I have rewritten my first few pages so many times to get the pace right. It still feels I need to work more on it. This is actually great advice. I don't know if every novel can have a great first sentence but it can have a good first page.
Prologues can and do work, but agents are kind of over them so you need to make sure yours is necessary and very good. The most recent book I’ve read that sounds comparable to yours is Fourth Wing. Take a look at how the author handles action versus description. Her world is huge. And very detailed. But all the characters are moving forward and there’s a ton of action. She does a really good job balancing both. Taking a look at something like that might help!
Excellent advice Kristen! The need to overexplain and setup a detailed backstory before starting the actual story was something I had to fight when I started writing. Occasionally, I still catch myself being too descriptive and too wordy at the beginning of a story. Years ago, one editor finally got me over the hump, saying simply "Just get on with it, trust the readers, they will know." Anyway, you hit the nail on the head here. Great job. - Jim
I am so glad you got over the hump! But that's another big note I give: trust your readers. All of that over explaining? You can trust your readers to get it! You don't need to spell out everything. Just start!
This is such a great read and so true! Starting is always the hardest part - even when you've plotted and planned your story. As writers we need to remember we are telling a story - not giving an info dump. Part of the magic is unfolding the story through action - not info dumping the notes we have to the side ;) Thanks for this great article!
I appreciate the 10-20 pages advice, because the whole first sentence advice is intimidating ! Not every novel I love has a hook in the first sentence. I’m writing my first novel from a short story I wrote that never felt complete. I start it in a generative class, and it starts more or less at the inciting incident. I’m starting to wonder if I should set it later, but I’m going to save that for revisions. Right now my priority is to get the words down!
Begins frighten me to no end! I'm writing my first novel now, and I'm not even going to approach attacking the beginning until I have a good grasp of the story. I agree that the first couple of pages are the story's most integral. Even as a reader, it's so easy to lose my attention if the first chapter doesn't grab me. Thanks for the tips!
I like your plan - not attacking the beginning until you have a good grasp of the story. That will give you a better idea of where it should start! Good luck! And being scared is fine as long as you’re brave enough to make an attempt anyway. Don’t let it stop you.
Good article. A story/book I'm currently working on, (Wattpad) starts with a guy being released from prison. He was Imprisoned on false charges; that was the PLOT-lead in with no history. Now its filling in the who, why, where. At the moment I'm at the court cases. BUT, I lost the readers, because it's taking to long for the convictions. This is a story about taking down the London MET on corruption charges. I need to work very quickly and race through it....Thanks
I think what will help answer all of these is a clear definition of info dumping: sharing a massive amount of description with no action or dialogue to break it up. Pages and pages of setup or description. A laundry list. So you want to avoid anything like that. An info dump slows down the pace. I’ll go into more in a future article!
Thanks Kristen. Great advice as usual! I was reading 'The Science of Storytelling' by Will Storr recently and he made some similar points about there being a moment of change at the beginning of a story to get that pace, pace, pace going!
This is a fantastic article that gives me a lot of motivation! I feel like my novel (which I finished in September but am revising as I slowly send out queries here and there) is fast paced once we get past the beginning...but I'm not sure how to drop in the action. I do have some - but it is interspersed with some background stuff - it does include dialogue and whatnot, but when I've removed it then I am not sure where to pick up with the information they need. And I do think it's important as it introduces characters and their relationships. But this article has made me really begin to think how I could show these relationships without bogging down into boring scenes....thank you!!!
I am so happy to help! I’m glad you found exactly what you needed at the perfect time. And I have faith that you will figure out how to re-jigger your beginning. It sounds like you have all the parts.
You'd given me this advice for one of my submittal packages you'd reviewed. I have to say, after re-writing that first chapter, the story definitely got off to a better start!
I have rewritten my first few pages so many times to get the pace right. It still feels I need to work more on it. This is actually great advice. I don't know if every novel can have a great first sentence but it can have a good first page.
1000%! “I don't know if every novel can have a great first sentence but it can have a good first page.”
Stress! I don’t care for perfection— I unsubscribed to that a long time ago! Who will come will come. To each his / her / their tribe.
Ah! It has a way to sneak in.
