What's Write [COMPLETED]

What's in a 1st chapter?

If you know me at all you know that I have a weird obsession with first chapters. (Oh, we noticed.) They are the first impression. You might strive to not judge of book by it's cover, but you can judge a book by it's first chapter. Seems a bit harsh, but it's true. It's like how most of the essays graded in school are based off the first sentence/paragraph. The same idea applies here.
(They are?! I never knew! 😱 Haha just kidding)

Moving on!

Think of all the books you have read. How many times did you read the first chapter and then put it down, never to return to it?

Unfortunately, too many. Same girl!

You don't want that for your book and so this chapter is about helping you find the best possible way of making that not happen.

I'm not saying this is a sure thing, but it's a start to help you on the right path.

At least you'll get a better idea of just why Joy is so obsessed with writing first chapters, if that was bugging you at all.
(😂😂😂)

So what does a first chapter need? It needs four things: an emotional hook, strong voice, a jump start and a touch of intrigue. What do I mean about these things? Well, let's take them one at a time.

An emotional hook.

(Again with Grant Gustin crying! Is this really necessary? You got me tearing up just at the sight of his adorably sad expression!) (Sorry, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use it!)

What is that? It's a strong emotion that the reader an relate to. It could be as simple as embarrassment, fear, hope, desperation. You need to find that emotion and heighten it. Sit in that moment where your character is feeling that emotion and let us sit in it.

It helps get your reader immediately invested in your story, somehow. They don't know much about the plot yet, or even the main character. But if they can grab a hold of a relatable emotion, you've got them hooked. (Get it?) (Haha I got it!)

Humans, no matter where they come from or what they look like, all go through the same emotional spectrum, so use that. Find just one emotion in your first chapter that we can latch onto. Because when we latch onto it, it means that we start to see ourselves as the character, no matter what age, gender, ethnicity they are. Once that happens we are in for the ride! (The ride being your story 😁)

A strong voice.

The voice of a story is you. It's your style of writing. The way you put phrases together. Your choice of words. You want to make sure from the beginning that you are writing in a style that is completely you and not you mimicking someone else. This comes from writing over and over again until you flush out your unique style. Because remember there is only one you and that is what we want to read.