Why is it so $#%*! hard to write the opening of a novel?

Maybe you stare at the blank page wondering where to begin, how to best introduce your characters, or what will make the best hook to keep readers turning pages.

Or maybe you’re not concerned with any of that in the first draft. Maybe, like me, you revel in the fresh start, putting down words at first that seem to flow like water. But by draft number two, or sixteen, you’re dreading the deep changes you need to make to that opening to bring the whole story into focus.

Whatever your process, the first pages of a book tend to receive the most attention from an author. Why? There are several very good reasons.

So. Much. Info.

What should be included in the first few pages of a novel rivals Santa’s Nice-or-Naughty List in length and breadth. Here’s a list of what you’re expected to introduce right away:

• Main character(s)
• His/her age, vocation, and other important details
• Something that makes the reader care about or relate to the MC
• His/her everyday world
• His/her primary desire / external goal
• His/her internal wound / myths believed
• Theme
• Setting (where, when, etc.)
• Genre and subgenre
• Mood and tone
• Conflict
• Stakes
• Author’s unique voice
• End-of-first-scene or chapter hook

And not only do you need to include these things but make it appear seamless, like "of course, this is how stories are told." No, no, dear reader, that isn’t blood, sweat, and tears you see, just another delightful day in the life of an author. Yeah, right.

It’s a Catch-22.

You need to know your characters and story well enough to nail those first few pages, but you don’t know them well enough yet because you haven’t written the story. That is, unless you’re a plotter extraordinaire and have already spent many hours with your characters before writing the first line.

But for many writers, those first few pages set the tone for the rest of what they write, and they need to pen a great opening to push forward. The beginning is where you plunge yourself into your characters, what they want, what they need, and how to get them there.

So, the Catch-22 is that you need to know your characters better to write the first pages well, but you need to write the first pages well to get to know your characters better.

By the way, has anyone actually read the Catch-22 novel by Joseph Heller, or do we simply reference the phrase like I just did? Oh well, I digress.

Where to Begin…

You might have intriguing characters, gorgeous prose, and a beautiful hook that pulls readers in, but you may have started in the wrong place. Many writers have received feedback that comes down to: “Nice writing, but throw out the first few pages and start on chapter two.” Ouch.

It’s hard to know when your story should begin. Some stories dump the reader right in the action, and others require a slower build-up. And while genre conventions can help you know which way to go, they don’t illuminate the path perfectly. You have to find the sweet spot for your particular story.

You might have to poke around for a while before you come upon that sweet spot.

Are You a Perfectionist?

Too many writers don’t move forward from those first few pages until they’re shinier than a buffed diamond. They write and rewrite, edit and edit, polish and polish until they can’t see the whole anymore.

Their words are trees, and the sense of a whole forest has been lost. Lost in the woods, they no longer know if what they wrote is any good. It’s analysis paralysis at its best. Worst? Yeah, worst.

Today’s Readers Are Impatient

Once upon a time, I gave any and every book I started a full 50 pages to hook me. Now, an author gets 10–20 pages to convince me to keep reading. Many readers allow for far less than that. They may download a sample or simply read the first page or two before deciding whether to buy.

That puts a lot of pressure on the author to give those first pages magnetic appeal. Or perhaps hypnotic: you must keep reading you must keep reading you must keep reading. We feel the gravity of that opening, which can create the kind of stress that makes it more difficult to write. Or to know if what we’re writing works for others.

Summary: Writing first pages can be a pain in the patootie.

How Do You Get It Right?

First of all, just write. It’s a-okay for your first draft to include stuff that you’ll need to ditch later. You may discover that the best opening for your novel occurs halfway through your first draft of chapter one. And that’s okay. Deleting words (and paragraphs) can be just as important as adding them.

Second, introduce your main character in relationship to others. With rare exceptions, your primary character shouldn’t start with a lot of time alone, internal dialogue, a dream, etc. We need to know who this person is in the context of their relationships. That’s also where we’ll likely figure out what their goals and desires are—whether it’s a longing to be with someone, avoid someone, or even destroy someone. Take us away from others, and our stories become far less intriguing (Castaway, excepted).

Third, hit the highlights. Remember that list above? Check back with it after you’ve drafted your initial scene and see if you covered the elements a reader would be looking for. If you didn’t, no worries—layer them in as you edit.

Fourth, grab a critique partner or group. With first chapters especially, we writers can lose perspective. It helps to have another writer, beta reader, or full group let you know if they were hooked or needed more to feel invested in your characters.

Fifth, let it go. It’s okay to let that first scene or chapter rest up as it is and to plow forward with the rest of the book. Writing the rest of the story may give you the clarity needed to return to the first scene/chapter with the fresh eyes and make sure it reflects the theme and goals of your whole novel.

Openings Can Be Magical

Fortunate. That’s how I feel about the many wonderful novel openings I’ve read through the years. From Daphne Du Maurier’s “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again” to Christina Delay’s “Every good story starts with a lie,” I’ve been yanked into story after story by beautiful first lines and chapters that make me want to turn page after page.

But none of that happened with draft number one. Indeed, what looks like magic requires numerous hours of trial and error, practice, and skill. It can come with some pain, but in the Nike slogan way of “no pain, no gain.”

Work for it, and you’ll be happy with the results.

Do your own first lines just show up in the first draft, or do they arrive in the later drafts? What first lines have stayed with you years later? Do you have advice about openings to add here? Please share it down in the comments!

Opportunity

And for another great opportunity to perfect your first pages, check out the next Cruising Writers retreat! We sail the Caribbean February 22-March 1, 2025, with special guests Mark Leslie and Erin Wright and a First Pages workshop in which you get professional feedback for your writing. Check out the amazing benefits and full itinerary HERE.

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About Julie

Julie Glover is an award-winning author of young adult and mystery fiction. Her debut Sharing Hunter placed in several contests, including the much-touted RWA® Golden Heart® YA. Her follow-up, Daring Charlotte, was released last year, and Pairing Anton is coming soon! She has also co-authored five supernatural suspense novels and two short stories in the Muse Island series under her pen name Jules Lynn.

Julie has taught conference workshops and online courses, served as a host of the Writers in the Storm blog, and is a sometimes-host for Cruising Writers, an incomparable writers’ retreat at sea.

Learn more about Julie and her books at her website: julieglover.com.