Guide to Writing Novels (NovelToon Official)

2.2 How to make an attractive Opening?

A good opening, can be said to be half a success. The title, synopsis, and opening (the initial 3 chapters) are essential for a work to capture the reader's attention.

The title is the reader's first impression of the story, while the synopsis is another face of the story.

Whether or not a title is good has a close relationship to the reader's interest in reading it. So for beginners, the title should be short and clear, and know or estimate the most important content of the work. Don't create overly literary/poetic titles.

Same with synopsis. Do not be long-winded, must be in harmony with the title, and can convey the core of the story clearly.

Chapter titles should be accompanied by chapter numbers, following the correct chapter title format: Chapter XX Chapter Title; example: Chapter 1 New Husband; Chapter 2 First Night; it is intended that the reader can find and remember exactly the number of chapters he has read; the chapter title also needs to describe directly the points that can attract readers in the content of the chapter.

Opening usually refers to the three opening chapters of a story. If the opening alone cannot attract the attention of the reader, then on what basis do you patiently tell the reader to continue reading the content that you find interesting? So to write a good opening, there are some points to note:

　

1) The opening must be fixed to the main character.

The point of view directed at the main character, as well as a lens that continues to surround the main character, making it a central point that needs to be developed. The opening should be able to make the reader instantly know who the main character is.

Making the main character as the center point, also means do not bring up too many figures in the opening section. This will only make the reader confused, can not clearly distinguish which is the main and the figures so that the reader is not interested in continuing to read.So, it is advisable not to include too many figures in the opening.

Try not to bring up a lot of chaotic plots at the opening. Start with the main character's little habits. Habits here do not mean the author can write a pile of trivial things, but a small thing that can attract the attention of the reader. That way, the reader can immediately understand the main character. When the reader feels foreign to all the characters, point the center to the main character, get to know the things around him by following the main character. This can add to the reader's empathy.

　

2) Clear opening. Determination of main line.

A clear opening is the initial determination of the category of work, the background of the story, the characteristics of the main character, etc. Usability of a stained opening: First, to avoid stylistic deviations at the time of writing. Second, to make the reader know the content of the story in outline.

The determination of the main line is the same as determining the progress of a story. Determine how to push the plot and what is the motivation of the main character? There is a magical ability from any main character? Then, various figures and grooves can be expanded with this point.

　

3) The opening should be stressful and keep the reader enthusiastic.

A story must have interest if it wants to be read by someone. This interest is a tension/mystery, which is the reader's curiosity about your story. So it should evoke tension/mystery quickly at the opening, introduce conflict, and instantly enter the main line of the story.

The mystery here can also be interpreted as a golden finger (magic ability). For example, the magic objects of urban novels, or valuable jade in old novels. Which must certainly give mystery to the reader, make curious about what will happen next, bring up enthusiasm.

Whereas if there is tension, there must be conflict, this conflict may take the form or not. Where did the conflict come from? There are multi-function formulas as follows:

Hope + Barriers = Conflicts

This means that the main character wants to achieve a goal, but there are many obstacles if you want to achieve that goal. This will create a conflict.

　

4) The opening should be short, clear and solid, and reduce the non-essential content.

Remember not to introduce at length the background you created at the opening. The less the characters the better. Don't write the details of the story. For beginners, opening is very valuable. The opening must contain something very important to write. At the beginning, it must be well thought out, every sentence, every depiction, even every word, what does it mean, what really matters?

　

Common mistakes here include typos and grammar, punctuation errors, and so on. The first impression will be very bad if at the beginning it has caused errors like this.

In addition, there is still the location or preparation of sentences and paragraphs (layouting). This is a mistake that is often made by many beginners. The appearance of long paragraphs, one paragraph even has 9 lines. This will lead to a bad experience for readers who use mobile phones as a reading medium. So you should pay attention to the layout of the sentence/paragraph, do not write too many lines for 1 paragraph, divide into several paragraphs. Use storytelling, character portrayal, and dialogue appropriately.

------------------------------------------------------------------

This last one is for the correction of the opening section. Look at what the problems are with your opening.

a. Number of figures

Q: How many characters appeared in your opening?

Advice: The less, the better. The opening should be centered on describing the main character so that the reader can immediately know who the main character is.

b. Things that attract attention

Q: Are there any elements that interest the reader? Tension? The wait? The mysteries? Questions?

Suggestion: Do not put unimportant content at the opening, be sure to lift the reader's sense of desolation and enthusiasm.

c. Preliminary drawing and background recognition

Q: What is the percentage of the content of the initial depiction of the character at your opening? How many words of background recognition?

Advice: The less, the better. Simply write important points on the background and depiction. Don't rush to write everything down. You can write it slowly in later chapters. Remember not to write useless depictions, such as the main character going across time, but instead write too much about things and people before crossing time.

d. Conflicts

Q: Is there any conflict on the groove? The crisis? A problem that needs to be solved?

Advice: There is better. These can be combined with tension and used together.

e. Empathetically

Q: Does your background point of view focus on the main character?

Suggestion: Do not change the point of view too often. The point of view needs to be centered on the main character, just like the lens that follows the main character, making it a central point to make it easier for writers to explore the empathy of readers.

　

❀❀❀

SERIATE