The
first chapter of your book is important.
Very
important.
It
doesn’t seem like such a big thing, the first chapter, or does it? It’s the
beginning, that which should tantalize your readers, draw them in and hold on
tight. So full of promise – what adventure lies ahead?
That
first chapter shouldn’t be the thing to set terror fluttering in the heart of
the writer, but rather to be exciting, invigorating, fun! That first chapter
can lead to so much. It can grab readers. It can hook a bored editor who’s looking
for the kind of book you’ve written. It can keep a browser on Amazon reading
that Kindle edition and asking for a full sample leading to that coveted sale
because that reader is hooked and just can’t stop reading.
So,
NUMBER ONE: don’t succumb to terror. Don’t let the white of the screen before
you intimidate you. There are all sorts
of warnings out there that are a trap to intimidate writers. “In the beginning,”
they say, “grab me from the first sentence!” or “Don’t waste a single word!” or
“get it moving, start your story somewhere after the first couple of chapters
and skip the intro altogether.” Heard this? Read this? Between writing coaches,
teachers, editors, agents and script readers it feels like all they’re out there
to do is to intimidate writers and scare them into giving up before they even
start.
Okay,
you, as a writer, don’t need all that tension. The truth is, they’re all looking
for that great book and you just might have it. So relax. They aren’t actually
expecting perfection from writers. They’re looking for originality and
powerful. So breathe in, breathe out and get those first words up on the screen;
just let the words flow. The bad and the good. Editing time will be the time to
sort it all out. Oh, and by the way, as a general observation, it’s just fine
to want to write a book to entertain. It doesn’t have to have a great and deep
message or some thrumming theme. Write what your inner writer wants to write.
NUMBER TWO: have a light touch with
description. Yes, yes, I know, you can see it all in your mind, every blade of
grass, every cricket chirping at a window, every hair on the black dog’s head.
Sounds, sights, emotions, textures and colors. The story you’re writing is so
powerful you want the readers to be right there with you, to be immersed in the
story.
But don’t feel you have to spill it
all in those first few sentences in that first chapter. Sketch out the bones
with enough details to give it some punch. Your readers don’t want to hear
about the weather, every detail of the hero’s street and how long he’s lived
there all in the first few sentences. Readers always trust writers to fill in
detail as the story moves forward. What’s needed in the beginning is those few
details, just a taste, just enough to give a feeling of place. Then trust
yourself to add the needed information along with the forward movement of the
story.
Now turn that blank white screen
into a writer’s chapter to be proud of.
