Stellar First Chapters: How to Write a Winning First Chapter

Some writers are able to pump out a new book every single year. They're the lucky ones. For the rest of the authors in the world, expect to spend much more than that. Three, five, or even eight years spent on a single novel is not unusual.

What is most of this time spent doing? Getting every single word right. Making sure that every single chapter moves the story along and drags the reader, breathless and excited, right along with it.

And without a doubt, most writers spend a good portion of their writing time trying to perfect their first chapter. Getting those opening lines just right. Here's some advice to help you perfect your first chapter, and hopefully cut back on some of the time doing it.

Crisp and Unassuming - Cover the Rules

In an interview with BBC, author Elliot Perlman was asked about the importance of opening lines. His answer to what the first chapter should be, to be successful?

"Get the reader into the story straight away, and use crisp and unassuming language. Don't make the reader want to reach for the dictionary."

Very good advice from a very crisp author.

While trying to tell the opening well, luring your reader into chapter 2, there are a few important things that your first chapter must do:

1. Introduce a Story-Worthy Problem
2. Hook the Reader into Reading Chapter 2
3. Establish the Rules of the Story
4. Introduce Key Themes

So, your job? Go over your first chapter with a fine-toothed comb and look for unnecessary "big words". If a fifty-cent word will do just as well as a million-dollar one, go for the simpler one.

Then, make sure you're jumping right into the story. Character background can be covered over and over again later on. Your reader wants to know why they should keep reading, and you've got to tell them ... immediately.

Finally, make sure you're using graphic imagery that will lure the reader into continuing on for at least one more chapter. Whatever rules govern the story, get them out in the open - for example, let's say that your main character is an FBI spy. Government has placed a lot of rules on him. Let's further say that your FBI spy has been duped into a very very dangerous mission that he thought wasn't going to be dangerous at all. The rules (and plot) thickens. Finally, let's say that this now-angry spy is also in love with a very powerful woman and is forced to ask her for help ... but he's promised himself to never ask her for that help because he doesn't want her to know he loves her - to keep her safe.

With that much done, you'll be ready to do a quick re-write of your first chapter. But you're not done yet. There's still one essential element to include: theme.

Every story has a theme. Think of it as the soundtrack; what is constantly playing on the character's - and thus the reader's - subconscious during the telling of the story? In the complicated little example I've used, the theme might be about self-awareness, self-forgiveness, or the redeeming power of love. Who knows? But you'll want to introduce the theme in small and subtle ways that you can carry through the rewrite of your entire book.

That's a lot of ground to cover in a first chapter, but if you cover it well - getting to the story right away with "crisp and unassuming language" - you're going to have a winner.