{A note from Alyson: all the strategies and rules of this blog series apply primarily to adventure novels. Not all standards and regulations will carry into other genres.}

“If someone would tell me what to put on the first page, then I would write a book.” 

We’ve explored ideas for what your character can be doing. Now, we’ll look into writing those ideas onto paper. It’s easy to think, “my character should do this,” but an entirely different thing to write it, isn’t it? Also, we want our work to captivate attention and keep people (even our sisters) reading, right? So, let’s learn and write! 

A Little Strategy

There’s a strategy that readers will take hook, line, and sinker every single time, no matter the writer. 
• An intriguing first sentence {“the hook”}
• A paragraph that adds to the first sentence {“the line”}
• Two successive paragraphs that build upon setting, character, peril, etc. {“the sinker”}
To help you understand how these elements work, I’ll be giving examples from several different stories, published and unpublished.

First Sentence

I tend to overthink the options placed before me. When I initially tried to create a first sentence that grabs attention, I played around for hours and got nothing I liked. Finally, I figured it out. An intriguing first sentence should put a question in the mind of the reader. That was the trick that finally worked. Look at these examples:

“It was the last day of school, and I was running for my life.” {1}

“Heather had invented the game, but Picket made it magic.” {2} 

Questions naturally arise. Why is the character running for his life? What is the game? How did Picket make it magic? Since you have a question, you’re going to read on for the answer.

This is the same element we need to implement. So, think about what your character is going to be doing, then think of a way to state it so the reader has, at least, one question. Here’s an important rule to remember: the first sentence doesn’t explain everything it possibly can. It starts with the explanation.

For example, I determined that my character will be walking to see her father compete in a chariot race even though girls aren’t allowed, and she could die if caught by the king’s guards. This would be the first sentence: Chariots and gold, that’s all he ever cared about, yet she still went to see him at the cost of her life. {3}

Now, I’ve given two questions: Who is “he”? Why would this cost the heroine her life? With the rest of my information, I can build the following elements.

Give it a try! Write down two or three first sentences to your story. Try them out on a parent, sibling, or friend, to see which captures their attention best.

If you struggle to create the first sentence or don’t think it is exciting, don’t lose heart. You can redeem the first sentence with the next element. Give the line a little tug, and the hook will catch. 

First Paragraph

Once you have the first sentence, you need to build on it. You may answer a question {or two} and began to develop your character or setting.
Consider the following example:
“Chariots and gold, that’s all he ever cared about, yet she still went to see him at the cost of her life. As Mary pressed through the crowds of the marketplace toward the amphitheater, she shivered. She tightened the turban about her head, making sure it covered her face, and then pushed her way into the group of orphaned boys who were slaves of the rich men going to see the race. “If only Father would look at me when he wins this time and know that I come to watch him,” Mary thought. “Would he love me then?” {3}

Here’s the idea: give a little. Tell the readers a bit of what they want to know, but don’t let them have all of it yet. There are three main things you can add within these sentences:
1) Character {name, age, the color of eyes, etc., keep it to one thing at this point};
2) Setting {where are we, what does the place where my hero is standing look like?};
3) People Involved {name, relation, or where they are; don’t describe them yet}.
Put one or two or all of those elements into your following three sentences, whichever one makes you happy.

Give it a try! Build on the sentence you chose and test it on a parent, sibling, or friend. Don’t give up after the first try. I rewrote the beginning of my novel at least three times.

Again, if you don’t feel like your first paragraph will capture attention, leave it be for now. You can still get the readers with the next element. {Think of it as a net.} 

Two Successive Paragraphs

Now, we need to create two more paragraphs that give the reader a broader sense of where the scene is going. In these two paragraphs (approximately eight sentences), you can add things like:
1) Further character development {a fear, desire, etc.}
2) Introduce a new character {best friend, parents, etc.}
3) Make something exciting or foreboding happen, or
4) Add a short dialogue

You can play around with all of these elements to create your following two paragraphs.
Now, why only two? Because chapter one is so difficult for to write, I have broken this chapter into bite-sized pieces to help you create the most dynamic, captivating first chapter ever without stressing yourself out. Do not worry about the whole scene right now, we will get to that next time.

Unless, of course, you have a ton more ideas, and things start to flow naturally. Then, by all means, keep writing! But keep following along with this blog series to get more tips and techniques that could improve your writing and make you happier!

Give it a try! Write the next two paragraphs and read all of it to a parent, sibling, or friend. You just might have a winner!

So, those are three elements to creating a riveting first chapter. If you have any questions, please place them in the comments below, and I will try my best to help you!

Look for Part Three next week!

Footnotes:

1 – Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow {by The Miller Brothers}.
2 – The Green Ember {by S.D. Smith}. https://sdsmith.com/books/
3 – an unpublished work, copyright © of 2021 {by Alyson Jensen}.