How To Write A Strong Start For Your Novel
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
How to Craft a Compelling Beginning for Your Novel
Introduction
Creating a powerful opening for your novel is crucial, as it sets the tone and captures your readers' attention. When I was revising my Civil War novel, Hearts of Stone, my editor suggested I rethink the opening?"ultimately leading to a more engaging start.
The Importance of the First Scene
Revising your novel's opening should often be the final step. Understanding the full story allows you to craft a beginning that complements the ending. While writers may have different revision styles, perfecting every sentence too early might lead you to cling to scenes that don’t serve your story best.
Eight Effective Strategies
1. Capture Attention Immediately
Start with a hook that no one can ignore. For example, Katherine Paterson’s Lyddie begins with intrigue: “The bear had been their undoing, though at the time they had all laughed.” Similarly, Richard Peck’s A Long Way from Chicago starts with, “You wouldn’t think we’d have to leave Chicago to see a dead body.” These opening lines entice readers to continue.
2. Start with Action
Action doesn’t always mean explosive events. Walter Dean Myers' Monster begins grippingly: “The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help.” Quiet action works too, like in Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle: “Keith, the boy in rumpled shorts and shirt, did not know he was being watched as he entered room 215 of Mountain View Inn.”
3. Drop into Conversation
Dialogue can immediately convey conflict and engage readers. E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web opens with: “Where's Papa going with that axe?” In The Clique, Lisi Harrison starts with: “Massie, wipe that confused look off your face,” said Massie’s mom, Kendra. “It’s really very simple?"you’re not going.”
4. Use an Omniscient View
Beginning with a broader perspective can effectively set the stage. Joyce McDonald's Swallowing Stones follows a bullet’s path, setting a tense atmosphere: “There is no stopping it; the bullet rips through the hot summer haze, missing trees, houses, unsuspecting birds, coming to roost, finally, like an old homing pigeon.”
5. Mirror the Ending
An Na’s A Step from Heaven beautifully mirrors its ending in the opening scene, creating emotional resonance. This technique, used effectively, reveals character growth and development.
6. Present the Problem
Stating the core issue right away can draw readers in. Jerry Spinelli’s Wringer starts with: “He did not want to be a wringer.” This immediately introduces readers to the protagonist’s struggle.
7. Reflect Through Your Character
Reflective openings can hint at imminent change. Julie Johnston’s Hero of Lesser Causes begins: “It started out as a peaceful, plodding kind of summer, the summer of 1946. We didn’t know that our lives would charge wildly out of control.”
8. Utilize a Prologue
Though sometimes controversial, a well-crafted prologue can establish tone, context, or tension. Jerry Spinelli’s Wringer and Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising use prologues to enhance reader understanding and engagement.
Revising Hearts of Stone
In Hearts of Stone, I initially started in 1863 but shifted the beginning to 1861 to highlight key events. The new prologue sets the stage, introducing crucial character dynamics and conflicts earlier on. The revised first line, “Pa ripped our family apart just as spring began whispering sweet promises up on Cumberland Mountain,” captures both conflict and setting effectively.
Conclusion
Sometimes, saving the first scene for last can significantly improve your novel. My revised opening received praise in the Kirkus review, predicting that “Readers will be hooked from the start.” Implementing these strategies can ensure your novel begins with strength and resonance.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: How To Write A Strong Start For Your Novel.
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