Creating a Good Opening

E-readers and accessible POD books have transformed the publishing world. Indie books now outnumber traditionally published ones. Books are more affordable, with many e-books available in the 99 cent to $4.99 range.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the time it takes to read a book. The average person reads 200 – 250 words per minutes, meaning it will take about six hours to finish a 70,000 word story. While books cost less than a cappuccino, a book purchase is less of an economic choice and more of a “Do I really want to spend my time on this” decision.

How many times have you been in a bookstore, seen a person take a book off the shelf, browse the first page or two, and then put it back? In a matter of seconds they’ve made a judgment call not to purchase. Tilting readership in your direction means writing the best possible opening you can. And don’t be afraid to share opening chapters on a website, blog, etc. that readers can sample.

“What makes a great opening?” I’m glad you asked.

One of the best pieces of writing advice I ever received, and which I think about whenever I start to write a chapter is: 1) Set the scene; 2) Tell us something; 3) React.

Readers want to know: “Who’s telling this story?” “Where are we?” “What is the time frame?” Have you ever begun reading a book thinking it is a contemporary story, but then a historical figure enters the picture on page five? Or it takes that long for the writer to reveal that you’re in a “galaxy far, far away?” That’s not being fair with the reader.

Create imagery that will draw the reader into your story. Then, to keep her there, your prose should pose questions. For example, my first Brad Frame mystery novel, UNFORGIVING SHADOWS, opens with: “In ninety minutes, Wilkie would die.”

Hopefully, the reader will ask: “Who’s Wilkie?” “How will he die?” “Is the protagonist going to kill him?” Over the next few paragraphs we learn that Brad Frame has been invited by Wilkie to be a witness to his execution by lethal injection. Wilkie was one of two men who kidnapped and killed Brad’s mother and sister. Hopefully the reader is wondering why Wilkie would want Brad there. Does he have a message for him?  If your prose keeps readers asking questions, they are more likely to continue reading.

You can read the opening chapter of Unforgiving Shadows at http://www.rayflynt.com/unforgivingshadows.pdf

I approached my novel Blood Porn a little differently. It opens in the viewpoint of the man who will become Brad Frame’s client. I wanted to tease the question(s) suggested by the book’s title. You can check it out at http://www.rayflynt.com/bloodporn.pdf

Those are two examples of chapter openings. While there are many ways to open a story, if you effectively “set the scene” and get the reader asking questions, they’ll be hooked. Join the conversation. What do you look for in a book's opening?