In this episode, we’re zeroing in on one of the most important (and most rewritten) parts of your novel: the first chapter. We’ll explore the 5 big mistakes writers make in the first chapter, and how to avoid them.
A strong first chapter doesn’t need to be long or dramatic, but it does need to hook the reader, ground them in the world of your story, and raise a question they’re eager to follow. And there are common mistakes writers make in the first chapter.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck on your opening pages, rewriting again and again, this episode will help you identify and avoid common problems, and more important, revise your first chapter so that it hooks and holds your reader.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- 5 of the most common first chapter mistakes, and what to do instead
- Key questions to ask when revising your opening
- How to avoid overwhelming the reader and keep them engaged page after page
- Ideal first-chapter length ranges for different genres, and what matters more than word count
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Episode at a glance:
[02:06] Mistake #1: Starting Too Early (Or Too Late)
A common trap is opening with a character waking up, making the coffee, commuting, and thinking about their day. Or you start so deep into the action that we don’t know who we’re watching or why we should care.
A good rule of thumb is to start right in the middle of something changing. A moment with tension or disruption that invites the reader in. You can always weave in context later.
[06:23] Mistake #2: Front-Loading Backstory
It’s tempting to explain everything up front who your character is, what happened in their past, and how they got here. But if we’re not emotionally invested yet, none of that will land. Let us experience your story first. Drop in bits of backstory only after we care about what’s unfolding.
[08:06] Mistake #3: No Clear Story Problem
If your first chapter doesn’t raise some kind of question or dilemma, readers won’t know what they’re reading toward. The reader wants to lock in on one central problem from which every story event and every scene revolves.
[12:25] Mistake #4: A Passive Protagonist
If your main character is mostly observing or reacting, it’s hard to get behind them. Readers are drawn to characters who want something, even if they don’t get it right away. So give your protagonist something to pursue, even if it’s small – a decision, a goal, a desire. Even if your character is stumbling, he or she should be engaged in the action.
[15:06] Mistake #5: Overcrowding The Stage
Writers sometimes introduce a whole crowd of characters at once, and it’s hard for readers to keep track, especially when we don’t know who to focus on. Readers don’t care about the cast until they care about the main character’s experience. Ground the reader in one character’s perspective before widening the lens.
[16:56] First Chapter Length
You want to keep your first chapter relatively short so it can engage the reader early without overstaying its welcome. Learn guidelines for page count depending on your story and genre.
Links Mentioned In This Episode:
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
The Ice Age by Margaret Drabble
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Episode 50: How Much Backstory Does Your Reader Really Need To Know?
Episode 202: 3 Secrets To Writing Effective Backstory
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