Writer's Café

first impressions 1.

This chapter is divided into four parts;
1. Starting of a book.
2. Title.
3. Cover.
4. Blurb.

Starting.

Example 1:

I wake up to sunlight pouring through my bedroom window, pricking me straight in my eyes to make me face another shitty day. I curse myself mentally for forgetting closing the curtains last night.
I get up, trudging towards the bathroom and start with my daily routine for the sake of making my smooth skin look smoother than the glass so I look like I model even though I don't look remotely like one (in my head of course).

Example 2:

I keep my head down as I enter my school premises. The hood over my head, though not allowed, gives me a sense of security. I'm your usual nerd at school who gets bullied for absolutely nothing. Also, did I mention, I'm secretly in love with my number one bully.
(Gurl, seriously? I'm out.)

Example 3:

The wind of the late summer morning feels fresh against my skin as I skip to my college. I love this type of weather.
Oh, wait, I forgot to iNtROduCE myself to y'all. (Great way to break the link and remind the reader that they really are reading a book -_-)
My name is blah blah blah... My measurements are blah blah blah... I'm best friends with blah blah blah...

Okay, I think we are over with the torturous part. I think most of us have seen these three types of startings a lot throughout our reading experience, especially on Wattpad.

Look, there's nothing majorly wrong with these types of starts but the thing is, it's so overused and predictable that the readers lose interest in the first two lines. The only thing that will keep your readers from running away from your book is either a really amazingly interesting plot or your great writing skills and if you can actually make your readers visualise themselves in the place of the characters.

Like, example 1, it's so common. A bitter girl who is irritated with absolutely everything around her. I'm not saying it's impossible but that's how the character is portrayed whenever someone starts like that.
And what's with the obsession of wanting to start your chapter with the character waking up? I mean, I get it, my day starts with me waking up as well, but it's a book, why make me walk through the character's morning routine which is often very unrealistic in my opinion. I for sure am not applying makeup first thing in the morning. Especially if my college demands me to be present at eight in the morning. Nah, man, ditch the makeup, I need my tea and breakfast.

For example 2; are you kidding me? For real? You know, I don't get the idea of how someone is capable of falling for their bully after being put through some really shitty things. Like for god's sake, that person hurt you. You can't possibly fall for someone like that no matter how beautiful and gorgeous they are. You need to reflect if you are actually even remotely going for that type of plot or characters.
Anyways, ignoring my impromptu rant on my opposition for bully romance plots, the main point is, you give away your whole plot in the first few lines. I mean, after reading so many books of the same kind, people know just perfectly how your book is going to turn out.
You just gave your plot away and no one's reading further. Congratulations!!

Everything was going so well in example 3 until I decided to break the fourth wall by using the words, 'I forgot to introduce myself.' Like, no. Stop. Don't do that. Especially not in the first chapter.
When someone breaks the fourth wall, the result is often that the audience become detached from the story and characters and begins to regard the book as merely a book rather than a transportation to another possible reality.
As writers, our most important job is to transport our readers into another world, give them a break from everyday stressful life and engage them in something that makes them feel good and relaxed.

I think most of the time, writers, especially here, I've seen forget that it's not only about writing a story because you want to follow what everyone is doing. It's also about giving your readers a good experience while reading. More often than not, you have to question yourself; Will my readers like this? Will my readers enjoy what I'm writing? Will my readers be able to understand what I am trying to convey?

If you are not asking those questions to yourself, you need to start asking right now because we writers hold no power without our precious readers who make a book shine more than our eloquent words. It's not only about your passion for writing but also a nagging voice in your head that makes you want to deliver the best you can with your ever improving skills.

That being said, if those 3 examples I gave above are not the best way to make a lasting first impression then what is?

Vanity’s a debilitating affliction. You’re so absorbed in yourself it’s impossible to love anyone other than oneself, leaving you weak without realization of it. It’s quite sad. You’ve no idea what you’re missing either. You will never know real love and your life will pass you by.

But you will see.

One day you will blink and the haze will dissipate. You’ll discover that what once defined you has wilted into graying hair and wrinkled skin. Frantic, you’ll glance around yourself, in hopes of finding those you swore adored you, but all you will find is empty picture frames.

— prologue of a book named Vain. Unfortunately I forgot the author's name. It's not available on Wattpad by the way.

So, what do you think?
Does it spark an interest in you to read further?

I don't know about you but I would like to read further. Not only because I have read that book almost five to six times but also because the words are so powerful. It's nothing overtly extravagant despite the first line, however, it makes you think hard and that only makes you want to read how it is related to the story.

The important thing is, you don't have to be so deep either. You can easily make your startings fun, if it's a rom-com or mysterious if it's mystery or thriller.

Some of the startings I thoroughly enjoy:

• Dialogues. Start with fun dialogues or someone threatening a person. Maybe a ransom call or just some brat whining over something. Doesn't matter the type but it should not seem like a twelve year old is trying to impersonate a twenty year old. It shows.

• Dreams. A nightmare or a good one (not the candy house, cringy types) are amazing to start with as well. I personally enjoy such types of beginnings but of course, don't jump on only one idea and overuse it.

• Work environment. Naturally start with something the character is doing, something that's part of their usual routine. For example, working in an office, doing homework or just the joy of being free from school for the day. Such type of startings are usual too but it's not as bad as waking up and 'doing the morning routine'. It's natural but at the same time if it matches with your story flow, then it's really good.

Some startings you should avoid:

•The first three examples I gave at the start of the chapter.

• Information overload. You don't have to mention the full name of your character, or give the physical features right in the first paragraph. No one is going to read or even remember it. The best way is to reveal all the features and qualities slowly throughout the book.
It's not Tinder for you to give all that stuff along with what the character's personality type and hobbies are.

• No cringy dialogues. I know I said dialogues are a good way to start but not if it goes like, "Oppa~ I will catch you~"
You get me, right? Unless you are writing about an obsessed fan, don't do that.

Are there any other types of beginnings that make you cringe or you are fed up with seeing?
Let me know here 〈(•ˇ‿ˇ•)-→

Now, the first section is complete. The rest three topics will be covered in the next chapter soon.

Joke of the chapter ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ

What do you call a small mum?
A MINImum🤣🤣🤣