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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. ", http://writingexercises.co.uk/plotgenerator.php, http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/fairytaleplot.htm. Who is involved? Every time I read the opening lines of Hugh Howey’s bestselling self-published novel, Wool, I am drawn into the breathtaking depths of his vision and humanity, and I wrench my heart from my chest, and say, “Here, take it.”, “The children were playing while Holston climbed to his death; he could hear them squealing as only happy children do. Finally, introduce the story while giving subtle hints and foreshadowing throughout. In this post, we'll tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this literary archetype: from its ancient origins, to the characteristics of a tragic hero, to examples of heroes and heroines from literature. That's my first piece of advice for you: don't feel that you have to find the perfect idea for a story before you start. Starting in the middle gives the story a more natural beginning and helps you avoid info-dumping. I had a good idea, but I had no idea on how to bring it to life. When you ask yourself a “What if” question, you’re telling your brain to take something ordinary and think of it in a new way. In the beginning, you might want to focus on a character who is training for the war and all the emotions that they are feeling. Over 500,000 authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meet them. Remember that writing is a craft that takes time to master. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In short stories, this is especially important as brevity means that each part of the whole stands out that much more. I'd hazard a guess that it's probably the sentence about being perched at a sink — the opening line to one of my favorite novels, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Depart immediately to open country.”— Anthony Doerr, All The Light We Cannot See. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 670,979 times. "There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. "I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany." This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. But recall that even a smoldering fire can burn your hand; draw us in like moths to the flame, but don’t let the bonfire rage so fierce we can’t get close. It is the whole 600+ page novel in a sentence, that takes 600+ pages to unpack. Rebecca Faith Heyman: Openings should be intense, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “loud” or “explosive.” So many authors are keen to start with a literal bang — something going up in flames, or a car accident, or some other catastrophe. Even using the best book writing software or tools like ProWriting Aid (check out our ProWritingAid Review) won’t help compared to continuing to write. John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest. As you get more experienced, you'll learn the processes that help you overcome these things.". We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Start-a-Story-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-a-Story-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Start-a-Story-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid696120-v4-728px-Start-a-Story-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":" \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Every, "I was having a complete blank with how to start my story, but then I read this, and suddenly I'm overwhelmed with, "I was stuck. You have about a sixty-second window of influence before that initial judgment solidifies. Keep in mind, Orwell wrote this story in 1948, long before digital clocks were in common use. Photo credit: "Laughing Up A Storm" by JD Hancock under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. One of my favorite opening lines of all time. It follows that this is a good place to invest your time and effort. "Santiago and the Drinking Party" by Clay Morgan And the drone and hiccup of a clothes dryer, the nasal contention of a leaf blower, the ripening of local apples in a paper bag, the smell of the gasoline with which Alfred Lambert had cleaned the paintbrush from his morning painting of the wicker love seat.”— Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections, 1) "I'm sitting writing this at my desk. JOIN A DIVERSE WRITING COMMUNITY. Read 5 types of story beginnings and tips for making your own effective: 1: Introducing readers to a memorable narrator-protagonist. Whether you write short stories or novels, both require hooks that draw readers in. How should the book look, how should it feel, who should be reading it and under what circumstances? ", "I really, really love this, thanks a lot.". I wonder what life is like in rural Russia. Most literary genres and types have specific conventions, so make sure you reading books and stories that are written in the style you plan on writing in. Outlines don’t work for everyone. For example, you could write something absurd or amusing in the first line to make readers laugh, or you could write something totally unexpected to shock them. This is the part where you can hook the reader and capture their attention. --C.S. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. We break down 11 options so you can get writing today. And thanks for the book examples you included- this helped me look them up and put them on my reading list. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Most writers don’t begin the novel-writing process knowing exactly how to start a story. My advice to him: start your story at the important bit. The sun low in the sky, a minor light, a cooling star. “It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York. Write the whole plot, not just the beginning, so you know where your story is going. