How to write the beginning of a novel or story?
Your Beginning Hook Checklist
- Do you have something to hook your reader in the first page or two?
- Do you establish the story’s mood, tone, and style?
- Do you introduce your protagonist in their everyday life? ...
- Do you have enough context for your reader to sufficiently feel interested in your character and their story?
- Do you include backstory or exposition only where it’s relevant?
How would you begin a story?
Setting the right frame for your future vision story.
- “Imagine if …” Imagine if is a really, really powerful phrase to start your story. ...
- Here’s what excites me… This is another great way to start your story. ...
- “I remember when…”
Is the beginning of a story also called the Exposition?
the series of related events in a story: exposition: the beginning of the story where we learn about setting, character, and initial conflict; also called the basic situation: complication: this is the part of the story where characters try to solve the conflict; this leads up to the climax and is also called the rising action: climax
How to write a good story beginning?
Start with a problem or conflict. This could be a small problem; for example, your character is about to miss her bus home. Even a small problem gives your main character something to do and creates some activity and momentum right away. Start at an exciting point in the story. Don't be afraid to start your story right in the middle of the action.
Introducing Readers to A Memorable Narrator-Protagonist
This is a popular way to start a story about a character coming of age or grappling with internal conflict. These novels typically use first person...
Beginning A Novel With Crucial Memories
Often novels open with narrators recalling memories that are core to the plot. This is especially common in novels where a single, unforgettable ev...
Starting A Book With Ambiguous Action
A little bit of mystery or confusion at the start of your novel can help to reel readers in. At the same time, make sure your opening isn’t so myst...
Leading Into Your Story With A Purposeful Prologue
‘Prologue’ literally means the ‘before word’. This separate introductory or prefatory section in a novel has several uses: 1. Giving broad historic...
Strong Ways to Start A Story: Opening With The Unexpected
Often the most memorable story openings surprise us and make us pause for a moment.Take Bradbury’s beginning to Fahrenheit 451 above, ‘It was a ple...
How to start a story?
These five types of story beginnings work: Introduce readers to a memorable narrator-protagonist. Begin with crucial memories . Start with ambiguous action. Lead with a purposeful prologue. Open with the unexpected. Watch the summary video on ways to begin stories now, ...
How to start a story about a character coming of age?
Introduce readers to a memorable narrator-protagonist. This is a popular way to start a story about a character coming of age or grappling with internal conflict. These novels typically use first person narration. From the first line, the reader gets to know a characterful narrator.
What is the effect of being addressed directly by the narrator?
Being addressed directly by the narrator creates a sense of closeness and familiarity. This effect is similar to Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Reader, I married him’ in Jane Eyre. Another strong example of this story opening type, the protagonist/narrator introduction, is Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita (1955).
What does "prologue" mean in a book?
Lead with a purposeful prologue. ‘Prologue’ literally means the ‘before word’. This separate introductory or prefatory section in a novel has several uses: Giving broad historical context that paves the way for the main story.
What does a little bit of mystery or confusion at the start of a novel do?
A little bit of mystery or confusion at the start of your novel can help to reel readers in.
What is the issue with beginner writers?
An issue I see with a lot of beginner writers is they tend to write the backstory as the story itself… that backstory is usually you as the writer writing it for yourself so you can understand the characters.
Why is the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time effective?
Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (2003) Haddon’s opening is effective because it builds up to the revelation that the dog was killed violently. It’s effective because it raises questions we want answered.
Why is the beginning of a story important?
Your beginning is where the reader (or editor) decides whether to keep reading. Your beginning also sets the reader's expectations for the story’s middle and ending. But don't let the importance of your story beginning intimidate you ...
What is the first task in a book?
Your first task is to get something -- anything -- onto that blank page. If it doesn't come out right, then let it come out wrong. No problem. You’ll fix it afterward.
Why do readers care about the plot?
In most stories, readers care about the plot because they care about the main character. The sooner you introduce your main character, the sooner the reader can develop an emotional relationship with him or her. Let your reader know what kind of story it is.
