The Mighty Opening
Welcome to The Mighty Opening, your guide to crafting a beginning that captivates and engages your readers from the very first page. The opening of your novel is your chance to make a powerful impression, to invite readers into the world you’ve created and make them eager to embark on the journey you’ve prepared for them. Here’s how to do it:
Show Them What’s in Store
Your opening should immediately convey the tone, atmosphere and character of your story. From the first sentence, it should tell readers what kind of experience they can expect. Are they delving into a dark mystery? A hilarious comedy? Or maybe an eccentric love story? Think of your opening as a promise you make to your readers, a contract you sign with them and will honor.
The Beginning as Microcosm
A great beginning encapsulates the entire narrative. It’s a mini version of the whole, an introductory taste of the themes, conflicts, and characters that will drive your story forward. You’re setting the stage, planting seeds and hinting at the transformation to come.
Equilibrium with a Twist
Introduce your protagonist in their current, “ordinary world,” but show that something is off-balance. There’s a sense of dissatisfaction or a longing that will eventually pull them toward the journey they need to take. Stories are about transformation, and the end must feel significantly different from the beginning. An effective opening plants the seeds for this change.
The Hook and Why You Need One
A strong hook is essential. It’s what grabs your people’s attention and keeps them turning the page. Your hook creates a bond between your readers and your protagonist. It introduces conflict and poses intriguing questions: Will she land the job? Will she take a chance on love? Will he clear his father’s name? Think of it as setting up a puzzle that your readers will be eager to solve.
Your Characters Drive your Plot
When readers dive into a fiction book, they are eagerly searching for the essence of the STORY. At its heart, a story answers two fundamental questions:
Who matters to me? What matters to them?
Many writers make the mistake of starting with their plot. You may have a terrific idea for what happens in your story, but until you understand your main character, you can’t devise effective plot points. The same set of circumstances will evolve in a completely different way, depending on the person who lives through them. Consider the example of a bank robbery. Your hero, on line at the teller’s window, might be a retired cop who thought his days of action were over. Or a single mother trying to protect her child. Or perhaps a young man who is secretly one of the robbers. Can you see how each of these characters would have a dramatically different reaction?
When you build your story from character, you give your plot its best opportunity to shine.