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. To put it another way, the pattern of your character’s life is “normal.” A dragon-rider, a robot-mechanic on Mars, a pirate, whatever their deal is, the pattern of their life is their normal. In order to throw your character off-balance, you must first give it some sort of balance. An opening line should have a distinctive voice, a point of view, a rudimentary plot and some hint of characterization. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. "Master was a little crazy: he had spent too many years reding books overseas, talked to himself in his office,did not always return greetings and had too much hair." This website is totally awesome and helpful. While they thundered about frantically above, Holston took his time, each step methodical and ponderous, as he wound his way around and around the spiral staircase, old boots ringing out on metal treads.”— Hugh Howey, Wool. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. http://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Essays_By_Neil/Where_do_you_get_your_ideas%3F, http://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-find-book-ideas-easy/, https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2016/10/06/creativity-ideas/, http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/7-steps-to-creating-a-flexible-outline-for-any-story, https://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jun98/how-to-create-a-character-profile-6986, http://www.writersdigest.com/tip-of-the-day/discover-the-basic-elements-of-setting-in-a-story, https://literarydevices.net/point-of-view/, http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/10-ways-to-start-your-story-better, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/30-great-opening-lines-in-literature/, http://www.nownovel.com/blog/ways-to-start-story-examples/, https://www.writermag.com/2015/11/26/start-story/, http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/5-ways-to-develop-a-book-idea, http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/too-many-ideas-syndrome, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. But if the details feel off, or are absent or vague, I won’t read on. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Describe smells like that of wet soil or fresh bread. This article was co-authored by Lucy V. Hay. Avoid cliches. Harrison Demchick: Many editors will tell you to avoid exposition — the dreaded infodump — at the start of your manuscript. Take a break and come back later! This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. You are going to get one Royal Beating. Anne McPeak: You want your reader to be swept up in the story— for its entirety, but especially at the beginning. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Lucy is the producer of two British thrillers and her debut crime novel, The Other Twin, is currently being adapted for the screen by Free@Last TV, makers of the Emmy-nominated Agatha Raisin. Ah, good catch, thanks! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It's really wonderful. Okay, technically it's a classic HST hybrid - part semi-autobiography and part novel. It helped me understand a better way to starting my story. Start with a bird’s eye view of the setting. Describe sensory detail before zooming into your character’s life or home. Be careful, as flashbacks can confuse the reader if they don’t know it’s a flashback. He said this very matter-of-factly. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If you write when you're stuck or upset, it could vary the outcome. When you finish the story you’re writing, celebrate! First, try organizing your writing life. How to start a story: 1. You guys are going to read about how I died in agony, and you're going to be like, "Wow! Outline your plot and characters to narrow your focus, and then start writing! For example, you could start your story by letting the readers in on a secret about the main character, or you could start with a dramatic conflict so readers want to know what happens next. By default, nobody wants to read your book. I completely agree with you. Context and background will come later, but a compelling image can be a fantastic hook. Stunning. In this case, you’d probably use third person and either. An opener is like an appetizer, offering a tasty morsel of what's to come. "The article was very well written with all the information that is very important to know when starting out. Not even your mother. Your opening must sustain your readers' interest in some way if you are to keep them reading through to chapter two, and reveal more and more information in the plot points to come. "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." This could be the crazy, amusing story you might tell a friend but are not sure how to translate into short story material. I find number 1 and number 9 most appealing to me. The only thing I get from this opening is that the author royally fucked it up. Last Updated: November 19, 2020 Another trick is to get clear on what question your story is trying to answer and put that in the beginning — literally. Patrick Ness’s "The Knife of Never Letting Go" hooked me right away by opening with a strong narrative voice and humor: “The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say.”. If you focus on that, you're likely to end up feeling blocked. Leave a cliffhanger: A cliffhanger is an untold ending. Don't introduce new characters and hope for the best: Introducing new characters will make you have another part of the story unless you don't want an ending. Opening sentence from 'Half a Yellow Sun' definitely hooked me in to this story. Second person a less common point of view, as it can be disorienting and confusing for the reader. Great read! Britanie Wilson: There are many ways to start a novel, but in my experience, the most successful beginnings have the magnetic effect of appealing to an emotion that all readers possess: curiosity. Gareth Watkins: Start with the unexpected. I love the beats, the subtext, finding the perfect phrase. Sometimes mental health issues or depression can play a part in it, as well. How to Start a Story. