Most people know the feeling of having an amazing story idea for a story, but as soon as they begin to write the first chapter, they become stuck. The first chapter of a novel is difficult and daunting because you are just starting to understand the setting and characters and the first chapter sets the tone for the rest of the novel. Luckily, these tips help enhance your writing and ensure your first chapter is as captivating as possible.
Choose the Point of View
Choosing the point of view your book will have is one of the first steps in writing the first chapter. Whether your book will be set in first-person, second-person, or third-person, the point of view sets the tone for the novel and frames how it will be narrated.
The first-person perspective allows readers to directly connect and understand the main character, in a way that a second perspective won't.
The second-person perspective is less common but can be used when the text applies to the reader. The second-person perspective is not typically used in fictional writing, but rather in instructional writing, like cookbooks. Second-person uses "you" as the pronoun.
The third-person perspective is helpful when writing a story with many characters. The third-person perspective allows the reader to understand the point of view of many characters. Third-person uses "he," "she," and "they" pronouns.
*Point of view regards the perspective in which you write the novel. For example, I walked to the store, and Audrey walked to the store.
Identify the Tense
Apart from choosing the perspective of the novel, it is crucial to pick the tense of the novel. Will the novel be set in the past? Will the novel be set in the future? Is it happening now? Choosing the tense of the novel that will carry throughout the story is essential in writing the first chapter.
Introduce the Main Character
Characters are what make great novels, which is why having the main character introduced in the first chapter is important. A gripping first chapter often introduces the main character. Introducing intriguing characters early will quickly engage the reader and have them engrossed in the novel. By the end of the first chapter, the reader should have a basic understanding of who the main character is and be interested in learning more about them in the second chapter.
Have a Graphic Setting
Typically the first chapter of a novel is the reader's first opportunity to learn about the setting, which is why providing vivid imagery and descriptions of the setting are essential. When a reader opens a novel for the first time, they must have a sense of setting. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to explicitly state all the details of the setting. For example, if your novel takes place in the jungle, you might describe the thick, green vines and the sound of squawking birds. This will help immerse the reader in the world of your novel.
Have Action + a Leading Ending
Having action or an engaging incident early in your novel will propel the story as well as the reader. When writing the first chapter, it is key that there is some sort of action that interests the reader and keeps them reading. Interesting characters, a vivid setting, and an engaging piece of the action will leave your reader feeling part of the world and interested in what will happen next!
Having action in your first chapter interests readers, but having a leading or mysterious ending keeps them reading. In the first chapter, your novel must have an ending that isn't bland but rather keeps the reader wanting more.
Remember: instead of dumping all the information in the first chapter, it is important to spread out the action and information, to keep readers involved.
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