Writing Tip: Openings - The First Scene
- William Kercher
- May 24, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2020
Why the opening scene of a story is important and how it can be improved.
A story cannot just begin. In fact, considering all of the important facets involved in crafting just the right story, developing the right opening of your story is one of the most important part of the writing and crafting process.
The opening must grab the reader and pique their interest. If you are submitting your writing to an agent or to a publisher, the piquing of interest takes on an elevated importance. Even though the agent and/or a publisher may ask for the first 20 or 30 pages, many times, the fate of the submission is decided while reading first page.
If the first page, or even the first paragraph, is boring, vague or badly written, it may get rejected on the spot. Is that fair? Who’s to say? But the truth is - that’s how it is.
So, why is the opening so important? What goes into an opening scene that that can make or break the entire story?
The opening indicates how well the author writes. It also gives the tone, pace, point of view and the story conflict.
Here are eight types of story openings
Conflict
State the conflict flatly in the first sentence and see where the paragraph goes.
"Mr. Brently hated his son's beard."
The word hated defines the conflict and gives the tone of the story.
Character
Get inside the mind of the main character in the first sentence.
"Be careful what you wish for, it might kill you."
Gets the reader involved in characters immediately, even if the real conflict does not come out until later.
Fits into all character-driven stories.
Combination of conflict and character
"Did you ever kill anyone?"
Defines the tone, conflict and characters of story.
Good for most stories.
Dialogue
Immediately gets into the characters heads.
Good for story based on interpersonal problem stories.
Suggestive setting description
"The hills across the valley of the Bah river were long and white. The trees and been killed off long ago by the discharge form the plant."
Useful especially for Horror, mystery and science fiction genre. Good for stories where the setting is part of the mood.
Character descriptions
"The very old couple came to the beach everyday and never seemed to notice anyone else as they walked through the on-lapping surf."
If theme or conflict comes from characters being intrigued by each other, use this.
Expressed desire
"Sometimes I wish I had fought in Iraqi."
Good for stories of longing. Lets main character express a deep feeling at the onset. Then the story plays on that feeling.
Frame the theme of the story
"What we know about pain is how little we do to deserve it and how easy it is to give and how hard it is to lose."
This type of opening is unorthodox and difficult to use properly.
Gets into the theme right away.
Good for stories of abstract and ethical ideas.
An idea that I have been known to use, is to write the opening scene after I have completed the entire story. That way, I know what mood I want to set at the very beginning.
Comments