A reader walks into a bookstore. Spies an interesting book. What does she do? Picks it up. Flips to the first chapter. Or, if I can find the first chapter online somewhere, I’ll read it there. One way or another, I want to see that first chapter. Because that’s where you grab me by the balls or where you push me out the door. The first chapter is where you use me or lose me…

Via http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/05/29/25-things-to-know-about-writing-the-first-chapter/