How to start a book?

In today's article we will talk about one of the most complicated things. While we already talked about how to write an ending, today it is about the first chapter of your novel. It may be a path of thorns for someone, because for more characters and arguments you have ready, sometimes choosing the right words to start becomes a hell. Also, how can you not want it to be perfect if we all want to impress our readers?

How to write the first chapter

1- Stop the detours and start with something surprising. Therefore, a lively start will make our readers need to know what is happening. To start, never get carried away by the typical routines of each person, we all get bored. If on the contrary you do not like this idea, you can always choose an intriguing reflection or a prologue full of suspense.

2- Synthesize the information. I know we want to talk about our character and all the motivations that have led him there, but calm, you are in no hurry and the reader still does not feel like being over informed. Let him discover things calmly, need to read to remove that intrigue. It tries to avoid this saturation and especially when the narration is in first person because the effect will be very artificial.

3- It is not necessary to physically describe the character from the minute 1. It may look just like the previous one, although it is similar, it is worth having it separately. Sometimes, it just does not fit to describe it, do not be bitter about it. It is more beautiful to go undressing during the novel. It will be much more natural and real than writing a parrafada describing how it is.

Well OK. You can not resist the urge to describe it, no problema. You can list some key thing in it, like a scar.

4- Place the reader. We must always make clear from the beginning where the character is, to know when the events happen... In this way the reader can imagine what is happening.

5- Make some wink about the personality of the protagonist. As before, you do not have to discover everything, but you do make clear your superficial personality, your most important values or an idea / goal that obsesses you. This will give readers a rough idea of what it is like and how it acts.

6- Do not beat yourself up. That the reading is concise, does not need to be adorned. This way the reader can enjoy it better. Try to avoid large paragraphs and convoluted phrases, try not to become a gibberish. With this I do not say that you neglect the way you write, but do not complicate the text in excess.

7- The narrator. Keep in mind the profile of your protagonist when it comes to talking and thinking. For example, if you are a female character of twelve years living in the present, do not force her to say too pompous and / or old words because it will not be natural.

8- Take care of the genre of your novel. Make it clear what kind of novel your readers are going to read. If it's magic, start with an event that has to do with it. Also, do not forget the main ideas of the novel. This way you will avoid possible disappointments in the future or inconsistencies.

9- We finished the best advice possible, enjoy writing. Forget if the first paragraph is this or that, just feel free because we all need to read your novel, you have talent, we just have to let it out. Also if you do not like it in the end, you can always correct it. Do not be afraid of criticism, in the end there will always be someone you do not like, no matter what you call Carlos Ruiz Zafón or George R. R. Martin.


What do you think of the advice? Do you apply or will apply? Do you have different ones? Share it with us, sure that among all we do much better.