Wednesday's Writer's Tip - More on Beginnings

Does the first sentence draw the reader in and give the desire to read the next one and then move onto the first paragraph and from there to the first few pages? If not the writer hasn't given the reader any incentive to keep moving forward.

You've already decided on the exact moment of where the story is to begin. But putting those first few words can be difficult. Sometimes that first great sentence isn't followed through on the next one or on the next few paragraphs or pages. There are things that need to be established in the opening of a story.

Exactly what makes this story different from all the others. Where is the story taking place and who are the characters who will people the story. Not all of them but at least one of the main characters needs to be brought on stage center.

Setting the scene to let the reader know where the characters are is important. Where are the characters. The antiseptic aromas meant hospital. How had he arrived here? Better, who was he?
These sentences will show the reader where the hero is in space. But after those questions, the writer needs to keep the momentum flowing through the next few pages and perhaps the hero will realize who he is or the heroine will enter the picture and change the focus slightly or the opening will be shown through her eyes.

Giving hints about what is to come in the story can draw the reader from page to page until they're hooked. So remember then need to know where they are, who is there and hints about what's going on. Being too mysterious can baffle the reader. Starting with a really big sentence that starts with a bang but then descending into the mundane can make a reader turn the story off and find another that leads them sentence to sentence curious to find where the story leads and how it ends.