What is arguably your most important chapter?
How can you know from step one in the writing journey which chapter should take the majority of your attention?
The long and short answer is:
Chapter one is arguably one of our most important chapters.
To go further the first several paragraphs are arguably the most important paragraphs.
Many readers will pick up a book and read the first page just to see if they are interested.
It’s like going on a potential first date.
You see a person and there is an initial attraction.
Then you decide to have a conversation.
Before even going on a first date let alone many dates this first conversation is more pivotal to the potential relationship then the 10th or 11th date.
If this first conversation isn’t pleasant, fun, entertaining, and intriguing then you most likely aren’t going to want to talk to this person again to find out more about them.
Our first chapter is our first conversation with our reader.
We have to hook them from the first pick up of the book or they will set it down and probably never think of it again.
Think about how many times you’ve been at Barnes and Noble or browsing on amazon and you downloaded a sample or picked up a book, read the first couple paragraphs to see how the book makes you feel.
You have no idea that chapters 5 or 6 could be the most entertaining chapters you’ve ever read in your life but it doesn’t matter because the first few paragraphs don’t “convince” you that this book is worth finding out about.
You’ll never make it past chapter one.
Some people still browse at book stores but we’re going to assume that a lot of authors will self-publish on amazon and that samples will be your first conversation with your reader.
This is actually a great free way to market your stories because lots of potential readers are downloading free samples to see if books are interesting.
Use this to your advantage knowing how much of your book they will get to sample by creating an amazing hook within your sample.
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1. Listen more than you talk.
You ever meet someone and they talk talk talk talk talk talk?
You never get to say a word and honestly, you are looking for an opportunity to end the conversation and walk away.
The reason for this is that this person isn’t being interested in you and what you like they are being interested in them and what they want to say. This makes them work for you and not much fun to be around.
We can do the same thing to our reader.
But how do we listen to a reader as writers?
Simple, when you write put yourself into your reader’s shoes.
Think about what they want and how they want it delivered to them.
Don’t just think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Don’t make it work for your reader.
Just like in a first conversation you don’t want to drop a ton of information on the reader in your first paragraphs without some type of fun reward.
Don’t spend your first 5 paragraphs describing the building and city your main character is in before even giving your reader some dialogue or some characters they can start to imagine and get to know.
Listen more than you talk.
Create curiosity right away by dropping them into the arena with the main characters in trouble sooner rather than later so that the reader knows they are getting something good.
Put the reader right in the middle of two characters’ dialogue about planning a murder on page one so they are curious right from the start.
Make them naturally want to know about who and why?
Write into a scene where two brothers are sword fighting to the death over a woman in medieval times.
Create a hook right away and don’t bore your reader with a bunch of facts right off at the start so they can have something to look forward to and want to go on that first date to find out more in chapter two.
2. Give them a person.
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If you enjoy writing chapters and writing fiction, you might love owning a domain of your own where you can write about it? Ever want to own your own domain name (Yourname.com)?
Bluehost hosts your blog so that you can own your domain and make money blogging. Check them out only if you’re interested in making money blogging; otherwise, go for a free blog instead 🙂
Try Grammarly, The Free tool that should be in every writer’s toolbelt.
People like people.
Some people are introverts and some extroverts and there are definitely some in-betweens but for the most part, humans are in general a little curious about one another.
In your first chapter give them 1-3 characters they can start to watch and get to know.
Don’t over-explain any of these characters at first.
Reveal their personality over time and give quick physical descriptions of the ones you choose to describe.
Do not spend several paragraphs describing any one character physically in your first chapter, or maybe any chapter for that matter.
Take your time revealing any character’s personality, beliefs, and choices.
Less is more when it comes to most physical descriptions. Get it in precisely and be done with it. Allow the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks.
“He had dark skin, long brown hair and an eye patch covering an eye with a big scar around it.”
Try to be precise and don’t overdo it.
Later you can give away more things about their look or demeanor as they get to know the character.
“She hadn’t noticed it until now, but he walked with a slight limp.”
“He removed his shirt to jump into the river and for the first time she saw that his back was covered in scars. He saw her staring.
“I was a prisoner in Rome for two days. It was just enough time for them to do this to me. I’ll never set foot in Rome again till Caeser is dead.””
Keep in mind that as you do this type of revealing slowly the reader will get enjoyment out of looking forward to further revealing. This helps move along in your story and want more, rather than being bored and wanting less.
In conclusion:
- Consider the first paragraphs extremely important
- The first chapter of utmost importance
- Give your reader a character to follow and know right away
- Give your reader a major problem or question to be curious about right away
We hope this helps!
Happy writing!
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Interested in starting a blog of your own? Check out Bluehost.
If you enjoy writing chapters and writing fiction, you might love owning a domain of your own where you can write about it? Ever want to own your own domain name (Yourname.com)?
Bluehost hosts your blog so that you can own your domain and make money blogging. Check them out only if you’re interested in making money blogging; otherwise, go for a free blog instead 🙂
Try Grammarly, The Free tool that should be in every writer’s toolbelt.
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