Your opening scenes are valuable real estate. You don’t want to squander them on anything mundane or superfluous.
Many writers start way too early in the story, often giving the mundane details of their character’s life. Or they spend way too much time introducing the character’s world and not launching him or her into the action soon enough. And then the reader is left wondering where the story is going, and when it’s going to pick up momentum.
In this episode, I’m sharing 3 tips for writing hook-worthy opening scenes that pull readers in and don’t let them go.
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Episode at a glance:
[02:58] Start With The End In Mind
You need to know how your character comes into the story and how he or she exits the story. How will your character end up? Will she end up happy or devastated? With victory or defeat? Your beginning is the originating event of all that follows. Your end is the culmination. So whatever you include or introduce in your opening scenes need to bear fruit by the end.
[05:31] Attach Your Opening Scene To A Problem
As readers, we latch onto problems. It’s just the way we’re wired. So what is your character struggling with internally when we meet him or her on page? There should be some unrest, discontent, or even crisis. Give us a reason to root for your main character.
[11:06] Activate Your Protagonist’s Internal Struggle
The problem your character comes into the story with shapes the external story. It also adds a sense of urgency. Inner turmoil isn’t passive. It drives your plot forward. This is how you make the story more concrete, so the reader has something to latch on to. The narrative question driving them through the story is, will she get what she wants or not?
Links Mentioned In This Episode
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
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