by P Vandegrift

Created on: December 15, 2006   Last Updated: February 24, 2011

To write an excellent first chapter for your novel, bear in mind that when a reader pulls that book off the shelf, he/she will usually decide to buy, or not to buy, by the end of the first two pages, so your first chapter should contain your best writing.

Evocative, mysterious, and atmospheric; these are just a few words you would like your reader to use about your writing when they refer your book to someone else. Readers will either connect with your style or they will not, but you can make it easier for them to step into your world by keeping your descriptions concise, focused, and imaginative.

* Know your story!

Choose a handful of words that best describe the atmosphere of that first chapter and jot them down. What do you want your reader to visualize from that first page, even from the very first paragraph? Try not to give the entire plot of your story away here and do not try to introduce every character in your book in Chapter 1.

Some first chapters land us right in the midst of the action. This is great, but you must make sure this action is clearly defined so the reader can follow it in their head. It is always perfect in the writer's head, but the challenge is to get it out of there and onto the paper without losing your reader.

Starting the scene with dialogue is also a good option as it establishes a sense of urgency and the who and where of your scene. Dialogue also establishes character personality and helps the reader understand the perception of what is going on around your character. It also engages the reader very quickly without having to read several pages about how the blazing orange sun sets over some hill-fort.

If your first chapter is about a young woman escaping her village from marauders then pay close attention to her state of mind, what she is seeing, feeling. Always ask your characters what they are seeing and feeling - they will always let you know! If she is your heroine then maybe the reader should not know she successfully escaped until a later chapter. Do not be afraid to bait us (the reader) because if we have figured it all out by the end of Chapter 1 then we will feel that the rest of the book is going to be as predictable! But, if we feel like we have lived through the action along with your character then we will want to remain there until the end of your book.

* Chapter length

There is no set length for chapters. It is as long as you feel it needs to be or as short. Length depends on what information you want your reader

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