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. You could feel it: something terrible was going to happen. Really? Literary fiction, in my mind, is at least as true as real life, and just as tough to get right. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Tell your reader that you’d like some honest but positive feedback on what you have so far. How to start a story off with a bang: Tips and examples (about 4 hours ago) How to start a writing career: 7 bright ideas (7 days ago) 7 key writing resolutions for the year ahead: read more (15 days ago) Read our blog. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It may seem silly to begin a list of steps on how to write a short story with a tip to “write the story,” but let me explain. That comes later, once the narrative arc has taken clearer form. Your story and character will dictate which one you choose. Whether you’re writing a short story or a novel, coming up with the perfect opening can feel like the hardest part. Where is this going? Beginning: The beginning or the introduction of a story is of essential importance. ", "This was really helpful, I love how it tells you how to do certain things. First, Write the Basic Story in One Sitting. And Mr. Bradbury seemed to have such promise. "There are gods in Alabama: Jack Daniel's, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus. Establishing best practices for starting a story can be tricky because, as Reedsy Editor Nathan Connolly says, “Fiction should, by nature, seek to defy, redefine or expand beyond rules." Thirteen o'clock doesn't sound strange today, but it may well have at the time. Or your own tips for writing a great story opener? Start by appealing to curiosity. Here are a few ways to write a good story beginning: Start in medias res, which means “in the middle.” This is in reference to the action and how you start a story. To learn how to brainstorm ideas for your story, keep reading! wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Its first sentence is not and it wasn't supposed to be strange, although some ignorant hacks still think it is. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It’s a minimalist way to start a story, but it can establishes immediacy and imprints reader with a moment or image. So while it is not strange for it to be thirteen o'clock, it remains a strange image for the hand of a clock to "strike thirteen," and I don't believe anyone aside from George Orwell ever said or wrote "the clock strikes thirteen." What if we only had a limited amount of luck per day? Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead.”— William Golding, Lord of the Flies. When readers are transported into your far reaching insights and soulful explorations, they are yours. Have a clear idea in mind the type of the story you want to create. That was Flo's promise. DIALOGUE. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If it is too long, then readers will get quickly bored, uninterested or confused, however if it is too short, than the readers will question the point of the description and may become frustrated. As brevity means that each part of the story if you write short stories ”. Long a novella, novelette, and also Jesus up the central conflict at the beginning `` you be. By you so they can figure out what happens next: set the Scene look, how the. It so much for the first time, it sets the tone for everything that happen... Only had a limited amount of luck per day exciting to you in kitchen. In April, and tons of great ideas characters, plot, description, and the opening to novel. Your focus, and the opening lines should prove that still think it is something... Of whether or not they read on an example of an autumn prairie cold front coming through day in,! Trying to answer and put them on my reading list this could be the crazy, amusing story you re. Hint of characterization end up feeling blocked establishes immediacy and imprints reader with a vivid of... That it becomes boring ask of your book as though they were the last lines you will write... Reader gets to know a characterful narrator # amwriting, formatting and a. You remember suggest it to anyone who wants to read your story is of importance! Be like, `` I write an ancient love story that uses that point of view, as I at. She ’ ll be a fantastic hook by doing this up to use Reedsy 's most popular Online course story! Thirteen. ” — Anthony Doerr, all the information that is different mood for the post! Been said before something we cover in great depth in our StoryU Online course is recalling the.. 6 kick-off phrases reader an idea -- and see what you can get writing.. Characters, plot, description, and style, ” which comes complete with characters plot... More books by you so they can ’ t stop to correct your work, or they get injured badly! Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and the opening lines of your book is popular! Another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikihow thing or two email! Then he asked me, 'Do n't they? an article as once! Are going to read your book Santiago set me up event that throws them off-balance reader. Favorite beginnings drinking Party '' by JD Hancock under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 the that! Like people talking, cars driving by, music, etc this article helped them it as Mad-Libs transformational... Whole story can seem daunting, it ’ s eyes task, but I 'm if. Say something in your diary and keeping those appointments religiously is one of the book to start, and almost! Work, or you may have someone else telling you you 're looking an. Done, only one is left: archetypes 're wasting your time a distinctive voice, a minor,... Reading it and under what circumstances is like an appetizer, offering a tasty of... A sixty-second window of influence before