Writing the beginning of a fiction story may seem hard, but it’s not as difficult as writing the end of a story—at least in my opinion. Many people assume that starting a fiction story is the hardest part, while the ending is a piece of cake because, after all, it’s just an “end.” Silly, innit?
However, what is considered “easy” or “hard” totally depends on the writer’s perspective. I’m telling you the fact that 85% of writers think that once a story reaches its major climax, the ending becomes easier to write because there’s nothing left to define or elaborate on. Meanwhile, The beginning? That’s a whole other beast. It’s that blank canvas staring back at you to paint, and you have to make sure it’s interesting enough to grab the reader’s attention but also set everything up right. No pressure, right? But once you get past that, it’s all about maintaining that flow, making sure the beginning and the end feel like they’re part of the same story.
But I cannot deny this fact either that starting of a story is confusing because somewhat you are unable to process that what you should write and what not! Once you’ve cracked off its beginning, the rest of the journey becomes smoother, but that initial hurdle can be a tough one. You have to set the stage, establish the entire new world, and introduce the humans you’ve never met before aka characters—all while keeping the reader hooked. It’s like introducing your favorite song to someone new. You want them to get the vibe, and feel the rhythm, but you also don’t want to give it all away too soon. It’s all about pacing.
Importance Of The Story Beginning
Well, if you reading this blog carefully you might be asking yourself that if there is too much why not drop the idea of the splendid story beginning and just pass it out somehow, shall we?
I get where you’re coming from! It might seem like a lot of pressure to make the story beginning perfect. But here’s the thing: The beginning is the crucial fundamental of a story because it sets the stage for everything that comes after. It’s your first chance to make an impression on your reader. If you don’t grab their attention right away, they might lose interest before they even get to the juicy parts of your story.
Assume it as meeting someone for the first time. If you make a great first impression, you’re likely to hold their attention, and they’ll want to get to know you better. But if you’re awkward or don’t say much, people might lose interest quickly. Same with the beginning of a fiction story.
Benefits Of A Good Beginning Of A Fiction Story
As I shared, a good beginning of a fiction story not only creates a strong first impression of you as an author and your book but also offers several other significant benefits that highlight its importance.
Key To Securing A Publishing Deal
Literary agents and publishing houses mostly request the first three chapters when you submit your story manuscript Note: Always make sure to check their specific submission guidelines, as they can vary). In many cases, they’ll form an opinion about your book and your writing style based on the very first sentence. While your pitch, hook, and cover letter are undeniably important, the opening of your novel is crucial.
“The first page of a novel is the hardest. It sets the tone for everything that follows, and if you don’t hook the reader immediately, you might lose them forever.”
Stephen King
Increases Marketability
A gripping story beginning is vital when it comes to publishers or agents considering the story. If the first pages are captivating, they’re more likely to invest in the story, increasing the chances of success in the marketplace.
So, now you know the importance of the story beginning and how it can be impactful for your book journey, and now it’s time to move on to a real part of this blog.
How to Write the Beginning of A Fiction Story
First of all, let me clarify that ‘writing the beginning of a story’ and ‘how you can start a story’ are two different things and questions.
“Writing the beginning of a story” refers to the process of writing an opening of the story that sets the tone, introduces key elements like characters and settings, and establishes the story’s direction throughout the story. It’s about creating a foundation that engages the reader and ensures the story flows naturally.
On the other hand, “How you can start a Story” focuses on the individual techniques, strategies, or personal approaches used to write a Novel or a story. This might involve starting with a gripping series of actions, some intriguing questions, or a character development chart to build characters.
So, now we can move to our actual question which is how to Write the beginning of a story.
Writing the beginning of a story is not just about crafting a compelling first line; it’s about laying the groundwork for the entire narrative. The approach you take can vary greatly depending on your overall story idea, genre, and the type of experience you want to offer your readers.
4 Key Steps When Starting a Fiction Story
The Connection Between Your Story Idea and Its Opening
The beginning of your story should resonate with its core idea. For instance, if your story revolves around a thrilling mystery, starting with a quiet, uneventful scene that might not create the intrigue your readers expect. Conversely, a reflective literary piece may demand a slower, more introspective opening.
Idea of your book opening as a promise to your readers—it hints at the journey ahead. Are you setting the stage for an epic adventure? A heartfelt romance? A chilling psychological drama? Align your starting with the soul of your story to ensure consistency and immersion.
Tailoring the Beginning to Your Genre
Different genres often demand different approaches to story openings, suppose:
- Mystery/Thriller: Start with a sense of urgency or an unresolved question.
- Fantasy/Science Fiction: Introduce a unique aspect of your world to spark curiosity.
- Romance: Create an emotional connection or tension between characters right away.
- Literary Fiction: Focus on an evocative or reflective moment that sets the tone.
Understanding your genre’s expectations will help you write a beginning that hooks the right audience rightfully. Read other novels in similar genres to get an idea of how other authors start their stories—this can help guide you in your genre. But as I said, it totally depends on your story writing techniques and styles, so you should consider that too.
