Writing Tips: Chapter Two
If you were to look anywhere where writing advice is present for the public, you would most likely see a section discussing the beginning of your story. And to make it even better, it’s usually in the beginning.
And since I’m a loser who doesn’t like being left out, I will be discussing it!
First off, the first thing I want to stress is that the genre of your story matters when forming the beginning of your story. For example, if you’re writing a sci-fi (science fiction) centered story, you might want something exciting to happen. This way, it’s apparent to your reader that it’s crucial that the protagonist(s) solve the issue, and plus, it adds to what the first impression of the story is as a whole. It can also increase interest and keep the reader from either forgetting the story or setting it down.
Maybe an explosion that kills thousands or an important politician gets assassinated, maybe aliens invading and kidnapping an important character or stealing a precious item, or maybe there are giant, mechanic dinosaurs wandering through the streets, which results in buildings tumbling over.
Basically, introducing the conflict in either the first few paragraphs or chapters!
Side-note: make sure to introduce the conflict within the first few paragraphs, pages, or chapters! This will allow the reader, and you, to be involved in what the issue is, and can get their brain working towards possible solutions. Of course, you should definitely introduce your protagonist(s) as well. What can also be a good plot (and an internal conflict point) is that the primary external conflict is related to them or someone they care about.
If you’re writing a story where conflict isn’t too present other than a few miscellaneous incidents (romance and slice of life are good examples), then make one that impacts most of the characters’ lives to a good extent! Babying your characters will not help the character development at all, and it will actually detriment it. Remember: your characters, and basically everyone around you, have traits that are developed over time, either by experiences or those around them. Creating conflict, even if it’s only a medium amount, will reveal things about the characters’ personalities. Create conflict in which it can happen in their world, and is easy for you to execute.
Moving onto cliches, they’re actually quite common in beginnings. They’re everywhere, as well. In all forms of media, there are always cliches.
A few examples of cliches in any form of creative story-telling are: the protagonist waking up from a dream (bonus points if they’re told a prophecy), an annoying amount of exposition about either the character or the setting, or a protagonist’s partner being unfaithful (almost exclusively in romance).
But none of that is useful if you don’t make it memorable!
One of the primary things about being an author is creating new things and experiences for the reader. And whether you want to admit it or not, creative story-telling (or in this context, creative writing) is a form of art, and art is inspired by something.
If you’re planning on doing a cliché beginning, spin it in a way that makes the reader want to stay.
(Ooh, that rhymed!)