The opening lines of a story need to engage the reader so that they keep reading. Narrative hooks work to capture the reader's attention like a worm on a fishing hook attracts a fish. Establishing an unusual narrative voice or opening with dialogue creates interest.
What should you not do in your first chapter?
- An overly slow opening. Take a look at where you've decided to begin your novel.
- Generic or clichéd beginnings.
- Overwritten prose.
- Too much descriptive detail.
- Backstory or info-dumping.
- False beginnings/bait-and-switches.
- An unnecessary prologue.
What should a good opening include?
- Attract the Reader's Attention. Begin your introduction with a "hook" that grabs your reader's attention and introduces the general topic.
- State Your Focused Topic. After your “hook”, write a sentence or two about the specific focus of your paper.
- State your Thesis. Finally, include your thesis statement.
How do you start writing a chapter?
- Begin with action. When in doubt, begin the opening scene of a new chapter with action.
- Try a new point of view.
- Reveal new information.
- Include sensory details.
- Jump through time.
What should go in a chapter?
- Start with action.
- Shape around plot development.
- Approach each chapter with a specific goal.
- Use chapter titling to distill your focus.
- Consider pacing.
- Show a different point of view.
- Seek balance.
How do you write a chapter?
- Create a chapter outline.
- Build out the chapter's structure.
- Write an eye-catching chapter title or headline.
- Hook readers with your chapter intro.
- Expand your story with main points.
- Provide a recap that summarizes the chapter.
- Add a Call-to-Action & transition to your next chapter.
How do you start your first chapter?
- 1) Introduce the main character.
- 2) Make us care enough to go on a journey with that character.
- 3) Set tone.
- 4) Let us know the theme.
- 5) Let us know where we are.
- 6) Introduce the antagonist.
- 7) Ignite conflict.
How do you starta plot?
- Generate ideas.
- Start with a simple, compelling premise.
- Have a clear central conflict.
- Choose your structure.
- Trace out general story arcs.
- Build subplots.
- Think about cause and effect.
- Write a detailed outline.
How do you starta plot paragraph?
- Summarize the Exposition. The exposition is simply the beginning of a story, in which the author "sets the stage" for the events to come.
- Define the Inciting Incident.
- Discuss the Climax.
- Tie It Up.
What is a plot example?
A plot is also a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality. 'The king died and then the queen died,' is a story. 'The king died, and then the queen died of grief' is a plot. The time-sequence is preserved, but the sense of causality overshadows it."3 בדצמ׳ 2019