Where should your story begin?
- William Cornwell III
- Nov 13, 2023
- 2 min read
Where Should Your Story Begin?
It might seem obvious that a story should begin at the beginning, but finding the right moment to hook your reader into your world isn’t always easy. You, as the author, have to create the perfect moment to set the stage for your story. If you start too early there might not be enough direction to keep the reader invested, and if you start too late, then the reader might be confused about what is going on. So how do you find the right moment?
1. Look for the moment of Character Change
Look for the first moment in your story where your main character decides to, or is forced to, change. The moment a character jumps off into unknown territory, we have tension and questions about where this new path will lead them. These are necessary elements for grabbing attention and keeping your audience around for the rest of your story. There is no story without a character, and there is no character development without change.
2. Have Plot Relevant Information
You want your reader to understand the stakes involved as soon as possible. If you’re writing a war story, you want to choose a moment where the reader can quickly understand who is fighting who, why they are fighting, and which side the narrative is going to follow. You don’t need to have every piece of information up front, but you want to make sure you have enough, so the reader knows where they are and what is at stake.
3. Show the Theme in Small Scale
When you start a story, you want the themes your story has to be present from the start. The easiest way to do this is by kicking things off with a scaled-down version of your major conflict called a microcosm.
For example, in the case of romance, then we know one theme will be that of a love story. What could represent falling in love, but on a smaller scale? Perhaps the character finds a new artist that she loves, perhaps it's just the initial meeting with her later love interest, or perhaps it’s just a chance encounter that reminds the character that they are missing that part of their life.
Whatever direction you choose, by choosing a moment that shows us a tiny, blurry mirror of your larger, clearer story, you show the reader what kind of story you want to tell. Starting with a clear, reasonable expectation for your story is instrumental in making sure your audience feels satisfied by the end.
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