All stories must begin somewhere. It is not so important how the story begins as much as it is that it starts. Start writing. You can do anything to start writing.
If you want people to continue reading your story, it is vital that the beginning of the story works. Pay attention to your beginning, even if its the best piece of fiction youve ever written.
So, whats the best place to start? Lets begin with one simple tip: it is not necessary to start from the beginning. Its okay to start the process at any time. You do not have to use the first thing you come up with. You dont have to stick with the first line you think of. What matters most is that your beginning grabs the attention of readers and gets them interested in reading more. Follow our tips to help you write a good beginning.
Get the reader interested
The goal is to get readers interested in the story. Here are some tips on how to get them interested in your story. Start with a provocative question, introduce the character or scene. Then use enticing words to lure your readers in. All of these ways are effective, as they make readers want to read more. The first lines of a story are a calling card that will entice readers to continue reading.
Set a character into a scene
No, we do not mean the flowery opening of Edward Bulwer Lyttons Paul Clifford. This is considered to be a bad example of writing. You could create an atmosphere by introducing a location. When I realized that Id opened the safe, Grandma began to prepare the cups. Mingus would always sleep on the red bedclothes in the rear room. This is a great way to introduce a location and also invite readers to read more. Whose Funeral? Whats inside the safe? Why does Mingus use that blanket? What will happen if Laurence returns to his office? Where is mist blocking the path of someones journey? It is clear that we are dealing with characters, settings, and questions.
Introduce the main character
If you want to write a character driven novel or story, start with the main character. Let your reader get to know the character better by showing them something. Imagine that you are introducing a real-life person. This is Emma. She is in HR. What will you talk about with Emma? Confidentiality of the client? Its a good conversation starter to say, “This Emma collects taxidermy of frogs.”
Do not try to cram in all of the description in the first paragraph. “Emma wore yellow hair with blue eyes. She was infatuated by her boyfriend Greg.” is a terrible way to start, because the reader will have no idea about Emmas appearance or her feelings about Greg. (You need to make your reader care). This is much more compelling because it is the opposite of what people expect. Better yet, relate it to the story or novel. Its good to use a line like Emma witnessed the cars crash from a distance. This kind of sentence suggests something about the character (she is someone who watches cars crash/she has just seen something terrible). This line also gives an idea of what the novel might explain (why Emma watched the cars crash and why she was watching them), and a hint at the authors style.
When the narrator speaks in first person, let them speak and show you something interesting through their eyes. I watch the cars again crash. I was just in the right place at the right time.
Take action
A dramatic opening scene can have a great impact. Start your story in medias-res. This means that you should start at the most dramatic part of the story. In a romcom, it could be the breaking up with a lover who isnt satisfying. Place your reader at the center of a story rather than building to it for pages.
Keep your mind active. The sentence Emma got out of bed and started the kettle is not dynamic. The dynamic sentence is “Emma leapt out of the helicopter”. Use active verbs. You should use active verbs.
Hook Them In
What you write will determine how you approach this. Its important to have a distinct voice, and an intriguing proposition. This will help readers feel like theyve never seen anything before. If youre writing a mystery, it may be necessary to pinpoint the incident that ignited the investigation. You might be intrigued by the fact that the stab injuries were exactly in line with the stars of The Plough. If youre writing a horror story, then you will want to make it seem like something is amiss: It was always damp in that particular room. If youre writing historical fiction, its important to establish the setting and time period along with the characters: “Abigail wished that she could have the same liberties as her brother. She would love to be able to ride in front of the coachman.” Youd be amazed at how much you can say in one sentence.
Make it Clear
It is important to not only intrigue but also to make your reader feel at ease. If you can capture the mood or atmosphere of the novel in your first few lines or give a hint about the plot or main character you introduce, readers will have a better idea of what is to come. Your readers will want to know whats going to happen right away, so everything you say at the beginning will take on a greater significance.
Even if your story is about murderers in a dark, spooky wood, you should make the reader feel reassured that your fictional world will deliver an enjoyable reading experience.
Have a distinctive voice
A storys voice is one of its most important aspects. It is important that the reader has the opportunity to get a sense of your voice or narrative style in the opening. Let them get a sense of your voice. Write down the beginnings of your favorite stories. Each one was written by a specific writer. Write those first crucial lines in your own voice, just like the writers you admire. Do not try to copy their style. Instead, develop your own unique voice and display it in the opening lines of your story.
Your first words should evoke the personality of your first person narrator.
Make it Dynamic
Let the readers know that theyre in the middle of an event. Place the reader at the center of the action, instead of building it up. Consider the cinematic. The first scene in The handmaids tale showed a family running through the woods. This was the first episode of The Handmaids Tale, and viewers were unaware who the characters were or why they were being chased. By placing the reader in the middle of the action, you can create a dramatic narrative. You can start your story with impact and action without any set-up. This is a powerful way to start your story. Youll need to understand it later.
The line that grabbed my attention
If youve ever been stopped in our tracks by someone speaking in real-life, on stage, or in film, then a strong line of dialogue can do the same for your reader. You want to make sure that the line of dialogue you choose is at least dramatic and has great impact.
Add context as quickly as possible to begin to paint a picture for the reader, so that they can get a feel of the conversation. This doesnt mean you should start with a simple line like “Emma said as she filled her kettle while Ian was eating toast.” You need to demonstrate how Emma is filled with despair when she watches Ian devour another wholemeal bread.
Its important to experiment with different openings for your story. You might know the exact beginning of your story, or maybe youre just looking for an interesting way to get started. Like everything else in creative writing, you have to use the method that best suits your story. Its important to test it in different ways. Prepare to refine your story after you finish it. These tips on how to start a story should help. Youre in for a great time!
