Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
Your first chapter, your opening scene, your very first words are an invitation to readers.
Have you made your invitation inviting? That is, is it tempting or attractive or irresistible? Once a reader has glanced at your opening, will he or she find the story impossible to put down?
That’s one aim of your story opening, to issue a hard-to-resist invitation to your fictional world. You don’t want to create barriers for readers. Instead, you want to make the entry into your story one of ease and inevitability. You want to make the story attractive and compelling.
Books compete with movies and other books and games and the Internet and families and lovers—why wouldn’t you give your opening the strongest chance to snare a reader’s attention?
What can be found in a compelling opening?
Murder
Betrayal
Conflict
Jealousy
Death
Guilt
The unexpected
Confusion
A new world
Fear
Surprise
Upheaval
The unusual
What isn’t compelling?
Routine
Bliss
Pointless talk
Back story
Cliched characters
Consider your first scene and first words your invitation to readers. You want them to stay a while? Give them a reason to enter your world and tease them with reasons to stay. Entice. Attract. Stir emotions. Stir their imaginations. Stir up curiosity.
Give them a reason to begin your story.
Give them a reason to turn pages.
Give them a reason to race to the end.
Invite readers into your story.
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Looking for specifics on how to start stories or introduce story elements? Try How to Hook Your Readers and First Impressions and Introductions.
Tags: fiction, story opening, writing advice Posted in: Beginning Writers, Writing Tips
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The reader will focus on what stands out. Turn the reader's attention where you want it to go.
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Copyright © 2010-2018 E. A. Hill Visit Beth at A Novel Edit
Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
its really nice reading through this page…im a new invention..a potential author.i have gotten new ideas on how to go about enticing my readers. i want my book to be published when im done.
And I’ll encourage you to in your goal to be published. I’m glad you found new ways to entice readers.
Thank you so much for the tips! I really want to be a author and i liked the tip on stir up their minds… it really helped!
Emma, you are most welcome. I wish you great success with your writing career.
This is also a good beginning.