The opening of a story isn’t just a clever line or two or a cute meet.
There are a number of things you must fit into the opening chapters.
Now the fun begins. You have the characters and where they are
set. Now it's time to put all this into action. The general plot is in hand since you know what
your characters want and the way they will try to obtain them. So you begin. I
don't know about most writers but I usually write the opening scene three or
four and sometimes more times. Making sure you begin at the write place. I've read some books that start out with a great first sentence. Then the action bogs down on perhaps description or backstory.
The first line is what's important and considering what kind of
story you're writing makes you start and then start again. Does this sound like
a romance, mystery, fantasy, action, suspense. My first sentences are usually
boring when they are first set on the paper. Then I have to consider so much.
After all those tries to have the sentence make sense, show the genre, make the
character seem alive, the sentence is finally down.
But a lot of words must follow this first sentence so I sit and
write without stopping to think until I have part of a scene, Then I go back
and tear it apart, And rewrite and rewrite until this bit seems to flow.
The beginning of a book has many
things needed to be shown. The characters and hints to their goals. The kind of
story that will take place. A lot of hints as to what will happen next. Hard to
get this all done. But finally you have it then comes more fun. Where do you go
from here?
The Hook - Every book should open with some kind of hook. An event
has happened or will happen or is happening that changes the character's life.
There are many events that can shape the book and carry the hook through the
story. Let's look at one or two.
The change - The character has lost something important to them. A
job, a loved one, a possession. Using this loss as a change in the opening
scene, the character must come to grips with the problem and perhaps work out a
plan to change the event. Their initial plan may fall apart but they are
showing they want to move forward. The plan may undergo revisions or be
scrapped for a new one. But the character needs to be shown they"re
reacting to the change and taking action.
What if the change isn't immediate. Think of a teen starting a new
school, someone facing an coming war or tragedy. The change looms and they must
react to what might happen soon.
Perhaps we see the character during the moment of the change, How
they act and react are what draws the reader to turn the pages.
I've just begun a story where the hero realizes a change must be
made but he isn't sure of what to do. The first scene ends just as he decides
where the road he needs to take will lead.
Remember, the first paragraph is
what leads the reader to move to the second. So how do you make this bit so
intriguing they can't resist reading on?
It's a matter of presentation.
You can make this opening unique. I
started a book with She was the first woman to turn him down. Starts matters
buzzing doesn't it?
There is also something unexpected.
One of my books starts with the villain hiding in a cemetery across the street
from the hospital. I didn't realize that this was both unique and unexpected
until I had an editor remark that she never heard of a cemetery across the
street from a hospital. Well, the burial groud was and is still there.
Show a deviation from the routine.
Most mornings, John ate a hearty breakfast. Not this morning. Once again the
curiosity if raised and the reader wonders why this has happened.
Show a change is about to take
place. Suppose you're writing a story where a flood, a storm, something like
this is about to change the lives of the characters. The dark clouds rolled
across the sky like a giant run unfolding sending chills along Mary's spine.
Or begin with a lot of detail about
a mundane object. I began a book when a heroine in the high meadow making a
wreath of wild flowers that were known for their healing properties.
Immediately this raises questions.
So that opening paragraph is the
rope for the reader to catch and be drawn into the story.
Other things to be sure to have in
the book’s opening scenes.
This is the time to introduce the
main characters and perhaps some of the secondary ones. Don’t give too many or
you’ll confuse the reader.
Give a good but not long
description of where and when the action takes place.
You need to at least hint to the
characters’ desires, especially the main characters and give clues to their
reasons for wanting such things.
Once you have established the
characters at the end of the beginning of the story is a good time to show if
there can be a change in their goals.
The assignment is to write the
opening scene of your story. I’ll show you a part of mine.
Lasara pulled a leather vest over her linen tunic. From
the shelves in the changing room, she took two tunics, several sets of
undergarments, stockings and a second pair of leather breeches. She bundled
them into a tight roll. She listened to the sounds from the bathing room and
stepped toward the door leading to the outer passage ways. Her hands shook as
she released the lock. She prayed no one would discover the unlocked door until
she was far away.
All the things Kalia had told her this afternoon rolled in
her thoughts. Her sister’s help was welcome but she dare not be the one to be
present this evening. Rila would meet her and lead her to the gate. Lasara’s
stomach churned and she hoped she wouldn’t collapse. What if something went
wrong?
She pressed her forehead against the cool surface of the
door. Move. She straightened. The
copper bracelet she had found hidden inher room’s closet pressed against her
chest. A bonding bracelet. Someday she
might find her heart bonded mate. Facing the unknown was better than the man
her father intended to be her mate. She would rather die than be bonded to
Petanof the tainted lines of fire and erratic temper. Seeing the darkness of
his lines made her ill.
She opened the door just wide enough to peer outside and
make sure Rila had arrived. Her trembling hand rattled the knob. She drew a
deep breath. Once in the hall she eased the door closed and pressed the bundle
of clothing against her chest.
Rila waved the torch she held and indicated a dark
passage. Lasara followed. The torch cast eerie shadows on the walls. The air
held a musty odor. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Lasara prayed they weren’t
inhabited. Spiders made her think of evil. Another thought occurred. Would
their footsteps be seen on the dust covered floor?
Rila turned. “Slide your feet. The dust raised will settle
and hide our passing.”
Lasara adopted the gait. This narrow hall was new to her.
She knew of other passages and many unused rooms. The population of the
Defenders had dwindled over the years and years since their arrival in this
land.
Rila halted. “I must snuff the torch, Four paces will
bring you to the door. We’ll enter the courtyard and glide through the shadows
to the gate where we’ll be met.”
The light died. Lasara’s breath caught. Four paces and she
would leave this gloomy passage. Her heart thudded. Would she really escape?
As she stepped through the open door, she inhaled the
night air. Dark clouds obscured the moon and stars. While slipping through the
shadows, she listened to the night sounds. Except for the aroma of Rila’s
perfume, she noticed no new scents.
Rila paused. She whistled the call of a night flyer. Two
men stepped from the shadows. Though Lasara trusted Rila not to betray her, she
prepared for flight. Her stomach churned and her arms tightened around her
bundled clothes.
One of the men moved away. “I’ll keep the gate guards
occupied.”
The second man opened a narrow gate. “I’m Gamon. Rila and
I will guide you.”
One by one they slipped through the narrow opening and
scurried past the massive gate. They reached a hard beaten path leading to the
pasture where bihorns grazed.
“We moved your mount from the stable,” Gamon said. “Call
him.”
Lasara pressed against the fence. “Thank you. I hope I can
manage this escape.” She didn’t want to tell them how little she was prepared
for flight or that she dreaded thoughts of being alone. She didn’t want anyone
to think she was a coward.
He grinned. “Don’t fear. Rila and I are on detached duty.
We’ll be with you for two days and show you how to make camp and find food.”
