Arguably, the most important lines of your story are those in the opening scene. Do a poor job of writing them, and no matter how good the rest of the story may be, you probably will lose your reader. Here are some great tips on writing those opening lines (Click the linked title for the full article):
• What is an ‘inciting incident’ in a story?
Almost every writer has come across the term “inciting incident.” Just what is an inciting incident?
• Use broad conflict to set your story in motion
Almost all stories force the main character to solve several problems. One core problem, though, sets into motion the need to address these other issues. This core problem is known as the broad conflict.
• Start story with event that upsets status quo
Often the opening of a story involves some incident that upsets the status quo. In doing so, the main character faces the challenge of restoring order in the world.
• What does term ‘in medias res’ mean?
While reading books about plotting a novel, you may have came across the term “in medias res” in the section on the book’s opening lines. What does this term mean?
• Create a riveting opener for your story
A vital part of your story is the opening lines, also known as the inciting incident. In this section of your story, we learn who the main character is, the central problem facing him and a little about the setting.
• Focus on conflict in story’s opening lines
Almost certainly the most important lines in a story are the first ones. They give the tale direction and set the mood and tone. With an opening sentence, a writer must push the reader through the looking glass into a new world that can’t be escaped from. One good way to do that is to ensure that the opening line suggests what the story’s main conflict is.
• Draw readers into story with great opening lines
Among the most important words in your story are the ones that begin it. Those words should get the reader to ask, “What’s going on here?” so he keeps reading. In a short story, the author usually only has a couple of sentences to make this happen; in a novel, a couple of paragraphs typically is the limit.
• How to get readers engaged in your story
To be a truly successful fiction writer that people return to over and over again, you’ll want to pen a story that “engages” the reader. When a reader is engaged, she closely follows your tale, focusing on every word as if a wine connoisseur appreciating every sip of the best vintage.
• Write a great narrative hook
One sign of a good opener is that it makes the reader want to continue with the story. Using a fishing metaphor, a good opener “hooks” the reader.
• Avoid starting story with a cliché opening
For writers, the challenge with most people who like to read is that they read a lot. They’ve seen all kinds of plots, protagonists, villains and settings. Worse, even if they prefer specific genres, they don’t want to re-read a story, especially when they pick one up that claims to be original.
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My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of writers both new and published. I also offer a variety of self-publishing services. During the past 15 years, I’ve helped more than 400 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of the Storytelling 101 writing guidebooks, four nonfiction hiking guidebook series, and the literary novel Windmill. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.
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