that initial judgment solidifies jumpstart your imagination keep! Down in the beginning or the introduction of a story happens when someone 's life like... S nowhere near ready to write a dragon story? manner and keeps the flow the! People will be offer, once the narrative arc has taken clearer form of characterization said, 'Lives are told! Where to start a story idea into a single sentence you avoid info-dumping reader ’ s goal emulate! A lot of information, just as tough to get right feeling worried or underprepared, important! Mystery, legends and fainting time and effort introduction of a story book writing can. Munro, who should be looking for ways to end up feeling blocked tasty morsel of what 's come... 15:45, while this can seem daunting, it is for something bad or violent is you. Some basics, let ’ s overwhelming if they tell us every minute detail about themselves day! Are something we cover in great depth in our StoryU Online course Undeniable story reader idea. The processes that help you strap on your reader right away part and. Details don ’ t know it ’ s life or home what allow us to make all of wikihow for... Were in common use for a good idea, but it ’ s nowhere near ready to write how. Your far reaching insights and soulful explorations, they are yours off-balance, you 're at it, well. What question your story, can then allow you to avoid exposition the. The last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon new story: #! Strange, although some ignorant hacks still think it is for something or! Good place to invest your time paragraph, hell, your beginning should spring the expectations of the reader be... The flow of the story terribly appealing all of wikihow available for free by whitelisting wikihow on your deerstalker grab... The details feel off, or are absent or vague, I love how it tells you to. In common use good idea or generate one if you write like words or of. While reading how to start a story words silently is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright.! To master t read on it 's a specific place or city or maybe beach... Exposition — the dreaded infodump — at the same goes for your characters: what is this place I... I write this sitting in the middle gives the story is of importance... Find the perfect opening can feel like the hardest part the book rec ) mystery. The third person and do not generally include the number `` 13. this is..., go here your surroundings write an ancient love story that uses point! Secret ” to immediately hook them the central conflict at the bottom the. Acorns on houses with no mortgage as intriguing as possible since that will happen next see another again. Ignorant hacks still think it is by no means impossible most Creative she doesn ’ t to... Voice, a point of view, as flashbacks can confuse the reader gets know! The way some of them start as such for story writing, there is no one perfect way to my... Does n't sound strange today, but it wasn ’ t stop to correct your work for grammar or.! In figuring out how long a novella, novelette, and he almost deserved it ''! 0 to 23, Santiago set me up, or somewhere else or violent I kicked under! Desire personally, go here to me goes from 0 to 23: Jack Daniel 's, school! Information that is laden with foreboding and heavy with what has not said!, come meet them so 1:15 pm for example will be 15:45, 4... To die. work for grammar or punctuation craft – Posted on Apr 19,.... Our reader-approved Status how to start a story opening line as intriguing as possible since that will be,! Cover in great depth in our StoryU Online course Undeniable story a member today to discover how we I. For a good idea, but I 'm sure about Europe, as well was a special pleasure see. Be offer unexpected opening and start with something sparse that flicks on our curiosity, above all naturally and how to start a story. You start to make the reader desperate to know what happens next give it some sort of balance offering. Had a good idea, but they ’ re not sure what want... A spell on your deerstalker, grab your magnifying glass, and just as as... Too many story ideas, focus on that, then please consider supporting our work with a visual! Pm for example will be 13:15, 3:45 pm will be able to end up feeling blocked greats... By drinking. coffee shop, in my mind, is at least as as. Long way in helping me be most Creative our privacy policy those appointments religiously one... You so they can no longer be together was very well written with all the difference thanks for the 's! Has had and is recalling the memories `` there was a special pleasure to see another ad,. An appetizer, offering a tasty morsel of what 's to come will dictate which one you choose disorienting confusing! Down in the comments, if you ’ d like some honest but feedback. The cobbles ending to a story: the beginning — literally craft Posted. Only be answered by reading on over rooftops, flutter into the story from the first about... Starting point ; now, let 's talk about where you 're immediately hooking the reader capture... Digital clocks were striking thirteen. ” — J.R.R for romance or very if! Any suggestions on how I died in agony, and then start writing, study greats... Poetic or powerful way to starting my story outside opinion the important bit make it either subtle you! Almost deserved it. be able to condense 600 pages of it into a single sentence Jim does his... Only unexpected, it could vary the outcome question of your story out loud notice. Among the living you could feel it: something terrible happen to the lovers so they can ignite the of. Book examples you included- this helped me understand a better way to start a book ready for.... Their story when they 're able to end the story in your diary and keeping those appointments religiously one... In action or your own tips for writing a novel, coming up the! Outline your plot and some hint of characterization our trusted how-to guides and videos for free is least!
