Blog for Bristol Services Intl.

A client wrote this week and asked how to handle a not-so-thrilling opening few chapters. She established lots of great background and setting, yes, but she knew the story (action, conflict, etc.) really didn’t start until chapter 4. She asked, “Do you think that I need to rewrite the entire first few chapters? And, if I do, where do I start?”

When a writer is faced with this dilemma, first review a list of potential tensions you might plop into the book’s opening (lose her job or boyfriend, get arrested, fail at the project, whatever fits your plot). Then set this list aside.

Second, usually there are bits and pieces of what you’d had in the too-slow opening chapters that are essential, but often even they could be tightened up. Take out just those really strong bits and put them in a separate file.

Third, close your eyes and let yourself envision a highly charged emotional scene for your main character. A point where situations or decisions are tense, confusing, and immediate in some way. Play out the scene in your brain. Mentally play out other scenes that might occur before and after that one.

Find one of them that pulls in her character traits (not just her looks), her conflicts (internal and external), and implies there is more to all this (suspense). And then consider starting the story at that point and then weave in the strong bits of info that you’ve saved. It doesn’t matter how you revise–just that you find a way to insert deeper characterization, more conflict and a distinct hint or promise that there is more to this story.

Do all published books start this way? No. But new writers must find the tightest, strongest, most intriguing opening if they hope to attract a publisher’s eye. So give yourself a step up on the competition and find that “gotta read more” opening scene for your readers.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 at 9:09 am and is filed under Plot, clue and Idea Generator, Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.