Writing First Chapters…

@nova21 Okay, so I’m actually working on rewriting my beginning right now as well XD It’s really hard so I understand your problem! Last week I watched a webinar with Nadine Brandes and Sara Ella about writing your first chapter and it was FANTASTIC so I’ll share some of my notes with you!

~ To keep your readers engaged, create curiosity and have high stakes. If there’s nothing at risk for your character in the beginning, your readers can lose interest really fast.
~Every beginning includes a loss, a choice, and a villain (or just conflict of some sort).
~It’s super important to make sure your readers have a way of connecting to your protagonist.
~Create little questions along the way — like breadcrumbs. This keeps your readers curious, but make sure you answer the questions at some point otherwise your readers won’t feel satisfied.
~Hint toward a bigger plot.
~Don’t include too much backstory. It weighs down the first chapter and often turns into an info dump.

Hope that helps! I’d also suggest spending some time on your first line. Personally, I spend quite a bit of time thinking of a perfect first line to hook my readers, but honestly, it’s not necessary to have the perfect first line. There are great books with not-so-great first lines.

Also, establishing your story’s world is really important, but be careful not to go on for too long describing it. It can get boring lol. It’s best to include details here and there throughout your first chapter (and the whole book, really) so you don’t overwhelm and bore your readers with new information.

@nova21

First chapters. Purpose: To introduce. To intruce what? The things that the writer must introduce. The setting of each particular scene you wish to introduce. The setting for the story. The setting of the mood of the story. The introduction of characters (all those characters that you as the writer wish to introduce as you see fit to provide the adequate backing for the rest of your story). Quality. Story. The introduction of the writer’s level of expertise: are you actually a good writer or a terrible writer? What’s your style like? How do all the things/events/etc. that you open up with and present for the story effect the story? Charles Dickens: One can tell by his first sentences that he is a great writer. He can write proficiently and greatly. BUT: is he a good author. Can he write good stories. Will his style be consistent throughout the novel. Introduction of the conflict.

Also: you must be consistent with everything you present in the first chapter or first few chapters in regards to the rest of your novel. This has to do with story, characters, etc. You are introducing your characters. Your story/conflict. Your setting. The setting — even if you plan on moving to a different setting later on. Every setting you introduce is an introduction to the readers of that setting. Anything you introduce sets the tone for the readers for the way those things will end up being. If you have a bad introduction, a bad first chapter, your book will be crippled. So: Plan before you write. Then write your plan. Research and think about all the angles one could take on the introduction: make sure your material is interesting. Make your story diverse and interesting. Don’t bore your readers.

The first chapter of your book is in essence the introduction to your book. This is assuming that you are not including any sort of pre-material (Prelude, prologue, etc.).

Introduce key themes, character arcs, story. Don’t be cliché, and provide enough backstory to get your readers interested: this can be easily hinted at through the setting. What is the landscape like? Dull or lush? Hard or soft. Hot or cold. Lukewarm?

Think about things. The first chapter is not all about introducing your protagonist. Or your antagonist (though you can certainly do that). Your book is not an information dump on your characters. Novels are for story. Characters carry story: thus, characters are involved in the story. A good introduction is essential.

First sentences: These are important. Your introduction must intrigue your audience. You are providing for them the introduction and in that introduction the hook of intrigue that your audience must catch on to. If your audience doesn’t care about your first chapter, that’s a problem. You want them to love your first chapter because it’s the beginning of your story. If they hate your story you might as well give up. What’s your storyline? Give it to people. If they like it, great. If they don’t, change your story. Or write the story you want to write as a hobby.

USE. DIALOGUE. Use the tools of your craft, but use dialogue particularly. People care more about dialogue than they do about narrative. Use dialogue. Never forsake dialogue. Dialogue provides insight into characters, into how they react; dialogue provides insight into the story, the conflict. Don’t forsake dialogue.

Don’t be too modern in your writing. Introduce. And introduce with style. Take as long as you need in your introduction: you are after all introducing your whole story. But don’t be bland.

@nova21

Okay, so, some others might have already said this (I kind of didn’t read through all of the answers) so my apologies if I’m just repeating the same stuff. But as Joy Caroline said a big thing to watch out for is info dump. Don’t just tell the reader everything that’s has happened. Backstory can come later if/when needed. Only show what we need to know at this current moment. You should start your opening chapter close to where the “inciting incident” is going to happen but not right at it. The chapter needs to lead us closer to the “inciting incident” but give us a small bit of space before that happens. What I love is to be able to start off a story very close to when something exciting happens and be able to get a glimpse of who is going to lead the story as well as the setting. I hope some of this will help!!!

@nova21

No problem!

@nova21

Your first chapter outline is extremely interesting!
Kingdom Pen has a really great article that has helped me a lot and covers just about everything on first chapters that I can think of:

Write The Perfect First Chapter | The Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, by Kathleen and Erin Ramm.