How To Start Writing A Book – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” was one of the most famous lines from the first chapter of literature. A killer hook, a thrilling story, an unforgettable character – no, we’re not talking about the plot of a horror movie. These are some of the elements that contribute to a tantalizing first chapter. We can’t give you a magic formula that will get your opening sentence quoted by Charles Dickens, but we can give you some tips on how to write a first chapter that will captivate readers.
To convince readers that they should continue reading your book, the first chapter should contain everything a summary could contain. You want to be unique and inventive in your writing, but leaving out these story elements is likely to confuse readers more than attract them.
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How To Start Writing A Book
When it comes to a book chapter, simple doesn’t mean boring. This means not overdescribing the setting, introducing too many characters, or using overly technical terms at this point in the book.
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I think the bulk of the first chapter is an interesting introduction to the material, as well as an explanation of why the reader needs the information and why you are the one providing it to them.
[In the first chapter, don’t] be too broad and don’t try to cover too many bases. That’s what the rest of your book is about. Give context, of course, but give a concrete reason why the reader should continue reading.
Famous quotes, clichés, and profound statements are expected at this point, so what can you say that sets the tone for the book while still feeling unique?
The first paragraph is where you can introduce the reader to your writing style and sell them the rest of the story. Consider this your “elevator” for your book. From the first sentence, your book must be in your writing voice and in the tone of the book.
How To Start Writing A Book
I often start with a personal anecdote (or an anonymous customer case study) to illustrate the need for the information I’m sharing, my expertise and engage readers.
Other options include starting with a simple sentence containing only a subject and a verb, a single quote from your main character, or starting in the middle of a conflict. For example:
Since your first line and first paragraph of your chapter are arguably the most integral parts of your entire book, it’s good to get feedback on them as soon as possible.
Find people from your target audience (friends, family, social media followers, etc.) to serve as a mini focus group. Send them your first line, without context (especially without any indication that it is your writing from a work in progress) and ask them to share how they feel. If most of them respond with the feelings you’re looking for, you have a good opening sentence for your book.
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You can do the same thing with the entire first paragraph or even the first chapter. Pay attention to whether your readers want to read and where they are confused.
Although your first chapter is part of a larger story, you can make it even more compelling by giving it its own miniature plot. You won’t want to resolve everything in this mini-plot at the end of the first chapter, but you will be able to give your reader some satisfaction.
To do this, identify something your character needs early in the story and place one or two small obstacles in their path. It’s not the main plot of your book, but it should fit into it.
A mini-plot like this sets the story in motion and makes your first chapter a real page-turner. It leaves an excellent impression on the reader, who will not be able to resist further reading.
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One way to hook your readers at the end of the first chapter and most subsequent chapters is to end with cliffhangers or open loops. The idea is to leave the reader begging to know more, to keep them turning from page to page. As Michael Kwan suggests:
While we could talk about “closing the loop” on tasks, projects, and to-do lists, you want to leave loops open for your reader in the first chapter. You give them enough to intrigue them, but not enough to fully satisfy them. So they can’t help but continue reading.
From non-fiction to fiction, the first chapter can be very different. As you write, think about your audience and your genre. What is the standard? What will readers expect? Either way, your goal is to intrigue readers, but the approach to achieving that goal is different for each genre.
When I write fiction, I write in the first person present tense because it has an immediacy that helps me communicate my emotions well because most of my fiction writing is very emotional. I want my readers to feel like they are there with the character. For my nonfiction, I write almost exactly as I would speak to a class in which I teach the same subject.
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The first chapter is the first thing an agent will read when considering whether or not to submit your book through the traditional publishing process. It’s also the first thing readers will see (after the front and back covers – which you may have no control over) whether you’re self-published or under a publishing deal. This is basically the deciding factor on whether someone will finish and recommend your book.
Whether you write it first or last, give your first chapter a lot of extra attention in your editing circles – more than any other chapter. Make a checklist of everything you want your first chapter to be. With each editing round, focus on one of these elements. Annual writing sprints like NaNoWriMo allow many seasoned and new writers to test their limits. Writing a book – a carefully and beautifully constructed book – takes time. Usually well over 30 days. However, trying this exercise is helpful in developing discipline, concentration and
When someone asks “how do I write a book in x number of days?” » The reactions of the screenwriters are sometimes discouraging. “Never write a book with a deadline of only 30 days!”, says one Quora user. Reasons why you
If this seems like an impossible task, give yourself more days. Or write a few scenes as a summary. Later, you can add connective tissue between plot events (such as scene transitions).
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You may be thinking, “I can easily write for an hour every day. » It’s true that surprises, last minute commitments and life in general can take away from your writing time. For every hour of free time you have, allow half an hour to write.
When you know exactly what hours you have, block them out in your calendar. Use a color that clearly separates them from other events and obligations. Draw an “X” every day after you achieve the word goal. The satisfaction of this action (feeling of accomplishment) will motivate you to continue.
Different parts of writing a novel require different types of problem solving. Character sketching, for example, relies more on imagination, while editing is a somewhat more rational (though still creative) process. [You can create full character profiles in the pipeline using the step-by-step instructions in the story dashboard in Now Novel.]
To see if you can learn how to write a book in 30 days, structure is key. Divide each writing session into different tasks. Complete different parts of a draft or draft at the same time. This allows you to vary the process and reduce the risk of blockages.
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If, for example, you prefer to write dialogue rather than present scenes and settings, save your favorite part of the storytelling process for the end of each session. This makes your favorite part a reward that you work toward every time you sit down to write.
Create a reward program for yourself to stay motivated. Large gyms and insurance policies use this approach to keep their members active. Because they understand motivation and how reward-driven we are. Maximize your commitment to your story (and your word count goals) by:
Rewards don’t have to be expensive, overly indulgent, or distracting. Take a walk somewhere inspiring or beautiful, read a few pages of your favorite book, or have coffee with a close friend. Let your rewards be relaxing activities that help you get back on track, refreshed and focused.
If you’ve ever watched competitive reality TV, you may have seen instances where the most competitive and dedicated contestant cracked under the pressure early on. Putting yourself under too much pressure is a quick path to burnout.
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Instead, think of writing a book in 30 days as an impossible goal that you’ll see if you can achieve in a fun way. It is important that this moment is fun and varied. Some ways to make a game of it:
Quote “Write drunk; edit sober’ is often attributed to Ernest Hemingway, although it is unclear whether Hemingway actually said it. Regardless of who said it, the quote says something true about writing. Not that you should write literally drunk. But you should give yourself a little freedom
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