As a beginning writer, Im struggling with the opening chapter of a novel. Can you give any tips to make the opening easier?
Opening chapters begin at the point of changewhen something happens that makes the characters life different from that point on. An opening begins with actioneither dialogue or active situation. The opening chapter has basically two purposes: to introduce the main characters and to hook the reader with the beginning conflict. The goal is to leave the reader with the question, what is going to happen now? Rather than handing the reader pages of backstory, dole the information out “as needed” to make sense. Give the reader credit. Let him wait a little, and instead, give him clues or partial pieces of information that shows motivation for the characters goals. Later through dialogue or introspection give more backstory that helps explain motivation more fully. For example, the heros introspection might be: “If she knew the truth, she would send me packing.” The reader wants to know what the truth is and what could be so bad that the heroine would send him packing? Provide more details a
