Writing Tips & Guidance

Story: The Beginning (Act I)

Why It Matters

Just like anything else in writing, an opening can make or break a story. A solid, unforgettable opening can make a good story into a classic. Keep in mind is that an opening/beginning doesn't necessarily mean the first chapter, it could mean the prologue or prelude.

The purpose of tailoring an opening is to capture readers and pull them into the story (and pull the book off the shelf to purchase). On this website and on printed books, there is also the "blurb" or "synopsis" on the back of the book (description of the story here on Wattpad). That'll be discussed later, so it really isn't relevant here. However, it isn't uncommon for quote-style blurbs to be pulled from a book, which is always the first chapter (or prologue). Crafting the beginning well can make the creation of blurbs easier. Of course, both offer your chances to make a first impression for the story.

The most important information I could give you is that the beginning of a book should establish three things: setting, tone, and character. You can get away with just one or two in the earliest part of the opening, but the end of the first "chapter" (or prologue) should really set all three. If the character set in the opening isn't the main character, they must be integral to the story. If you leave out one or two of these things, capitalization on the other must be a goal.

Example: the opening of Game of Thrones beyond the wall with the whitewalker. Most of those characters die or hardly play a role again. However, that reveal set the tone for the whole series. It also revealed the "antagonist" of the series, though not in a traditional sense. That exact choice of a non-traditional villain also queues the reader that the piece as a whole will not be as it might seem, far more grey than classic fantasy. And, boy, is it grey. The focus for the opening was tone and tone alone, and the other things came quickly after.

Example: the opening of The Dark Knight, the bank robbery featuring the Joker. The setting isn't important in the opening of the movie (and arguably in the whole film, but that's an opinion). Tone and character are so clearly set as the Joker shows his true colors. When he pulls off the mask, slicks his hair, and sticks that grenade in the banker's mouth, that is a wonderful, wonderful character introduction. It also sets the tone, but as a secondary goal.

How Not To Open

Sometimes it is easier to start a conversation with a strict set of boundaries then proceed from there. I'm going to make this easier by starting with what doesn't work in the opening of a story (and exceptions) then we can talk about what does. It is important to note that there is a distinct pattern emerging in which one type of opening is overused then the writing community collectively moves to another. I believe that is why both of these openings are intolerable by some and fine for others. Watch the conventions and read in your free time, don't mimic that which is overdone. More than that, consider the story you've written foremost. Forcing it into a packaged and standard opening is a cruelty your story shouldn't have to bear, let it flourish. That being said, let's crush some dreams then maybe scoop up some of the pieces.

Do not open a story with the character's morning routine. Alarm clock openings are grounds for a book being tossed out immediately. Don't do it. Don't describe the outfit they put on in detail. Don't tell us what exactly they ate for breakfast or why they didn't. Don't try so desperately to make your beautiful, grungy, frumpy character seem relatable. We exist (wink). There are, of course, ways to subvert this and make it interesting. The problem is that it is such an over-used opening that most people (and me) will quit reading immediately without getting to the quirk or twist. Just don't do it. Sorry everyone else ruined it for you. Oh, and don't open with staring into a mirror either.

Do not open a story with a dream. Your opening lines should set the setting, tone, or establish character. Starting in a dream wastes a whole chapter getting to anything the reader needs to know, effectively wasting their time. It is always confusing and usually (in the case of inexperienced writers) doesn't even tie into the story. That being said, I haven't run into this problem as much, so I'm not as personally invested in telling you not to. If you would give backstory in a dream sequence, just have a prologue with that backstory in it and start your story normally. If you really want to do a dream sequence, know that many readers and editors hate them and you will be fighting an uphill battle.