Mar 29, 2022How to grow from literary rejectionsInterview with writer and marketer Grace Flahive — (This interview also appears as a video on YouTube.) Every essay I’ve written on How The Novel Starts has taught me in some way about the fundamental mistakes I’ve been making in my writing for years. It’s how I’m turning rejection into learning and growth. I wanted to speak to…Writing14 min readWriting14 min read
Feb 11, 2022Finding your novel’s nicheAn interview with Jenny Jackson, editor of the novel “Crazy Rich Asians” — (This essay also appears as a video on YouTube. The text here has been slightly edited for clarity.) In my recent essay on Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians, we looked at how that novel uses the concept of genre to hook readers. I wanted to explore that topic further, so…Writing16 min readWriting16 min read
Nov 27, 2021How “Crazy Rich Asians” hooks readersBuilding (and subverting) genre expectations — (This essay can be viewed as a video on YouTube.) I’m looking at how the openings of successful novels hook readers, so I can learn from their example and write amazing openings in my own work. And while researching this topic, I’ve tried to read a variety of styles and…Crazy Rich Asians8 min readCrazy Rich Asians8 min read
Sep 28, 2020How the prologue of “The Book Thief” hooks readersAn impressionistic, unique point of view — (Watch this essay as a video on YouTube.) I’m researching the openings of successful novels to learn how to write the all-important first chapter of my own book. This is the second part of my look at writing prologues. In the first part, I looked at A Game of Thrones…Writing5 min readWriting5 min read
Sep 17, 2020How the prologue of “A Game of Thrones” hooks readersInstant gratification and themes in action — (Watch this essay as a video on YouTube.) I’m researching the openings of successful novels to learn how to write the all-important first chapter of my own book. This is the first part of a two-part look at prologues, starting with A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin…Writing5 min readWriting5 min read
Nov 1, 20199 ways to write Chapter 1Lessons learned from successful novels — In an attempt to write a better first chapter of my novel, I’ve been looking for tips on opening chapters. While there are many good guidelines out there, much of the advice is short on concrete examples. So, I decided to do my own research by reading several successful novels…Writing13 min readWriting13 min read
Sep 6, 2019How the comic book series “Saga” hooks readersStarting with action — (Watch this essay as a video on YouTube.) I’m looking at the openings of great books for inspiration on how to start my own novel. And in this essay, I’m diving into the first issue of the comic-book series Saga by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Rather than gently…Comics6 min readComics6 min read
Mar 22, 2019How “The Hunger Games” hooks readersBringing a premise to life — (Watch this essay as a video on YouTube.) I’m learning how to write a great first chapter for my novel by studying the openings of successful books. …Writing6 min readWriting6 min read
Jan 14, 2019How “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy hooks readersRooting for the underdog — (This essay is also available as a video on YouTube.) I’m exploring the craft behind the openings of successful novels, so I can learn how to write a great first chapter for my own book. Today, I’m looking at how Cormac McCarthy creates vulnerable characters that engage our emotions. …Books6 min readBooks6 min read
Nov 21, 2018How “Cloud Atlas” hooks readersDelivering the unexpected — (This essay also appears on YouTube.) I’m learning how successful authors hook readers in the crucial opening chapters of their novels, so I can apply those lessons to my own writing. Today, I want see how David Mitchell delivers the unexpected in the opening of his 2004 novel Cloud Atlas. Plot Summary …Books8 min readBooks8 min read
