5 Ingredients of a Killer First Chapter
Sometimes the hardest part of your book is the beginning.
It’s the one you return to again and again because you just can’t seem to get it right.
What if there was a formula you could follow? A simple structure that helped you flesh out a first chapter that accomplished all the things it needed to in order to start your story strong?
In case it wasn’t clear, there is! Of course, there are many different ways to approach writing. But for those of us who need a little extra guidance, this structure can be just the thing.
First off, let’s get clear on what the beginning of your story needs to do:
It needs to introduce your protagonist, your world, and your voice.
It needs to set the tone for your story.
It needs to entice the reader to continue reading.
Sound too overwhelming? It’s not! You’ve got this. Let’s squash those self-doubts here and now. By learning from the great storytellers who have gone before us.
I love studying story. And one of my very favorite ways to do this is to break down the stories that have impacted me.
So I did just that with 5 of my favorite stories. I analyzed what they had in common and how their first chapter(s) accomplished those three things listed above. By combining this with my existing knowledge base about story technique, I was able to come up with 5 components your first chapter needs.
A quick note.
This list isn’t exhaustive. The more we learn, the more there is to learn.
You might look at these same stories and come up with 5 completely different components you want to include in your first chapter. That means you’re doing something right!
You’re analyzing and becoming familiar with story in a way that will serve you deeply as a writer.
This list is meant to be informative and motivational. It’s meant to help you understand what’s working behind the scenes in the stories you know and love that is causing you as a viewer/reader to connect with them. With the world, the hero, the message.
Now, without further ado, let’s dive in.
P.S. For the sake of not making this a 20,000-word post, I’ve condensed the information here.
If you want to dive deeper, please check out the completely FREE Character Case Studies. It’s interactive and in-depth. And includes a FULL breakdown of each of the 6 stories I mention in this post (plus three additional ones) so that you can really see it in action. Plus, it includes 2 bonus components!
Famous Fictional Characters: FREE Case Study
JOIN THE FREE MINI COURSE
Here are the 5 components we will be discussing:
Want
Normal World
Ghost
Internal Conflict
External Conflict
1) Want:
What does your character want from the very beginning of their story? What is their deepest burning desire? The thing they are setting out to get? This desire/motivation should be made clear as soon as possible.
For Example:
In Little Women, the protagonist Jo March wants to be a writer.
2) Normal World:
What is your character’s day-to-day life when your reader is introduced to them? Give a snapshot of their life before the Inciting Incident shakes things up. Something that is unique to them.
For Example:
In Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke’s Normal World is on the barren planet of Tatooine, helping his aunt and uncle day to day on their farm.
3) Ghost:
What happened in your character’s past that has colored their view of the world in a harmful way? This should fuel the Lie that drives their story forward.
For Example:
In Jane Eyre, Jane's Ghost is the fact that her aunt withheld love from her. It colors her view of the world moving forward and informs her Want.
4) Internal Conflict:
How is your protagonist experiencing internal conflict/a rainbow of emotions right from the start?
For Example:
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry’s opening Internal Conflict is his emotional abuse. Harry watches as his aunt and uncle talk about him as though he isn't there and as though he is a nuisance, he deals with his cousin’s bullying, and he has the grief and confusion that comes with the fact that he is an orphan.
5) External Conflict:
What external conflict/tension is happening in the first 1-2 scenes?
For Example:
In The Hunger Games, Katniss’ External Conflict is fairly subtle, but definitely still present. Tension is in the air everywhere at the prospect of the Reaping. Katniss also faces External Conflict in the form of her illegal hunting and trading.
One of the most important things you want to establish from page one is your protagonist’s deep desire (their Want).
This is how your reader will connect with your hero.
I’ll be honest, this was a hard one for me to get.
The first time I submitted my manuscript to a professional editor, I learned that my protagonist didn’t even have a Want! And then, with my next book, my critique partner gently pointed out how bored she was with my first chapter. She said the story didn’t grab her until the end of those pages. When?
When I finally got to my protagonist’s Want/Goal.
Now, I’m a maniac about this idea. I make sure my protagonist’s Want is woven into the story from page one in one way or another.
The Want drives your protagonist through the story. It’ll do the same for your reader. Don’t overlook it.
The fastest way to write a strong story is with an effective outline that plots your novel’s beating heart.
In Outline Your Novel, you’ll learn exactly what these beats are, why they matter, and how to outline them effectively to make your story sing.
