In The Beginning - Page 4
© Kim Kay
You also need to introduce the primary conflict early in your novel. One method is to begin with a character in jeopardy. This character may be the protagonist or someone the protagonist cares for. The primary conflict of the novel may be the struggle to save the character in jeopardy. Alternatively, the dangerous situation may be resolved quickly, serving as a minor conflict that foreshadows or illustrates the primary conflict.
Another way of foreshadowing the major conflict is to show the protagonist in a situation similar to the resolution of the novel but with the opposite outcome. For instance, let’s say the protagonist is afraid of heights but must overcome that fear in order to resolve the conflict at the climax of the novel. At the beginning, he might be in a situation where the fear is not only made apparent, but also gets the best of him.
It is also important to show what is at stake from the very beginning. If the hero overcomes the primary conflict, what will he gain? Will he win the heart of his love interest? Will he save the day? Will he gain power, prestige, or riches? What will happen if the antagonist wins? What will the hero lose?
To give the reader a sense of time and place, you need to establish the setting. The setting includes both the time period and the location. Whether your setting is a real location or a fictional creation, you need to provide enough detail to give the reader a clear picture of where the story takes place. You do not want to give too much information at once, however, because it will slow the pace of your novel. Instead, reveal setting details slowly, mixing it in with action and dialogue.
Are You Hooked?: Questions to Ask Yourself
Once you have decided how to begin and written your opening scene, you need to see if it draws the reader in and makes him or her want to continue. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you have created an effective hook.
Do the first few sentences or paragraphs of the story grab your attention?
Do they hook you into wanting to read more?
Do they present (or hint at) the protagonist's main problem?
Is the direction of the story clear? Does the story start at the right place? (You do not want to start too early, way before the key event takes place, nor too far forward.)
