Start the story where your main character’s life changes. This change should set them on a journey. They were going along life and BAM chapter one hits. Some easy pitfall to fall into are: 1.) Starting on a regular day and giving all the boring details 2.) Starting the story with the main character waking up.
Also, chapter one is a promise to your reader. What type of emotions will the reader feel? Is there a problem that will need to be solved? What genre is this book? What can your reader expect? In what point of view are you telling the story?
You need to stick to your chapter one promises or else the reader might be disappointed.
What should your chapter 1 include?
- The chapter should include world building in a fun, active way.
- Tension
- Make the audience like your main character or at least make them pity them. Your reader needs a reason to be interested in what happens to your character.
- Introduce a lie the character believes
- Introduce their goal
Tips and Tricks
- Every sentence can give the reader a question in their head and answer the questions. If you read the first paragraph of the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does an excellent job at this.
- Put a ticking time bomb in your story. If the character does not get (yada-yada-yada) by this set time, then the world will end (well something like that).
- Introduce only a few characters. In my opinion, putting too many people makes it confusing and also makes me lose focus.
What can you do this week to improve your writing?
- Read the first chapters of your favorite books. Do they do any of things I mentioned? What else did they do to capture your attention.
- Read some blogs on the topic:
Happy Writing!