What is creative process?
They are part of a necessary process of exploration that showed you where your story has to go. Starting a different story. The creative process often leads writers down unexpected paths. You start out with a certain story in mind then are surprised at where it leads.
1. First line that evokes curiosity
The first line is always the hardest! What goes into a good first line? Well, let’s take a look at the opening to Gabriel García Márquez’s famous novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude:
2. An interesting character
I’ve noticed that the best book beginnings usually start with the introduction of a character, not a lengthy description.
3. Tension
Unless you’re Tolkien, this one is really important. There needs to be some sort of conflict, problem, or tension! If a book starts with a lengthy description, a routine action, or uneventful dialogue, I tend to put the book down. I don’t want a pastoral scene. I want to be alarmed. I want to feel suspense.
4. Odd situation
This one relates to having tension, but is slightly different. Put your characters in a odd situation that is outside their routine or comfort zone. You can set them in a place they’ve never been before. Or maybe they meet someone they haven’t seen for years.
5. Some background setting & time period
Don’t spend too much time on background exposition. However, a little bit of concrete setting definitely helps ground the story. Just keep it short and simple. For example, this is how Carlos Ruiz Zafón begins his bestselling novel The Shadow of the Wind:
Crafting your own beginning
Your can do whatever you want with your own beginning, because it’s all yours. But it’s good to keep these elements in mind.
How to start a novel?
Britanie Wilson: There are many ways to start a novel, but in my experience, the most successful beginnings have the magnetic effect of appealing to an emotion that all readers possess: curiosity. Make them immediately ask of your characters: What is this place? Why are they here? What are they doing? Who is involved? Where is this going? If you can pique your readers' curiosity from the very first sentence, you can will them to keep reading before they even know they like your book.
What should the opening of a novel be?
Nathan Connolly: The reader should be looking for an answer. The opening to your novel should be a question that can only be answered by reading on. This doesn't need to be literal, or overt, it can even be poetic, or abstract, but there must be a wound that can only be healed by reading on.
What draws me into a literary novel?
Meghan Pinson: What draws me into a literary novel is the sense that the author has a deep knowledge of everything they’re writing about. If the first page conveys a mastery of place, time, and language, I can trust the novel is borne of good research, and I’ll relax into the story. But if the details feel off, or are absent or vague, I won’t read on.
Why is it important to start a book with a cryptic opening?
At the same time, it's important that the start of your book isn't entirely cryptic. Your opening must sustain your readers' interest in some way if you are to keep them reading through to chapter two, and reveal more and more information in the plot points to come.
How to start a book with the unexpected?
Gareth Watkins: Start with the unexpected. Think of the opening to Nineteen Eighty-Four, or Iain Banks’ , The Crow Road, “It was the day my grandmother exploded.” Of course, your opening doesn’t have to be as outrageous as these, but always aim for the unusual. In other words: think of how people will be expecting the book to start, then take the plot in another direction.
What is medias res in literature?
Jeanette Shaw: I find novels that open in medias res (latin for "in the midst of action") to be really effective at immediately grabbing the reader and establishing stakes and tension. A classic example is Lord of the Flies, which starts with the boys on the island and then fills in the details of how they got there later. If you go this route, you need to be sure your opening action is compelling enough that the reader is prepared to wait for character setup later.
Why do writers not start a story?
That comes later, once the narrative arc has taken clearer form. It’s also because the opening lines of a novel carry a lot of responsibility with them. They act as an invitation for someone who’s glanced at the first page of your book to ...
What is the first part of a story?
The first part of a story is the beginning . This part of the story lets us know a little bit about the characters, setting, and plot . It helps us understand who, what, where, and when. The beginning can be any length ranging from a page to several chapters. The second part of any story is the middle.
What is the middle of a story?
The middle is generally the longest part of the story . The middle answers the questions of why. The last part of the story is the end. The end of the book finds a resolution or resolves the conflict. The end is when the beginning starts becoming a finalized story. Endings help us answer the question of how.
