4 things to avoid when beginning a story
The beginning of your novel is a critical phase. It's the handshake, the eye contact, the "How do you do?" of your literary world. If you make a wrong move here, your reader might decide they're not in for the journey. To ensure you start off on the right foot, here are four things you definitely want to avoid when beginning a story.
Overloading with exposition: The information dump
You might have built an intricate world with a rich history, but please, don't pour it all out in the first chapter. It's like going on a first date and talking about your entire life story, including that embarrassing incident in third grade. Ease into it.
Example of what not to do:
Imagine opening a novel and reading five pages describing the political structure of a fictional country. Yawn, right?
How to fix it: Introduce important details gradually and organically as they become relevant to the story. Let your characters and their actions convey the world to your readers.
Introducing too many characters: The crowded party
The beginning of a novel is a delicate time for your readers. Throwing too many characters at them is like introducing all your friends at a crowded party at once. Wait, who's Tom again?
Example of what not to do:
Introducing a family with eight children, three pets, and various neighbours, all in the first few pages.
How to fix it: Focus on one or two essential characters at the start. Introduce others as the story progresses and only if necessary.
Starting with a cliché: The déjà vu
Opening with a dream sequence? A character looking in the mirror describing themselves? These are as worn out as an old pair of socks.
Example of what not to do:
"Lucy woke up from a dream, then walked to the mirror to brush her golden hair."
How to fix it: Strive for an original and engaging beginning that sets your story apart from others in the genre.
Being overly vague: The mysterious mystery
While you want to create intrigue, being too mysterious can leave readers feeling confused rather than curious.
Example of what not to do:
Starting a story with abstract and disjointed sentences that don't provide a sense of character, setting, or direction.
How to fix it: Provide enough concrete details to ground your readers in the story while still leaving them wanting to know more.
Starting with a confident step
The beginning of your story sets the stage for everything to come. Avoid these common pitfalls, and you'll be on your way to engaging your reader from page one. It's like baking a cake – get the mixture wrong at the start, and the whole thing could flop. But get it right, and oh, the delicious literary feast you'll have in store for your readers. Bon appétit!
