How to start your novel: Hook readers with a compelling opening chapter
All stories must start somewhere. But knowing where and how to begin is one of the biggest challenges for fiction authors. Read on for my essential tips on writing an opening chapter that will get your readers hooked.
Why the opening chapter is so important
The opening chapter of your novel is the doorway into your fictional world. It should act as an irresistible invitation to the reader to lose themselves in your book. If you want to grab the reader’s attention, then what’s happening in those first pages (and particularly the very first page!) has to be interesting and the writing itself must be engaging. Otherwise, readers aren’t going to bother to continue reading.
So, no pressure, right? It might all be sounding a bit intense right now, but don’t worry. As with any other aspect of writing books, there are tried and tested techniques you can use to get the result you want.
How to write an attention-grabbing first line
If you can get your reader’s attention with your opening line, half the battle is won. The best opening lines showcase the writer’s style and introduce the character, mood and themes of the novel. Here are a few approaches you can try:
Begin with a strange detail that gives a flavour of the unusual fictional world of your book.
Distil the central theme of your novel into a single sentence.
Write a sentence that captures your main character’s unique voice.
Tell your reader what happens to your main character at the end – they’ll want to read the story to find out how and why (this works especially well if they die at the end).
Why you should focus on character and action
Your opening chapter should introduce the main character and a significant scenario they’re experiencing. Crucially, action needs to be unfolding right away in those opening paragraphs, throwing the reader straight into the story. However, when I say action, it doesn’t have to be a high stakes car chase or fight scene. Action just means that the character needs to be doing something, that events must be occurring. The action can be small, but it must be interesting and significant to the story and character. You want your reader to be wondering “What is going to happen next?” and “How is the character going to handle this situation?”. Questions are what keep your readers reading.
How much exposition you should give
What about worldbuilding and back story, I hear you cry? Of course, these are important elements of storytelling too. But long sections of scene-setting description, worldbuilding information and details about a character’s past usually aren’t interesting enough to grab a reader’s attention in your opening chapter. Weave in some snippets to give context relevant to the unfolding action, but for now keep the focus on character and action. Giving a limited amount of information about worldbuilding and backstory actually helps to create intrigue, making the reader want to discover more about your fictional world and to find out how your character ended up in the situation they are currently facing. More reasons for them to keep reading.
Setting reader expectations
The opening pages are a chance to let your reader know that they are reading something that suits their taste. Make sure you demonstrate the tone and style of your writing, as well as any genre-related expectations such as theme and setting.
Applying chapter-writing basics
Your opening chapter should also tick the same boxes as any other chapter in the book. It should:
- Serve to progress the plot in some way
- Have a good balance of scene and narrative summary
- Be well structured, with a beginning, middle and end
- Have an ending that entices the reader to dive into the next chapter
Cliches to avoid
The main character waking up: Someone waking up isn’t exactly compelling, especially if this is followed by mundane details about the character getting up and going about their day. Get straight to the interesting bit!
A dream sequence: It might initially grab your reader’s attention, but then you risk annoying and alienating them when they realise it was only a dream. And inevitably, a dream sequence is followed by your character waking up (see previous point).
Beginning in the middle of a chase scene: While you want your main character to be active, launching straight into a high-paced chase can be off-putting, because at this point the reader does not know or care about who is being chased.
A long conversation: Your reader won’t yet know or care about the characters speaking. It can also be disorientating and make it hard to set the scene.
Just start writing
It can be tricky to get your opening chapter right on the first attempt, so don’t let it hold you back from getting started on writing. Bear these tips in mind, but ultimately the best thing to do is jump in somewhere that feels right and start writing. Later, when you’ve finished your first draft, you can revisit the opening and assess whether it is serving your story in the best possible way. Sometimes it’s easier to write your opening chapter once you get to the end.
Summing up
Writing your opening chapter can feel like a daunting task. By following the tips and techniques in this article you can overcome feelings of overwhelm and craft opening scenes that give your readers plenty of reasons to carry on reading.
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