How Do You Write The First Chapter Of A Novel?
Every writer struggles to come up with a first line to a novel that will resonate with readers. Famous first lines like Charles Dickens’ “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” and George Orwell’s “It was a bright cold day and the clocks were striking thirteen” helped their books stand apart as classics. While the first line can be a writer’s stumbling block, the first chapter can make or break a book. The first chapter can lure in a skeptical reader or drive them away to a book with a more compelling start. Begin your first chapter by branching out from the initial paragraph along several different paths. Create several drafts of your first page to determine which path complements your vision for the entire book. For example, a science fiction novelist writing about a distant galaxy can try out opening pages describing a planet, detailing an alien conversation or profiling a lonely starship captain. Reveal information about your protagonist and his purpose in the story a
