One of the main struggles I had with my first novel (still unpublished, but working on it!) was creating a captivating beginning. I have learned that it isn't enough to have good grammar and pace. It isn't enough to write lovely prose, or be intimately descriptive. It isn't even enough to have a great plot and exceptional characters. If you're a novelist, and you wish to publish your story, you must write a story that can, in some way, connect with the reader. That being said, it also isn't enough to tell a great story. The story must have the ability to captivate the reader and entice them to continue turning the pages.
I previously posted about how too much backstory, especially at the beginning of your book, can be a bore. I can only speak for myself, but as a reader, I can attest that if a book bores me in the first couple of chapters, I will likely NOT continue reading. Maybe 20 or 30 pages in, the story will explode into action, and be the greatest book I have ever read. For many readers, however, 20 pages will be too late. For some readers, three pages may be too late. The point is, from page one, the writer (fiction or non-fiction) must gain the readers interest.
There are several different things that work together to create a great beginning. However, for my book, the problem was too much telling. You've probably heard or read authors, editors, and literary agents speak about writers telling, instead of showing. When I realized that this was one of the problems my story exhibited, I was set on correcting it. However, I wasn't quite sure I understood the concept in its entirety. Sure, there were the obvious things, like showing emotions. For example, instead of stating, "Gloria is mad!", the writer should show us how Gloria is expressing her anger. Like this... "Gloria's cheeks radiated with heat as her hands curled into two white-knuckled fists at her sides." This kind of show vs. tell, I understood. What I had a hard time with was figuring out how to inform the reader about something without stopping the story to do it.
I haven't yet heard, or read, a better explanation to this than the one Jeff Gerke gives in his book, The First 50 Pages. In the book, Mr. Gerke explains the importance of a book's first impression. As I mentioned, there are several different concepts working together to create a harmonious beginning to your book, and Mr. Gerke explains each of these things in detail in his book. However, the most informative for me was chapter three when he explains show vs. tell. He does this from a film-audience point of view, which created a much clearer picture for me. Think about it. How irritating would it be if you were watching a movie, but before it began, a narrator spoke for ten minutes giving you information about the background of the upcoming scene. Wouldn't you just rather watch the backstory play out instead? Think of your book in the same way.
Instead of throwing in paragraphs of backstory, which brings the story to a halt, allow the information to play out throughout the book when the information is needed. He explains that this can be done easily in the dialogue, for example. Instead of telling how Sally's mother died, have someone ask Sally how her mother died. This will push the story forward, instead of bringing it to a halt while you explain.
In addition to show vs. tell, Mr. Gerke explains many more useful tips and techniques for creating the most captivating first 50 pages of your novel. This is not only important to gain readership, but more importantly, Mr. Gerke explains that it is vital in gaining the interest of the literary agent, editor, or publisher, who can help you share your story with the world. If you're struggling with a great beginning, I encourage you to read this book.
