9 ways to write Chapter 1

Lessons learned from successful novels

Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash

Overview of topics

Structure and Story Concept

  1. The start of a new life (American Gods)
  2. Starting with a bang (Saga)
  3. The high concept (The Hunger Games)
  4. Ask the right question (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)

Voice and Style

  1. Don’t give it all away (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone)
  2. The power of first-person narration (Life of Pi)
  3. Spontaneity and surprise (Cloud Atlas)

Introducing Worlds and Characters

  1. Building the world (Coraline)
  2. Sympathetic characters (The Road)

STRUCTURE AND STORY CONCEPT

The start of a new life

  • Wonder by R. J. Palacio (new school)
  • The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (new job)
  • The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (new country)
  • Coraline by Neil Gaiman (new house)

Starting with a bang

The high concept

Ask the right question

VOICE AND STYLE

Don’t give it all away

The power of first-person storytelling

Spontaneity and surprise

INTRODUCING WORLDS AND CHARACTERS

Building the world

Sympathetic characters

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I explore the opening chapters of popular novels, and figure out what writers can learn from them for their own work.

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How The Novel Starts

I explore the opening chapters of popular novels, and figure out what writers can learn from them for their own work.