Oct 26 2008
Novel Writing Secret Formula - Pop!
That’s the starting gun… and you need a starting gun (or something else really exciting) on your first page, or no one will read page two. Sorry. That’s just how it is.
And I know you’re about to get started on your story. However, I have to tell you something really important, first. This is what you’re cannot do on your first page. If you want your book to sell, on page one, you cannot have:
1. Your main character wallowing in misery. This is only allowed if you somehow make it incredibly funny, and then make the rest of the book incredibly funny.
2. You cannot start with a dream sequence. When the reader realizes that they haven’t been getting a feel for the real world of the rest of the book, they will throw your novel across the room and go find something else to read.
3. Although some authors get away with it, you are not going to start with a punchy prologue because the actual first page of chapter one is as dull as dishwater. Your first page of chapter one is going to be exciting, isn’t it?
4. You will not have your main character doing something awful to make it “real”. Readers don’t read genre fiction for “reality”. They read genre fiction for entertainment. Period. A main character who hurts others, steals from the helpless, abandons people, or is drunk/on drugs (without being incredibly funny) isn’t a hero. No one will ever find out about his redeeming qualities because they won’t read past page two.
5. You will not set one tone, and then change it later. If you have blood on page one (or two, or three), there has to be a river of blood by the last chapter. If there is an action sequence near the beginning of the story, the novel can’t suddenly turn introspective later on with people having coffee for chapters at a time and just talking.
So check that your idea doesn’t do any of the above, then get ready to write your exciting first pages. I can’t wait to read them!
Five great pointers for beginning the publishable novel, great ideas!
Hmmmmm, no wallowing, no dreaming, no addiction, well I blew all three in my book.
Is this strictly for short novels, or all genre, say, such as a series or an historical fiction longy?
I agree, the first page/chapter has to suck you in. But as far as likability, is it really totally necessary?
interesting, will keep these goodies in mind and of course read further.
Thanks, Msp