I have always struggled with the beginning of a story. I know the direction I want to take and different plot points along the way, but the first page or so is always the hardest for me to get through. Does anyone have some pointers or common ways they beginning a story?
Start in a way that will immediately grab the reader's attention, hook them in. For instance, I have started my books with
What type of story is it? That will dictate how it should/can start
Start in a way that will immediately grab the reader's attention, hook them in. For instance, I have started my books with
- The main character escaping prison
- A nightmare (though dream sequences are difficult to do well, and I only did it because what happened in the nightmare would be important later)
- A character's name. ("Avitas Calon, thief extraordinaire. Or at least, that was how he thought of himself")
- (Not mine, obviously) "Once, in a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty wet hole, full of worms and oozy smells, nor yet a sandy hole. This was a hobbit hole…" etc etc.
- An action scene is always a fun way to go, if it fits your story
What type of story is it? That will dictate how it should/can start
The story I am currently writing is an isekai. How I have it started right now is introducing the world he will be summoned to and why they need to summon him. I feel as if I should do something different, but every time I try something it just turns out crappy.
Is this your first draft? If so, I would say don't worry about it too much, and just write as you think is best. You can worry about all the details and polishing it up in the second draft