The first chapter is the most important chapter in the book
because it is the first chapter your readers will see. It must have the power
to draw them in and interest them in the rest of the book. The first chapter also determines the voice,
tone, and atmosphere of the story.
Developing a strong first chapter is often a matter of trial and error. The first chapter is usually the one that is rewritten the most. Here are some tips to help you get it right the first time.
Start
with Conflict or a Point of Interest
While the first chapter doesn’t have to start with
soap-opera drama, but it must have enough action the interest the reader. Many writers choose to begin their story at a
point of conflict such as at a place where the hero is in immediate
danger. For example, the logical place
to begin a mystery would be with the discovery of the body, not the detective commuting
to work or reading the morning newspaper.
Providing
Background Information
Many instructors habitually advise their students to throw
away the first chapter. Should you? That depends.
Many writers make the mistake of including far too much background
information in the first chapter. This
is because they are anxious to set the groundwork for the rest of novel. They
want readers to know everything about their character from the start.
You need to start where the action begins, not with a lot of
who, what and where explanation about your character and how he got in this
mess. The first chapter should provide only the bare essentials in background
information. For example, it might be
necessary for the reader to know where your hero lives, but not, at this point,
where he went to school, how many kids he has, whether or not he gets along
with his mother. These points can be
introduced if and when they become pertinent to the story. Though additional information is necessary, it
should not all have to be crowded into the first chapter. If there is too much explanation, most of it
can be discarded, and what is essential should be threaded into to a later part
of the book.
What
goes in the Middle
Now that you have gotten their interest, you must develop
the chapter by deepening the conflict.
If you have started with a point of action, now is the time to bring
into focus the details of the event, and the character’s reactions to the
event.
End
with a Question or Cliffhanger
Just as the first chapter begins with a bang, it should not
end with a whimper. The final lines
should pose a question that draws readers into the next chapter.
If your book is a mystery, have the detective discover an
unusual lead or clue he plans to follow up on.
If your story is a romance, cut the first chapter off at the point where
the boy asks the girl for a date, not after the reader already knows her
answer. If you are writing a thriller,
stop the first chapter with the hero hanging on the ledge of the building, not
after he has jumped to safety.
By the end of the first chapter the reader should
*be introduced to the main characters
*know where the story takes place
*Have a feeling for the atmosphere of the book
*be introduced to the main problem or conflict and some kind
of mental or physical excitement
More Writing Tips: Fiction:From Writing to Publication
More Writing Tips: Fiction:From Writing to Publication
