So.. Okay, let me just preface this by saying that the first few paragraphs I write are never that good. I can revise them all I want, but they always come out bland. I would like this new story I'm writing to be a little more… Attention grabbing.
I think people are taught from such a young age that hooks are everything, and if your reader isn't hooked right away, they wont read it anymore. I don't know about you, but that scares me half to death. I need help coming up with an opening line to set the mood for the rest of the first chapter.
This book is about a girl who's brother went missing eight months prior. She's almost given up hope until the first of August rolls around (AKA The Lightning Moon, which is the title of the book) and a letter is delivered to her that morning. It basically tells her that she has the rest of the month to find either him, or his body. She is also tasked with finding out who will go missing next, and why.
It needs some polishing, but that will be done AFTER I get my poop in a group, write a little bit, and figure out the tone for the first chapter! Help..?
Start with something gripping, like instead of leading up to her going outside and getting the letter just start reading it or something.
(Bad example, and I don't know your book very well) but possibly something like "I always knew, deep down, that my brother was dead."
Perhaps you could start the book with her thought process right after reading that letter. Another thing could be to start off the book with a conflict. Maybe the girl's parents have given up and are planning the memorial or something.
Just think about a scene what you would find interesting and gripping to read about.
Quotations and dialogue are always a good way to start
Your first few paragraphs should set the tone of the story. It very strongly influences how readers perceive the story. Is it mysterious? tragic? ominous? happy? probably not the last one in your case, but whatever it is, it should tell readers what the rest of the story will be like. I recommend reading the first chapters of 'Nevernight' and 'The name of the wind'. the opening to nevernight shows the interplay of light and dark, good and evil, and how they're often less clear than they seem. and the opening chapter to the name of the wind is incredibly ominous, dramatic and mysterious.
These are all very helpful suggestions! Thank you!
