Beginning, onset, start--it doesn't matter what you name it, the first part of any writing project looms large in importance.
The start of a new story, poem, or essay is you, the writer, saying you are willing to begin again and carry on until the story is complete. It's you saying you have the confidence to do this. It's you saying you want to bring something new to your readers.
For the reader, the beginning is also of interest. It is the opening into something new, the chance to be drawn in by what the writer has offered, the opportunity to escape from the mundane chores we all face on a daily basis. Readers peruse the beginning hoping for a good read.
It's the beginning that the writer must concentrate on for it is the golden chance to draw the reader in so that he/she will want to continue. We've all read famous openings to classic books. Did those authors get lucky, or did they plan those opening lines with great care? We'll never know whether they did or not. The best part is that what they wrote worked to pull the reader in.
What should you include in an opening? Action is always a good way to start. Why not begin a mystery with a murder or the discovery of a body? You can set the scene in the next paragraphs, but make something happen right away. In a romance, action between the two people to open, then backstory later or move on with what is happening. An adventure story for kids? Start with the boy or girl in a perilous situation. The reader can learn more about them later. Open with a splash!
An opening should make you curious to know what will happen next. It should pull you into the story and, hopefully, keep you there.
One of the books I often recommend for newer writers to read is called "Beginnings, Middles, and Ends (Elements of Fiction Writiing)" by Nancy Kress, a science fiction author. It's been around for a long time, been revised, and is still popular.
It takes far more courage from the writer to begin a new writing porject than it does for a reader. The reader picks up the story, reads a few pages, and decides to go on or dump it. The writer has a great deal more to invest here. The writer must decide if that opening is worthwhile, move on to the next part or redo the beginning.
Nevertheless, beginnings are of importance for both writer and reader. As an exercise today, go to your files of unfinished stories, essays, or poems. read the beginning paragraphs. Were you drawn in? Did they excite you? Did you want to continue? Can you see what changes might be made? Do you want to continue working on this piece? I hope you'll find some inspiration in this exercise.
Remember this: The beginning of a new writing project is like opening a door into a new world. You, the writer, can walk through it and take your reader with you.
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