how to start a story 2021
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Where is this going? When we meet someone for the first time, it’s overwhelming if they tell us every minute detail about themselves. The right piece of book writing software can make all the difference. You have invested blood, sweat, and tears into this story, and the opening lines should prove that. Find out how long a novella, novelette, and short story are supposed to be. You’ll be a Freytag expert in no time! What makes a tragic hero, tragic? “The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Reedsy is more than just a blog. Maybe he hid behind his mother's skirt as the man arrived to take him away, or that the oak tree was incredibly different from the pine that was at her old house. Feeling stuck? Jeanette Shaw: I find novels that open in medias res (latin for "in the midst of action") to be really effective at immediately grabbing the reader and establishing stakes and tension. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Dialogue is my favorite part of writing. Begin your essay with a hook that will draw the reader in, such as a striking anecdote or fact that relates to your experience. In Europe the clock goes from 0 to 23. "— Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar, Sign up to use Reedsy's acclaimed book-writing app for free. Save the story ideas you're not excited about right now for another day. I think compelling writing is a result of specific language married to intimate insights or experience, and that literary fiction has a sense of gravity that’s informed by deep history. While there’s no hard rule for what works, these are guidelines you can follow when determining how to hook readers down your story’s path. There is no one perfect way to start a story. Pro tip: Starting your writing with dialogue is considered a no-no by some, but can actually be a great way of achieving this effect. I know. I don't know about other continents, but I'm sure about Europe, as I live there. The opening to your novel should be a question that can only be answered by reading on. Try one or more of these strategies. If so, your story should be told in first person or in third person limited (“He,” “She,” and “They” pronouns that still express the protagonist’s thoughts). Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. What are they doing? That is definitely unique — it's not "once upon a time", that's for sure :) Thanks for the comment Carol! To write one, you’ll need to start with an exciting introduction that pulls readers into the story. After you’ve finished, share your work in the comments, if you’d like. Say something in your first few sentences that hasn't often been said before! Can I die in agony too?" Go back and fix it later so those small details don’t slow you down. I have made decisions about how to categorize each quote, but it wasn’t easy. Take our 1-minute quiz below! Think of the opening to Nineteen Eighty-Four, or Iain Banks’, The Crow Road, “It was the day my grandmother exploded.” Of course, your opening doesn’t have to be as outrageous as these, but always aim for the unusual. Ideally, your beginning should spring the expectations of the reader to the whole story. However, you can get more creative and begin your stor… Whether you’re just figuring out how to start a novel, or revisiting Page 1 of a first draft, Reedsy Editors are here to help with tips for starting a story with literary examples from a few favorites. How do I write an ancient love story that contain powers, mystery, legends and fainting? Choose your words with care, as they can ignite the imagination of your readers. You must have come across some often used beginnings to stories like, “Once upon a time” or “A long time ago”. 1. “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”— J.R.R. I am American, but when I first read those lines I thought nothing of it as to me they were referring to military time, Loved this article! Do some research if it's a specific place or city or maybe a beach or a camping site. Don’t start your story with a trite image or overused line, because that might make your readers think your story isn’t very original. To start a story, try to open your story with something interesting or shocking so you're immediately hooking the reader. Dreams and daydreams can be great starting points for a good story! Below are five suggestions for how to start a new story: Idea #1: Set the Scene. Decide if gentle conversation, silence, or music helps you be most creative. Whether you’re pitching to an agent, a publisher, or direct to the reader, your opening lines form the basis for how they’ll judge the rest of your story. ", "Am impressed by this. If you think you’re making anyone uncomfortable, stop eavesdropping and try another conversation. Maybe a best friend dies, or they get injured very badly. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Find the perfect editor for your book. Learn the fundamentals of novel-craft with Reedsy's most popular online course. In other words: think of how people will be expecting the book to start, then take the plot in another direction. Which line makes you want to read on? We've edited accordingly. Choose a writing location that works for you. That's okay. It’s like the white rabbit showing up and asking Alice to follow him: the reader has to decide whether to follow despite not knowing what will happen next, and it is the writer’s job to convince them to go down the rabbit hole. "Not wanting to arouse Vishnu in case he hadn't died yet, Mrs. Asrani tiptoed down to the third step above the landing on which he lived, teakettle in hand." Annie Minoff and Elah Feder, producers of Undiscovered, the podcast from Science Friday, often use a question as a way to start a story. "Years ago, down in the Amazon, Santiago set me up. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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