity
   End on a hook, not a reveal. Tease a mystery or choice that remains unanswered.

Step-by-step excerpt selection workflow

1. Map tension peaks

Open your manuscript outline. Mark each moment where tension spikes. Ideal excerpts sit between 15 % and 35 % of narrative progress—far enough to avoid exposition dumps yet early enough to hide core twists.

2. Time the word count

Industry surveys show that 250–400 words keep digital readers engaged. Anything longer risks skimming; anything shorter may lack depth.

3. Stress-test comprehension

Hand the scene to two beta readers who have not read the book. Ask three questions:

• Who is the protagonist?
• What do they want right now?
• What makes you turn the page?

If both answer easily yet crave more, the excerpt works.

4. Polish for pace

Delete set-ups that your main text covers elsewhere. Keep dialogue tags lean. Sensory verbs outperform static description.

5. Layer CTA breadcrumbs

After the excerpt, lead readers directly to a clear action—sample request, pre-order link or an author portfolio page where they can see awards and reviews.

Excerpt placement tactics

Common spoiler traps to avoid

• Flash-forward reveals: Scenes that expose the final setting break suspense.
• Villain POV monologues: Keep motive shadows intact.
• Character death descriptions: Readers deserve to witness the shock in context.

Testing and analytics

Track how long visitors stay on your excerpt page. A 60 % scroll depth indicates healthy engagement and signals that the sample length lands in the sweet spot. Pair this with click-through rates to your author landing page SEO tweaks to refine placement decisions. Dig deeper by consulting heatmap tools that show whether eyes linger on dialogue or descriptive beats, then watch session replays to identify hesitation points that make readers abandon the journey. When you align such behavioural data with email open rates and social-share velocity, you create a feedback loop that continually sharpens both excerpt choice and its presentation.

Mini-case study: suspense done right

Debut novelist Lina R. shared a 310-word hospital corridor scene on her site. She withheld the patient's identity, ending with a beeping monitor cliff-hanger. Result: newsletter sign-ups jumped 42 % in one week and secured three full-manuscript requests.

Quiz: Is your excerpt ready?

FAQ

Should I label the excerpt “Chapter One”?

No. Use a neutral heading such as “Excerpt” to avoid implying readers must start the book there.

Can I stitch lines from different scenes together?

Avoid it. Patchwork excerpts can feel disjointed and mislead editors about pacing.

May I include editorial praise with the excerpt?

Yes—place a single, short blurb above the text to lend social proof without overshadowing the prose.

Where else can I learn about boosting portfolio impact?

Check our guide on integrating social proof (article available soon) to strengthen your author bio.

Next step: deploy with confidence

Draft your excerpt today, embed it on your site, then share the link in your next query cycle. Combine it with the portfolio optimisation tactics from our author headshot guide to create a cohesive, irresistible pitch.

Ready to captivate? Select your excerpt, add the final hook, and watch your inbox fill with request emails.