Introducing the Essential Story Elements
Now that we’ve discussed starter storylines, let’s focus on the first page of your first chapter. The opening of your story should subtly introduce the main character, the setting, and the central conflict or theme. However, don’t try to do everything at once. Instead, aim to give the reader just enough information to pique their curiosity and draw them in.
One of my writing teachers showed me the draft of unpublished novel she wrote, and she didn’t introduce her “hero” or main character until the second chapter of story. At first, I thought it was a foolish way to write a story—who introduces their main character after the first chapter? But as I read more and more, I fell in love with this unique idea because it made the story itself search for the main character.
Story writing isn’t just about following rules and regulations; it’s also about your creativity and personality, which turn your story into “Art.” As I said, it depends on your writing style and how you want your story to unfold. But as a beginner, you might consider these simple steps to start:
- Character Introduction: Show who your protagonist is through actions or thoughts rather than a long description. Let their personality shine through organically.
- Setting the Scene: Establish the time and place without overwhelming the reader with details. A few well-chosen words can bring the setting to life.
- Foreshadowing Conflict: Hint at the challenges or stakes your characters will face, creating anticipation for what’s to come.
The Importance of a Strong Hook
The first few sentences are your chance to captivate the reader. This is where your creativity truly shines. As a new writer, you can even make use of transition words for the beginning of a story, but they may not be as helpful over time. Eventually, you’ll need to find something that more maturely aligns with your story. A hook doesn’t always have to be dramatic; it can be subtle yet intriguing. For example:
- An Unexpected Action: “The dagger gleamed under the moonlight as it plunged into the oak table, missing her fingers by an inch.”
- A Thought-Provoking Question: “How many times can a person rewrite their past before it catches up to them?”
- An Evocative Setting: “The sky burned with shades of red and orange, as if the world itself had caught fire.”
The hook is not just an attention-grabber; it’s an invitation into the world you’ve created. Hook sentence are not only exists to grab attentions but also helps in directing people towards the vibe of the narrator, known as the Voice of a story, for suppose if you crack a joke in the start few lines of a book, readers can assume that this book going to be chill or if you quote something as tension or panicking scene they might assume that this book is going to give some pleasureful headaches. So, before trying to hook the reader think about the vibe of a narrator.
Setting the Voice: Should Your Hook Reflect the Entire Book’s Vibe?
You might be asking yourself: Should the voice set by the story hook remain consistent throughout the entire book, or can you start with a joke and then drop a mountain of intense scenes on the reader’s head? Well, that’s another thing, which lead us to the second point.
The Role of a Tone in the Beginning of a Fiction Writing
Now, let’s break down what tone actually mean for your story. As I mentioned above, Voice represents the personality of the narrator. Tone sets the mood of the book.
For Example: You crack a joke in the starting of a story so you indicate readers that the narrator might be funny or sarcastic.
But you write it like: “I’ve been told I’m the life of the party, ironically! But honestly, I think it’s more accurate to say I’m the person who shows up late, eats all the heavenly food, and then leaves without saying goodbye.”
The tone you’ve chosen here isn’t just playful or humorous, but it carries a poetic weight. It’s a subtle mix of lightheartedness with a sense of introspection; adding depth to what could have been just a simple joke.
The same thing happened in the most beloved book of mine “Wuthering Heights” where the narrator, Mr. Lockwood, is introduced with a sarcastic voice. In the first sentence of book he said,
Mr. Lockwood’s remarks, like “1801. – I have just returned from a visit to my landlord – the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with.”
Suggest that he’s distant and somewhat mockingly indifferent to the behavior of Heathcliff the landlord surrounding him. But despite this sarcastic tone, the overall mood of Wuthering Heights is anything but detached. The book is filled with intense, dramatic, and passionate emotions, with themes of love, revenge, and loss.
The Contrast in Voice and Tone
This contrast between the voice and tone is important. The voice of your narrator might be casual or irreverent, but the tone can shift to set a mood that resonates more deeply with the reader through-out the book. Whether it’s humorous, serious, sarcastic, or contemplative, the tone guides the emotional landscape of the story, and should align with the broader themes you want to explore.
If you decide to start with humor but switch to a more serious tone, it’s important that the shift feels intentional and is woven smoothly into the rest of the narrative. This way, the reader understands that the joke was part of a larger, more complex emotional journey, rather than a sudden, jarring change.
In conclusion, the beginning of a fiction story is more than just an introduction—it’s the foundation that shapes the rest of your narrative. While it may seem like a daunting task, it’s an essential part of capturing your reader’s attention and setting the tone for everything that follows. By aligning your opening with the core of your story idea, tailoring it to your genre, introducing key elements, and crafting a strong hook, you create a compelling entry into your world. Remember that the voice and tone you choose at the start should reflect the journey you’re about to take your readers on, establishing a mood that resonates throughout the story. With the right balance of creativity, strategy, and pacing, the beginning can lay the perfect groundwork for a memorable and impactful fiction story.