That’s not saying they’re great in any literary sense (except for maybe entering into the Bulwer-Lytton competition). It’s the middles and endings that trip me up.

Maybe I’ll start a website where I can load all my beginnings and you can come along and just grab whichever one takes your fancy. As long as I get a credit on the inside cover, I’ll be happy. Of course the alternative is that I learn to write the rest of the book…….(insert whiney voice) but that’s so much hard work!!!

Keep up the good work, Jackie, your struggles are making you stronger:)

First chapters are so important, and I think that’s what makes me freeze up sometimes. If I don’t know my characters well, or if I haven’t thought through the conflict, everything that follows is going to fall flat. For me, it’s performance anxiety. I do find that the sooner I can get my H/h to interact, the easier it is to figure out what they’re about. I also like Amalie’s idea of writing in the first person.

I guess it’s all a necessary evil, since once you have a great beginning, that sets up a great middle and end. But there’s nothing easy about it. Good luck!

That’s quite a cool way of getting them to talk actually – writing first person. The way I got to mine was when Maisey suggested he was cynical and I thought yes! Then I thought no! He’s not cynical he’s determined and purposeful and driven and really, really, angry!! I just love the way someone can say something like that and even if it’s not right, it leads you on the path to what is.

Anyway, I wonder about the right place too. And also whether my characters are sympathetic – especially the hero. I’m a little afraid of the alpha I think so I always hold back on him.

First Chapter Haters Unite!!

A medical I started(for the medical pitch), I had the same problem… knew all about the hero but he wasn’t talking to me. Not until I refused to write anything else but his story, like a background, in first person and he finally opened his danged mouth.

But I still hate beginnings. I find them exceedingly hard, and I am never sure if I’ve started in the right place or if the characters are interesting(if not likeable) enough to stick around for. Or if I’m being too much of a sarcastic biznitch… because that happens too 😮

You are not alone. We hates first chapters, precious!