by James Johnson

Created on: March 20, 2009

Chapter One is your introduction and point-of-beginning for all that follows. It's the place where the reader starts her acquaintance with the characters and story world. The first chapter is a trailer, a preview of coming attractions. And first impressions are critical.

Never pull a potholder out of your pocket in the first paragraph, always hoist up a snake or a pair of perfumed panties or a dead child. Make the first paragraph stick in the reader's imagination with something that anchors his attention to the page. Furnish the reader a hint that what follows will be more like Mister Toad's Wild Ride, not the carousel; give them something to think about right from the git-go.

Set the time and place to orient the reader. Like, "It was a dark and stormy night. We were in the backseat of my 1954 Chevy, parked and hidden within a hedge of azaleas at the Sylvan Abbey Cemetery. I tried to pet the poodle on Wanda's skirt and got clawed." If at all possible, you want the book to end where it begins. Most best selling writers do this. You want the story to come full-circle. So pick the point-of-beginning with care as it gives the reader a sense of closure at the end.

As I just demonstrated with the poodle, use the first chapter to introduce the characters to conflict. The conflict need not be life or death combat, it may be as subtle as the first raindrop of a gale, the mighty oak begins as a humble acorn, but it needs to be in there. Also consider that the conflict can be expressed as incongruence between the main character and the setting, supporting characters, etc. "Please Mister Custer, I don't wanna go! Forward, ho! NO!" Use the conflict to hint where the story is going.

The first chapter is where you reveal your characters, uncovering them petal by petal. This is where you want to expose the main character's moral flaw or fatal flaw through dialogue or action. In the middle of an important job interview have her suddenly announce, "I don't care what anyone sez, I ain't no stinking drunk!" or have him pour a cup of coffee without dropping any coins in the collection box. When an attractive man enters the room, have her cross her ankles beneath her chair. Simple actions reveal huge character traits, if her arm collides with her breast as she crosses herself, maybe she's a he, or was.

Acquaint the reader with the characters, the story, and the story world. Then point the way to Chapter 2.

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