Every writer struggles with writing the beginning of their work.
Whether you’re writing a class assignment, journaling, a short story, epic novel, or poem, and whether you are a new writer or best-selling author, the beginning is usually one of the biggest hurdles to writing.
Assuming you have an idea, by this I mean you know something about the character, where the story will take place, and a grasp of what the character’s problem is, (for lessons on these concepts, click their links), you may feel ready to begin the story.
Each story (character’s journey) exists
because he/she is facing a problem.
This is what to include in the beginning of a story:
*A gripping opening.
- The first line/paragraph/page throws the reader into the overall story.
- It gives the reader a glance at the main character.
- And it makes clear what the main character’s problem is.
For example: Little Red Riding Hood was told to deliver a basket of goodies to her granny.
Unfortunately, a wolf made her journey a tad difficult.
Readers do not want to know what the character ate for breakfast that morning or details about the weather unless it contributes to the problem.
Readers do want:
To meet the character in their problem:
In the Wizared of Oz, a tornado rampaged toward Dorothy.
To see where the character is:
Dorothy scooped up her dog, Toto, and ran from her uncle’s farm field toward the celler.
To hear what they hear:
The tornado roared like a train. Toto yipped close to her ear. Uncle Henry yelled for her to hurry.
To touch what they feel:
The wind swirled, snapping her hair against her face. It pushed against her legs and feet. Toto wormed and wiggled in her arms until he jumped away and ran toward the house.
To smell what they smell:
The fields swayed, sending corn scent into the air. Toto’s fearful doggie scent drove Dorothy to run after him.
To taste what they taste:
Sand and dirt from the fields blew into her eyes, nose, and mouth. The gritty taste coated her tongue.
And experience their emotions:
Uncle Henry would be upset with her for not running to the cellar as he warned, but Dorothy couldn’t let the tornado take Toto. Fear. Anxiety. Driven. And more!
This epic beginning continues to drive readers to read this story over and over.
Why?
The Wizard of Oz has a compelling beginning. One that throws readers into the overall story, gives readers a glance at the main character, and makes clear what the main character’s problem is.
Had you read only the beginning, could you have imagined, in your wildest dreams that you would be swept with Dorothy into a place called Oz?
We’ll talk about what every story’s middle needs in the next lesson.