How to Write a Killer Opening Scene in a Fiction Novel
Opening scenes are critical, especially the first three pages.
Those early pages can make or break your book. It's often where the reader chooses to keep going or put the book down. Permanently.
So what are the most critical pieces of a story to include in your opening pages?
Here are five elements you want to nail in your opening scene.
The protagonist- get them front and center so the reader can meet the person they are supposed to care about right off the bat!
A goal for the protagonist and the motivation behind it. We want to root for them even if they are going to get a cup of coffee.
A question. A hint at the story's global question or problem. It doesn't need to be overt, but readers like to anticipate what kind of story this will be and ensure there is something already in play for the protagonist. The story doesn't manifest from nothing. Your character or characters need to be in the midst of something, but it doesn’t need to be an epic battle or tragic accident.
Emotions: Show what the protagonist cares about and why it matters to them to create reader empathy and relatability.
Stakes, Conflict, and Consequences- You gave them a goal. So show the reader what it will cost the character if they don't get their desire and what they are willing to risk to accomplish the stated goal! Then throw some internal or external obstacles in their way to introduce conflict. How will they overcome their obstacles? What is the consequence of their actions, and how does that move the story forward?
Okay, friends. That's it. You've got the means for a killer opening if you get the main character on the page with emotion and motivation, a clear goal and plan to achieve it, and show the stakes, conflict, consequences and hint at the global story question.