Prologues can and do work, but agents are kind of over them so you need to make sure yours is necessary and very good. The most recent book I’ve read that sounds comparable to yours is Fourth Wing. Take a look at how the author handles action versus description. Her world is huge. And very detailed. But all the characters are moving forward and there’s a ton of action. She does a really good job balancing both. Taking a look at something like that might help!
Excellent advice Kristen! The need to overexplain and setup a detailed backstory before starting the actual story was something I had to fight when I started writing. Occasionally, I still catch myself being too descriptive and too wordy at the beginning of a story. Years ago, one editor finally got me over the hump, saying simply "Just get on with it, trust the readers, they will know." Anyway, you hit the nail on the head here. Great job. - Jim
I am so glad you got over the hump! But that's another big note I give: trust your readers. All of that over explaining? You can trust your readers to get it! You don't need to spell out everything. Just start!
This is such a great read and so true! Starting is always the hardest part - even when you've plotted and planned your story. As writers we need to remember we are telling a story - not giving an info dump. Part of the magic is unfolding the story through action - not info dumping the notes we have to the side ;) Thanks for this great article!
So glad you enjoyed! Starting is always the hardest part with everything, so it makes sense with writing too! But I’m so glad I could help.
I appreciate the 10-20 pages advice, because the whole first sentence advice is intimidating ! Not every novel I love has a hook in the first sentence. I’m writing my first novel from a short story I wrote that never felt complete. I start it in a generative class, and it starts more or less at the inciting incident. I’m starting to wonder if I should set it later, but I’m going to save that for revisions. Right now my priority is to get the words down!
Getting the words down is the most important thing! Good luck!
Begins frighten me to no end! I'm writing my first novel now, and I'm not even going to approach attacking the beginning until I have a good grasp of the story. I agree that the first couple of pages are the story's most integral. Even as a reader, it's so easy to lose my attention if the first chapter doesn't grab me. Thanks for the tips!
I like your plan - not attacking the beginning until you have a good grasp of the story. That will give you a better idea of where it should start! Good luck! And being scared is fine as long as you’re brave enough to make an attempt anyway. Don’t let it stop you.
Love this advice! I looked at my MS and see the prologue staring at me, angry. It knows it's being deleted!
Good article. A story/book I'm currently working on, (Wattpad) starts with a guy being released from prison. He was Imprisoned on false charges; that was the PLOT-lead in with no history. Now its filling in the who, why, where. At the moment I'm at the court cases. BUT, I lost the readers, because it's taking to long for the convictions. This is a story about taking down the London MET on corruption charges. I need to work very quickly and race through it....Thanks
It sounds exciting! Good luck!
I have a few questions, if you don't mind taking your time answering.
1. What's the difference between info dumping and plot setting?
2. Is there a discernable way you can tell you're info dumping while writing?
3. Can a character in a story while telling about their own journey, in fact be info dumping instead, post beginning?
4. Is this why you bring up pacing? Can info dumping be caught by good vs. bad pacing?
I think what will help answer all of these is a clear definition of info dumping: sharing a massive amount of description with no action or dialogue to break it up. Pages and pages of setup or description. A laundry list. So you want to avoid anything like that. An info dump slows down the pace. I’ll go into more in a future article!
Thanks Kristen. Great advice as usual! I was reading 'The Science of Storytelling' by Will Storr recently and he made some similar points about there being a moment of change at the beginning of a story to get that pace, pace, pace going!
Exactly! A moment of change. And then the rest of the book is fighting to right their world, whatever that looks like.
This is a fantastic article that gives me a lot of motivation! I feel like my novel (which I finished in September but am revising as I slowly send out queries here and there) is fast paced once we get past the beginning...but I'm not sure how to drop in the action. I do have some - but it is interspersed with some background stuff - it does include dialogue and whatnot, but when I've removed it then I am not sure where to pick up with the information they need. And I do think it's important as it introduces characters and their relationships. But this article has made me really begin to think how I could show these relationships without bogging down into boring scenes....thank you!!!
I am so happy to help! I’m glad you found exactly what you needed at the perfect time. And I have faith that you will figure out how to re-jigger your beginning. It sounds like you have all the parts.
Great advice! Thank you for the reminder. 😊
You’re welcome!!
You'd given me this advice for one of my submittal packages you'd reviewed. I have to say, after re-writing that first chapter, the story definitely got off to a better start!
So happy I could help!
So happy to help!
Good luck!