Asked by: Anthony Starboard

How to Write a Good Hook & Start Your Novel with a Bang!

1. Startle readers with the first line. …
2. Begin at a life-changing moment. …
3. Create intrigue about the characters. …
4. Use a setting as the inciting incident. …
5. Up the stakes within the first few pages. …
6. Introduce something ominous right away. …
7. Set the mood.

How do you start the first page of a novel?

The first page of your book must:

1. Introduce your narrator. This seems like a no brainer, but a lot of manuscripts I’ve read in workshops spend A LOT of time setting the scene of their story. …
2. Establish us in time and place. …
3. Set the tone. …
4. Demonstrate your writing chops. …
5. Hint at the story to come.

What makes a good start to a novel?

Start with action or dialogue. Ask a question or set of questions. Describe the setting so readers can imagine it. Give background information that will interest readers.

What do I need to know before starting a novel?

Before you start writing a novel…

• Nail down the story idea.
• Read books in your genre.
• Choose your book’s point of view.
• Establish the setting.
• Develop your main characters.
• Establish the conflict and stakes.
• Create an outline.
• Choose your story structure.

How do you start the first chapter of a novel?

An ideal first chapter should do the following things:

1. 1) Introduce the main character. …
2. 2) Make us care enough to go on a journey with that character. …
3. 3) Set tone. …
4. 4) Let us know the theme. …
5. 5) Let us know where we are. …
6. 6) Introduce the antagonist. …
7. 7) Ignite conflict.

What should you not do when writing a book?

Avoid making common mistakes by following these writing tips:

1. Don’t write sporadically. …
2. Don’t ignore story structure. …
3. Don’t second guess yourself. …
4. Don’t abandon your first novel. …
5. Don’t pigeon-hole your process. …
6. Don’t start off slow. …
7. Don’t switch POV. …
8. Don’t create flat characters.

How do you never start a book?

25 Terrible Ways to Start a Novel

1. Starting 10 pages before the beginning.
2. Not introducing your main character.
3. Introducing too many characters.
4. Not creating conflict.
5. Burying the Reader in Info.
6. Making the reader feel dumb.
7. Starting with dialogue.
8. Starting with description.

How many pages should a chapter be?

There are no rules when it comes to chapter length. The important thing is to concentrate on making your chapters fit your story, not on making your story fit your chapters. Many novelists these days prefer chapters that are between 1,500 words—or six book pages— and 8,000 words, or 32 book pages.

What makes a good opening chapter?

Your opening scene should pique your reader’s curiosity, establish your narrative voice, and serve a thematic introduction to the rest of the story. That’s a lot of pressure to place on your first scene, which is why many people wait until they’ve written their whole book before returning to their opening lines.

How do you start a book introduction?

Introductions are built from these elements:

1. Hook the reader.
2. Tell a story about the reader’s current pain.
3. Tell a story about the reader’s potential pleasure.
4. Tell them what they’ll learn.
5. Describe the author’s background/origin of book.
6. Set up the book with a call to action.

How do you start a story example?

Story starters

1. I didn’t mean to kill her.
2. The air turned black all around me.
3. Icy fingers gripped my arm in the darkness.
4. Wandering through the graveyard it felt like something was watching me.
5. The eyes in the painting follow him down the corridor.
6. A shrill cry echoed in the mist.

How do you introduce yourself as a writer?

How to Confidently Introduce Yourself and Your Abilities

1. State your name and your craft. “Hi, I’m Marianne, and I’m a children’s book writer and illustrator.” …
2. Tell people about your current audience. …
3. Add a thought or two on how you hope to grow in your chosen area. …
4. Stifle the critic in your head. …
5. Revel in it.

How many words are in a chapter?

Some will tell you 2,500 words is the average, while others will say that 3,000 to 5,000 word chapters are more likely to be the norm. Most agree that under 1,000 words would be rather short and that over 5,000 might be rather too long. As a general guideline, chapters should be between 3,000 to 5,000 words.

How long is the average novel?

around 50,000-70,000 words

A story that is over 40,000 words is generally considered a novel. However, it will be on the short side, as the average length of a novel hovers around 50,000-70,000 words.

How do you start off a book?

How to Write a Good Hook & Start Your Novel with a Bang!

1. Startle readers with the first line. …
2. Begin at a life-changing moment. …
3. Create intrigue about the characters. …
4. Use a setting as the inciting incident. …
5. Up the stakes within the first few pages. …
6. Introduce something ominous right away. …
7. Set the mood.

How long should novels be?

If you’re writing your first novel, the general rule of thumb for novel writing is a word count in the 80,000 to 100,000 range. While anything over 40,000 words can fall into the novel category, 50,000 is considered the minimum novel length. Anything over 110,000 words is considered too long for a fiction novel.

Do publishers edit your book?

Publishers are not meant to edit your book. Their job is to choose a work that is worthy of being represented by their reputable company.

Do books need chapters?

Unlike the other 3 formats, novels need chapters. They make reading your book easier for the reader, while helping you manage the construction of your story. Novels without chapters are often a little unwieldy, and can put readers off. So how can you use chapters to create a compelling, well-structured story?

What font do publishers prefer?

12 point Times New Roman

Font: Your font should generally be 12 point Times New Roman. Margins: Your pages should include one-inch margins on all sides (so your top, bottom, left, and right margins should all be uniform). Indentations: For the first line of a new paragraph, you should indent a half-inch.

Should a novel be double-spaced?

Double-spacing: the industry standard

Most publishing houses and editors follow the industry standard, which is to double-space your novel. Double-spacing means your manuscript will have extra space between lines.

What font is Harry Potter written in?

Some of the notes and letters and signs in the Potter books use all caps, which also decreases readability. But Adobe Garamond was a great choice — and the book was a fine piece of typesetting.

How many pages should a book be?

When wondering how many pages a book should be, it is notable that the average book length is between 200-400 pages.

How do I know if my book is worth publishing?

Seven Signs Your Book Idea is Worth Publishing:

1. Uncontrollable Thoughts. Your book—whatever stage it is in—is always on your mind. …
2. Constant ideas to note down. You’re ready for ideas to strike at any point in the day. …
3. Unavoidable Rambling. …
4. Endless rewriting. …
5. Hesitant Sharing. …
6. Unbiased Feedback. …
7. Unwavering Passion.

Can a normal person write a book?

The answer is that yes, anyone can write a book. You don’t need to be an expert, or even particularly eloquent. All you need is access to a computer and a little bit of determination. You’ve always wanted to write a book.