Now NovelLearn about how to start a book, from how to find novel and story ideas to how to write story exposition, intriguing first lines, paragraphs and chapters, and how to turn rough ideas into drafts.
Read examples of opening lines, beginning a novel in a specific POV, and much more to make your story’s beginning work. When you’re done reading, start writing a book in easy steps using the writing prompts in the Now Novel dashboard.
‘Story exposition’ is often described as background, the necessary part to include so that readers know when, where and why your story takes place. Yet the exposition in a novel or short story is also an opportunity to entice, amuse, alarm and surprise your reader, foregrounding engaging themes and voices. Read on for a definition of effective exposition in literature plus examples taken from fantasy, historical fiction, speculative fiction and other genres
A ‘hook’ in a story promises intrigue, entertainment and answers to the questions it raises. Far from the trickery of a bait and switch, a hook gives a true sense of what your reader can expect of your story’s pleasures. Explore great story hook examples and what they teach us about starting strong:
How do you write story openings that engage readers from page one? We look at the beginning paragraphs of books Literary Hub listed as defining books of the 2000s. What do they reveal about writing strong beginnings?
The beginning sentence of a story is often what we’ll tweak last. Finding sentences to start a story is easier, after all, when you know later developments you could echo. Read 7 examples of effective opening sentences and the options they suggest for ways to begin:
The inciting event or incident – the situation that ignites circumstances fueling your story – is an opportunity to intrigue and win your reader’s commitment. Remember these 7 tips to write riveting inciting action:
How satisfying is a novel that sinks its hooks in from the first page? Knowing how to begin a novel so that you captivate readers from the first chapter is key to writing a publishable book. Here are 8 ways to begin your book compellingly:
There are two sides to learning how to start a book: Deciding on a process for starting and finding the beginning of the story itself. Here are tips for both aspects:
Many aspiring authors contact us with this problem: ‘I don’t know how to start writing a book. I only have a few rough ideas.’ There are variations: ‘I have so many ideas, but I’m not sure where to start,’ for example. Yet the general theme is the same: How, in terms of actual steps, should I start? Read tips to start turning your ideas into a novel:
Writing your first novel is fun but also a challenge. It helps to put in place the structure, habits and resources you need to keep going until you reach the final page. Whether you’re writing your first novel for NaNoWriMo or merely want to start a new novel on strong footing, here are 10 tips:
