When you want to start a new story, that blank page or screen can look awfully scary. Here are a few ideas that might get you going.
There’s no law that says the first words you write have to be the very beginning of the story. If you know what you want to happen in your opening scene, you can start some way into it. You’ll often find it easier to go back later and write the part you missed out.
Starting with a line of dialogue can be effective. One of my early books began with the line, “No, lad, I’m not your father.” And the book went on to tell about the boy’s search for who he was.
Another way is to start right in the middle of the action. Get the story moving, and ‘drip-feed’ the background information about who the characters are and how the situation came about.
You might start with a surprising statement, one that you will have to explain—not directly, but in the way that the story unfolds.
Or begin with a stunning bit of description, especially if your story is set somewhere unusual. But keep it short.
A good idea is to look at the openings of as many different kinds of stories as you can. See how experienced writers do it, and see whether you can adapt their techniques to your own writing.
The main thing is to get going. (Psst! I found it really hard to start this column!) Remember that your opening isn’t set in stone: if you decide later that it isn’t right, you can always go back and change it.
Good luck!
Cherith is a fulltime writer of fiction for both children and adults. Her children’s fantasy trilogy, the Eaglesmount Trilogy
