Raise your hand if you already know that the beginning of your novel must hook the reader? My guess is everyone’s hands shot in the air. Writing the perfect beginning, one that establishes mood, voice, genre, place. One that introduces characters and one that hooks. I’m exhausted just thinking about everything the first few pages of my novel must do.
Being a pantster writer, I do not write the perfect beginning when I start my novel. I write what comes out of my head. It may or may not work. More often than not that beginning starts with an inciting incident (something that provokes the action). From there, I’m left on my own to allow the novel to develop in my imagination.
As my novel unfolds and takes shape, I usually realize that my beginning isn’t right. It must change. That, however, is not something I embark on until I’m finished with the entire manuscript. Otherwise, I could get bogged down for days and never get to THE END.
According to one agent, the first five pages must include: Voice, Setting, Pace, Tone, Concept. She went on to describe each of these. Voice, she said, must be compelling. It’s the “voice” of the main character. That description of voice works if your novel has a single voice. My novel, on the other hand, has four distinct voices with four distinct points-of-view. Voice then becomes a bit fuzzier. Next the agent explained that the setting must set the stage immediately. We must show the reader where the characters are. Pace is what moves the story along. A slow, drawn-out pace might work for some literary fiction. For the most part commercial fiction demands a fast pace. The character is immediately thrust in some kind of action with conflicts that must be resolved. Too much backstory can slow pace. Tone depends on the type or book you’re writing. If you’re writing a mystery, like me, you want the tone to reflect the mysterious. If you’re writing a romance or chick-lit, tone is very different. Lastly, the first few pages must show concept. By concept, the agent suggested it needs to have a purpose–why would people buy this book.
Again, all these elements need to be evident in the first few pages. Oh, yes, and you must hook the reader. You can have a great voice, setting, pace, tone and concept, but if you don’t hook the reader, you’re out.
That’s why I find it so hard to write the first few pages of my novels. Those pages are also extremely important because many agents and editors won’t read beyond them. I must’ve written the first chapter in The Clock Strikes Midnight twenty times. No kidding!
Here are some tips for creating the perfect beginning:
- When you first start your novel, DO NOT try and write the perfect beginning. If you do, you’ll never get past page five.
- Once your novel is finished, ask yourself these questions: 1) What is my concept? 2) What tone do I want to project? 3) Which character needs to open the book?
- Write a draft beginning careful to start at the inciting incident. For mysteries it’s usually the murder.
- Re-write your beginning draft in order to create the best hook. What does your first sentence say? Does it capture the essence of your book and hook the reader? Writing that amazing first sentence takes many, many drafts. Don’t expect it to simply flow from your fingertips like magic. It’s work!
- Re-write your beginning again and again.
- Ask readers to read what you wrote and then quiz them. What do they think this book is about? Who do they believe is the main character? Do they want to read more?
- If you’ve got the nerve, send your first few pages for critique to the Critique Circle. You’ll get lots of feedback.
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Oh my gosh, such great advice. For my current WIP, I kept going back to the beginning, and by doing that, I risk it being contrived I think. Anyway, I’m 40K in now, pretty darn happy with all of it so far. We’ll see how I feel when I’m on my first round of revisions. 🙂
Just promise me you won’t look at the beginning till you’re all done 🙂 OK?
Very informative post. You’re spot on about not getting fixated with the opening too soon. I just ripped the prologue from my current work after getting 15,000 words into the novel. I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t like prologues because of the tendency to fill them with back story.
Agents don’t like prologues either. Sometimes we have to write a short prescript to begin the book in the right place. Other times we do not need to do that. I’d suggest you stop ripping up your beginning if you just have 15,000 words and keep writing. You can change your beginning much later (like after you finish the first draft). Another trick is to write the backstory in a separate document. That way you can sprinkle it in throughout the story rather than dumping it into a prologue.
Beginnings are so tough. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve rewritten the beginning of one of my works-in-progress. Yes, that many times. Every time I think it’s good, I doubt myself when querying a few agents results in nothing. So I take a look at the beginning again. Even the whole first chapter. It’s a sickness of mine. haha For other stories, the beginnings don’t cause so much trouble, but this one particular book likes to be a pain. 😛
Chrys, you may want to give Critique Circle a go. Although it takes some time to build up enough points for a critique, it might be worth it to you to get their feedback on your beginning. Particularly since you’ve struggled so much with that work in progress.
Really great advice. I am just about to try yet another beginning to my story. I think I am on rewrite number three or four for the first chapter. I keep moving the story a little earlier with each pass and have my fingers crossed that this one will be the most compelling start yet.
E.M.A. I’ve written the first chapter to each of my books multiple times. You may want to try putting your beginning out there on Critique Circle. They sometimes have wonderful advice.
Sound advice. I often feel that a big part of writing a good rough draft is giving yourself permission to “write wrong”. Perfect it during revision, one layer at a time.
Hi Adam, Indeed we sometimes forget that the beginning is a way to get us going. Launch us into the story. But, as the story moves forward, we often have to go back and make lots of changes. If we’re too obsessive at the beginning, it could kill the entire story.
Excellent advice. I don’t stress over the beginning until I’ve reached the end. Then I go back and figure out if I started in the right place. After that I look for the hook. And you’re certainly right about too much backstory early on. I start to snooze if I read a book that does this.
Yes, Kristina, I don’t stress over the beginning until later, but then I really stress! The beginning is so hard to get right.
I’ve discovered recently the first chapter needs to be a sampler of what’s to come, giving the reader a taste of what they’ll experience if they continue to read. Yes, that’s my hook. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
Yes, Anna, the tone of the book must come across in the first chapter. That and everything else! Thanks for stopping by.
First pages are HARD! And only made harder by the fact most contests are judged on the first pages, agents and editors select books based on the first pages, and readers buy based on the first pages (and sometimes on the opening line).
Thanks for the tips!
Any writer who doesn’t think the first pages (the first sentence) isn’t hard, is doing something wrong. Indeed, it’s the test of our skill as writers. I’ve noticed seasoned writers do not spend as much time on the beginning because readers already trust them. I’ve don’t that myself, thinking the book will improve because the writer is one I like. Newbie’s or those of us still creating a fan base don’t have that luxury!
The beginning of a story is always difficult because of all the points you mention. That’s why we need to write them again, and again, and then again. Thanks for these great tips.
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