Write what you know, or at least what you have a passion for. If you are inspired to write a novel about 17th century Russia, but you know nothing about that era and don’t care much for Russian culture, perhaps you should rethink your idea! Try to pick a setting, theme, or culture to base your book that you know something about. Novels feel authentic when the author writes from experience.
What is the point of this novel? Is it purely for entertainment, or are you trying to make a political or moral point? Who is the audience for this novel? Who does it appeal to? What is the genre or category for this novel? Is it a romance, family drama, sci-fi, crime drama or who-dunnit, young adult fiction, or some combination?
Where is he/she from? How was he/she raised? What does the character value? What does the character hate? How does he/she look? Speak? Behave? What is this character’s conflict? How might he/she end up confronting this conflict?
What settings do authors in your genre tend to use? What is the tone or mood that you want the setting to have? How might you accomplish that? Is it real or imaginary? Urban or rural? Large or small? What towns, cities, roads, and structures are present? Do you need to do research to learn more about the setting?
You can create a literal storyboard on a large poster or white board, or you can use a piece of paper or computer document. If you use a white board, be sure to take a high quality photo of the board when you’re done! The last thing you want is for all your hard work to be inadvertently wiped away. Begin with a “cast of characters”: Every recurring character should appear here, with their name and a brief description. For example, list the age, gender, any physical features that matter, and their general role in the story. List each chapter and outline what happens in that chapter. You do not need to include every detail, but any elements of the story that are necessary and build on previous chapters should go here.
If your introduction is verbose and descriptive like Charles Dickens, the other chapters should be, too. If its terse and to the point like Cormac McCarthy, then the rest of your book needs to stay that way too! Make sure you write in the same point of view as the rest of the story. For example, if you write in first person in the introduction, write the rest of the novel in the same point of view. [4] X Research source
The very first sentences of the novel should capture the reader’s attention so that she will keep reading. They should also be gorgeously written, not awkwardly phrased or confusing in any way, so that the reader will notice your writing style and want more of it. However, if you’re having trouble with the very first sentences, don’t let that keep you from writing. Jump right in and write. You can always go back and add better sentences to start the chapter once you’ve got some writing momentum.
Try not to get bogged down in describing the characters’ physical appearance. A few details are good to help the reader visualize the character, but remember that one way that readers relate to a story is by imagining the characters in personalized ways. For instance, if you say a protagonist is handsome, a reader can imagine him in ways that she thinks would be attractive; but if you say he has a sharp, chiseled chin, this may not be something she finds attractive, so she may have trouble relating to him. Too many details makes it difficult for a reader to connect with characters. Don’t feel like you have to completely develop the main characters right away. Save some compelling information for later. Only provide as much backstory as you need to get into the storyline, and leave them a bit mysterious. Remember that you don’t need to introduce everyone right away. This can be overwhelming for a reader who is trying to keep up with everyone, so keep it focused!
Give hints about the rest of the story. The beginning of the novel should suggest (without giving away) where the story will go, what is on the line, or otherwise what the reader is in for if he or she commits to the rest of the novel. Think about it as tempting the reader to engage.
If you introduce a problem or dilemma early on that is quickly resolved in the next chapter, be sure you also introduce some longer-term problem. You can also try to create a little mystery about where the details in the introduction are headed.
Try to avoid laying out the plot of the book or giving a preview of what is to come. You want to keep people guessing. You also do not need to provide the backstory or the whole history of the characters at this point. Instead, work the backstory into the main story as needed to support the ongoing plot. Remember, the backstory isn’t the story![9] X Research source
Opening with a dream sequence that the reader doesn’t realize is a dream. Many readers find this off-putting and deceptive. [11] X Research source Similarly, avoid opening with the character waking from sleep or unconsciousness. [12] X Research source Beginning with a description of the cast of characters, like the family, household, or school. [13] X Research source Descriptions of characters faces or bodies that imply they are gorgeous and perfect in every way. Most readers prefer a relatable hero or heroine to one that is flawless and unrealistic.
Don’t get lost in tedious description. Your reader wants some action and plot advancement, not to get stuck in the details of a description of the countryside or of the main character’s face, body, clothes, and personality. [14] X Research source The introduction should be long enough to cover the subject but short enough to keep it interesting. Interesting and luring introductions grab readers into the story and make them want to read more. Just give the details that are needed to get the reader feeling oriented in the setting and familiar enough with the character to visualize him or her. Most readers enjoy using their imagination to make the characters come to life, so don’t feel that you need to describe everything about him or her. [15] X Research source
Does everything that happens in the beginning make sense? Does it flow well? Are there any drastic tone shifts that might be confusing for readers? If so, how can I adjust the tone in these places? Is there anything in the beginning of the novel that might confuse readers? Is it possible to work on clarifying and/or developing these passages?
Reading out loud is a great way to catch minor errors. You can also try reading your first chapter backwards to make it easier for you to catch minor errors. If you find an error, one way to check for similar errors is to use MS Word’s find and replace feature. For example, if you find the typo “opwn” when the word should be “open,” then search for “opwn” and replace all instances with “open. ”[17] X Research source
The ideal first reader is someone who has a strong command of the language, loves to read novels, and will give you honest feedback. Ask your reader if the opening chapter draws her into the story, and what she is left asking at the end. Your reader will be able to tell you if the story makes sense and can also let you know if it is engaging. Remember that the beginning of your story is the most important part! If the reader gets bored at the beginning, she probably won’t finish it at all. You can also have more than one person read it to give you a variety of opinions. This would be a great time to engage with a writing workshop or creative writing class.
Remember to stay consistent with the writing style, point of view, and characters that you’ve worked so hard to develop in your novel’s beginnings. Also remember to tie up any loose ends from problems, dilemmas, or mysteries that you left unsolved in the novel’s beginnings. Check out this helpful wikiHow article for more tips on continuing your novel.
