Picture this scenario: you're browsing the fantasy aisle of your local bookstore and find a book that looks really darn interesting. You pick it up - that cover looks appealing, and the synopsis grabs your attention. You open up the book, read the first page, and then put the book down again - you can't bring yourself to keep reading it, let alone buy it.
Now, sometimes we just aren't interested in certain genres - I'm not personally into mystery, realistic fiction, or action novels. But it's also likely that the author didn't give us a good reason to get invested in their story. Good beginnings make good stories, and especially in Wattpad contests, the first chapter (as well as all the exposition) is everything.
So, what's the key to making a good beginning to your story?
If you've passed seventh grade English, you'll know that all essays have a hook - a way to get the reader interested in what you're talking about. In nonfiction, this is usually telling a story, starting with a general claim about society, or sharing your personal experience. (Did you notice the hook at the beginning of the chapter? ð) While we're not writing essays when we write fiction, there are some things we can learn from our nonfiction cousins.
All stories need a hook. For fiction, this is the first sentence of your story. First sentences should captivate the reader while not giving too much away. Think of it like dangling a carrot on a stick in front of a pig. We want our readers (the pig) to follow our story (the carrot). So we have to give something to chew on.
Here are some examples of great first sentences from books on Wattpad (so you can go read them yourself).
It had been four years since he'd dreamt. - "Skywalker: Twin Suns" by JennyRaylen
As a boy, Qymaen jai Sheelal had thought jewelry was for girls. - "The Last Qymaili" by me
"I want to see you again. I miss you." These words echoed in the chambers of my mind and flitted through the hollows of my bones. - "Walking Away From the Republic" by seokjynerso
"The Council of Zombies has confirmed that the attack on Huck Lane two days ago was, indeed, a human attack." - "When Dead Men Bleed" by renesmeewolfe
So, let's talk about interesting sentences. A couple tips:
1. Make sure that your sentence reveals something about the world or the character. Make it the most interesting taste of fiction the reader gets. A good way to practice is by writing short stories - having a word count limit will force you to make every word and sentence matter.
2. Use interesting phrasing. The third example is the best one, in my opinion. Remember not to veer into purple prose, but give the reader a glimpse of the beautiful style you can write in. That's important.
3. Do. Not. Info-dump! This is the quickest way to turn readers away. They can't remember the information you put on them if it's revealed all at once. Another form of info-dumping is starting the book in the middle of the action, rather than giving the readers time to connect to your main character. You shouldn't push the reader off a ledge and force them to do a belly flop into the pool of your story. You need to ease them into your story, like slipping into a nice, hot bath.
4. Cut clichés. This is super important in the first sentence. Readers want something new. If you don't have it, they won't stay. Describing the weather*, starting the story with a morning routine, or even a sentence that's overused (ex: Joanna was not your average girl) is a bad route to go.
*This can sometimes be used if you're setting the mood of the story (I used it in Alura), but in general, you want to avoid irrelevant details. But starting with setting can absolutely be a good way to show the reader what they're getting into.
And remember, don't stress about picking the right beginning. You can always go back and change it later, when you rewrite and edit your story. (We'll discuss more about that later.) But for now, just breathe and start somewhere. You can figure the kinks out later.
In the next chapter, I'll be discussing the inciting incident - when the story's pistol is shot and the race begins. In the meantime, what are some interesting first sentences you've heard in books? What are some of your favorite first chapters? Let me know!