How do you write the start of chapters or books? The beginning of the chapter is always the worst part for me to write, after that, the rest comes more easily, but the beginning is always really hard to write.
Beginning a Scene or Chapter
First, it helps to understand that stories are a collection of scenes, which are moments in your story typically oriented around one or more of the following:
a particular course of action
a particular conversation
a particular time and/or place
a particular subject, theme, or tone
a particular character’s POV
When the scene has finished exploring the particular item/s above, and must naturally shift to focus on a new item/group of items, that scene ends and another begins.
Chapters are made up of one continuous scene or a few related scenes separated by a scene break (two blank lines, sometimes marked with a decorative symbol.)
So, to figure out how to write the beginning of a scene or chapter, you first need to figure out what exactly is going to happen in that scene. Figure out a loose sequence of steps or events that will take the scene from beginning to end.
Next, look at those early steps. Try to imagine what’s happening in that moment. What is your protagonist doing? What are the other characters doing if they’re present? When and where is this scene taking place? What is the environment like? Is any other activity already in progress? For example, if you need your character to get an alarming phone call while out with friends, consider what your character and their friends might be doing. Are they out dancing? Are they at dinner? Are they at a baseball game or playing miniature golf? Figure that out first.
Next, imagine that you’re dropped down into that moment with your characters as things are already underway. What’s happening? Let’s say your characters are playing miniature golf. Note some things that could be happening:
– Katie sinks a hole-in-one– Sarah and David make eye contact and awkwardly look away again– Luciana gets a text from Manuel who is on his way with big news
What is this miniature golf course like? What’s the atmosphere? What’s the weather?
Possible starting points:
- describe the setting/atmosphere
Little Bend Putt-Putt is a hole-in-the-wall venue, but it’s what passes for an “entertainment complex” in our humble town, and on night’s like tonight it’s absolute magic.
- describe an in-progress moment or situation
Katie’s ability to line up the perfect putt putt shot is unparalleled. The way she’s gazing at her target, you would think she’s doing complex equations in her head, and maybe that’s exactly what she’s doing. Maybe it’s why she’s beating us all, well under par for every hole so far.
- start with something really important
My phone buzzes in my pocket, just about launching my heart out of my throat right here in the middle of the putt putt course. Katie, the Precision Queen of miniature golf, is currently sizing up her next shot, so I duck around to the side to look at my phone and see who texted me.
“Guys–” I say, feeling my brows crumple as my eyes scan the text. “I just got a text from Manuel. He’s coming here, and he says he has big news.”
If you’re still finding it hard to figure out how to start a scene or chapter, try going through the books you own and pay attention to how they start. Sometimes just seeing examples of possible beginnings can help you brainstorm ways that will work in your scene. Good luck! :)
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