how to start your novel: 13 tips for the first page

You have the ideas, you have your computer open and the cursor is blinking on your brand new document. Suddenly, you're at a loss. You type in a sentence only to delete it, or you just stare at the blank page without any idea how to get started.

Sound familiar? If it does, don't worry, you're not alone. First things first, read this post all about how to banish your inner critic. It's imperative to get started without that little companion, so get rid of that voice in your head right now.

Now that you've got that in hand, let's talk about that blank page again. What if you just don't have any idea how to start, or no matter what you do, you seem to still be having trouble with the beginning?

Beginnings can be tricky. There's a lot of pressure weighing on the first few sentences-- we read articles and advice all the time about how it important it is to hook your reader right away. That's all true, but here's a radical thought: the first draft is not for your reader. It's for you.
It's important to give yourself permission to write this first draft for yourself, for your story, and just that. This first draft is just to get those words out. That means it's allowed to have a cheesy first sentence, or start your book off with a less than exciting intro. All that can be fixed in the editing stage when your focus turns to polishing the book for your reader. Right now, though, give yourself the freedom to simply write, even if its done badly.
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Need some more ideas before setting pen to paper? Here are our top tips for how to start your story!

1. Start in the middle of the action. This is a classic beginning for many books. There's nothing like a little action to hook your reader. One thing to remember, though, is "starting in the middle of the action" does not necessarily mean you need to begin in the center of your climactic point or even right in the middle of your first act. You can begin with action before the catalyst even happens.
2. Introduce your character in a creative way. If you can think of a way to introduce your character that will allow an inside look into who your character is or simply shows your character in their natural environment in a unique way, it can be a great way to start your novel!
3. Stay away from paragraphs of scenic descriptions and cliched intros. It's usually best to avoid paragraphs of words going on and on at the start of your story. Description is good and needed at times, but don't overdo it in the beginning. It's the character's story after all, not the description's. Stay away from cliched intros, too. They're out there all over, so be different!
4. Don't give too much backstory in the very beginning. A lot of stories definitely benefit from not revealing too much backstory all in the beginning. Even if you want a character who is an open book (which would have to be done really well in order to work), it's important not to just give a mini biography of them on the first page.
5. Make the reader fall in love with your character, or at least be curious about them. Ultimately, this is your character's story, so it's imperative that your readers fall in love with your character-- or if they're not a very lovable character, at least be curious about them enough to keep reading. It doesn't matter how amazing the narrator or author is, if the characters aren't grabbing your readers, no amount of fantastic first lines or intriguing hooks will make up for it. If this is your first draft-- make sure you fall in love with your character in the beginning. It will help your writing flow better.
6. Cause the reader to ask "What happens next?". Again, it comes down to engaging your reader. Or at the very least if this is a first draft: engaging you. Make sure your beginning causes you (or your reader) to wonder what happens next. (In fact, this is just good advice for writing every scene).
7. Establish the voice, tone, and mood of your book. The start of your book is the place where you need to instantly establish the voice of your narrator, the tone and mood of your book, and perhaps even lay ground for your themes. This can be done through description, syntax, and more.
8. Don't copy other books-- just write the story the way you know it needs to be told. We've already said not to rely on cliched beginnings, but this point takes it farther-- you don't have to write like other books. You are allowed to write the story however you want. So if you want to break a rule here and there, or you want to use some creative wording, or you choose a style that isn't common: it's perfectly alright. Feel free to do whatever the story wants.
9. Introduce the conflict of the story. Books rely on conflict to keep the plot moving forward, so if you don't start with conflict, your book won't move forward. Again, it doesn't even have to be the main conflict of the book, it could even be a smaller conflict leading up to the main one. Whatever the case, make sure there is some kind of conflict present and that it hints at what the book's main conflict will be about.
10. Show the character in his/her normal world, but present a problem. Showing the character in his/her normal world is a classic first beginning for the hero plot structure, but even if you're not using that model, it can sometimes be a good beginning to introduce your character in their normal setting. This gives you the chance to present the problem they are facing or about to face in sharp contrast to what their comfort zone or normalcy is.
11. Give important information without info-dumping. Things like setting, time period, character description and more are all important, and they're usually a good idea to reveal early on. Just make sure you do it in a way that isn't just info-dumping.
12. If you absolutely must begin with a prologue, avoid monologuing, and treat it just like you would the beginning of any story. Some stories need a prologue, and there's no way around it. If you decide your story must have a prologue though, don't use that as an excuse to monologue, share extensive histories, or info-dump. Despite the word prologue being attached to it, it is still the beginning of the story, so treat it as such.
13. If it's just not coming--jump right in and know you can always fix it later. Back to our original thought: If you are just trying to get your first draft written and absolutely nothing seems to be working, just jump right in and remember that the editing process will save the day down the road. Overthinking is the real villain of first pages, and it's important to realize that there is no room for that kind of an enemy when you are writing your first draft.

So there you have it! Thirteen tips for the first page, plus the permission to write badly, if need be, in the first draft.

We'd love to hear from you in the comments! Share the first line of your novel, OR, relate an experience you've had where you struggled with first page woes.

Stay Fearless!