One of the most common mistakes when writing a first novel is starting the story at the wrong time and place.
Choosing An Opening Scene
It makes sense to start a story at the beginning. Unfortunately, that's where the problem lies. No matter what the plot is, there are probably several different scenes that could be used to open the story. The difficulty lies in deciding which one to use.
If too much background information is given before anything happens, a reader will become bored and lose interest. If not enough background is given and the bomb blows up on page one, the reader might be confused from the beginning and give up. It seems like writing the first chapter should be fairly simple, but it's one of the most difficult parts to get right.
For example, the plot may involve the abduction of a baby from its crib and the subsequent search. The writer could start the story with the mother rising in the morning, going through her morning routine, then realizing the baby is missing. Predictable, and maybe boring if the emotions are faked, the scene goes on too long, and the conflict is delayed.
The story could start with the kidnapper climbing through a window into a room lit by a night light. The baby is in her crib and the abduction takes place. This type of beginning sets the stage for the plot and has an element of danger and excitement. Readers will want to know what happens next, but if the scene goes on too long, all action with no reaction from a character is meaningless.
The novel could start by entering the mind of the kidnapper. His reason for the abduction might be personal, political, religious, or he might just be nuts. Or, the story might focus on the detective and his problems. It all depends on which way the plot will unfold.
Another common mistake is introducing too many characters into the opening pages. Readers are guaranteed to get confused and may end up turning back to the beginning just to remember who a character is and if he's important and central to the plot. It's an irritation at best, and total failure if the reader puts down the book without finishing.
On the flip side, a book that sets the stage with elaborate detail about the setting, such as descriptions of flora, fauna, or the history of a town, can put a reader to sleep.
The goal of the writer is to start the novel with conflict while introducing the characters, embroiling them in a plot that has enough substance to unfold over a few hundred pages, then delivering a satisfactory conclusion. Therefore, the first words of a novel may be the most important words in the entire book.
How to Write the Beginning of a Novel
The best advice for anyone starting a novel is to stop thinking about it and just start writing. Take the idea or plot and get it down on paper. Some writers start with complete backgrounds for the main characters and their relationships. Others start with the plot and write solely to get the story points down, or they outline the main events of the book. Others do a combination of both. Any way is fine as long as something is being produced.
Write the story to the point where the initial conflict has been established and the main characters have been introduced. Don't stop to think about the words on the page or if the story is good or not. It can and will be changed anyway. The important thing is to have something other than a blank page to work with.
Editing the First Chapters of a Novel
Don't become attached to phrases and scenes, or measure success by word count. Words are just words. Successful writers realize this and ruthlessly edit themselves.
Once the first few chapters are down on paper, start getting rid of anything that doesn't advance the story or isn't central to a character. It may be necessary to delete words, paragraphs, pages, and yes, whole chapters. This winnowing process will eventually lead the writer to the real beginning of the story. Look for the part where the conflict is introduced and the characters react to that conflict.
It isn't easy to recognize exactly where the story should start, and truthfully, successful novels can start in unexpected places. A writer may change his mind many times before making a final decision.
Final Words
There are many ways to write and revise a novel. Some writers will write an entire novel without stopping, and only when the entire piece is done will they revise. Others constantly edit themselves as they write. Either way is fine. The goal is to do whatever works to produce a great final product. Once the opening scene of a novel is written, the tone of the novel is set and the rest of the story will follow.
