When starting a story, it can be difficult to know what should go in the first chapter. Here are a few points that can help you plan and start off your story with a bang:
Introduce the main characters and a basic setup: The aim of the first chapter is to get your reader hooked and intrigued, so introduce your main character(s) and briefly explain their basic traits; physical and/or psychological. Also, present the setting they appear in and why they’re in that environment.
Establish the main conflict: Every story has an underlying conflict that your characters are dealing with, so the first chapter should set up this main challenge. This could be something small at first, but it should be an obstacle that your characters need to overcome.
Establish the stakes: Depending on the type of story you’re writing, the stakes can be high or low. Establishing what’s at stake in the first chapter will help your reader to buy into the rest of the story.
Avoid info-dumps or flashbacks: Try to avoid giving the reader a huge backlog of information in the first chapter but instead provide pieces of information as they become relevant. You may also want to avoid flashbacks as they can confuse readers.
Make it interesting: The first chapter needs to grab a reader’s attention and keep them hooked for the rest of the story, so make sure it’s interesting by creating an immersive and thrilling atmosphere.
Following these tips should help to get your story off to a great start!
If you’re looking for additional advice and tips on how to write an effective first chapter, check out this blog post: https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-start-a-story/
