O TYM ODCINKU
Is your first chapter losing readers?
Your opening chapter has one main job: to make the reader want to keep reading. But many writers accidentally slow their story down before it has even started.
We’ll talk about why you might be starting your story too early, how too much backstory or worldbuilding can kill curiosity, why your protagonist needs to be active, how to create emotional stakes, and why the end of chapter one needs a turn that pulls the reader into chapter two.
If you are writing a novel, revising your first chapter, editing your manuscript, or preparing to self-publish your book, this video will help you make your opening stronger and more engaging.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- how to tell if your first chapter starts too early
- why readers do not need all the backstory right away
- how to make your protagonist more active
- how to add emotional stakes to your opening scene
- why every first chapter needs a turn
- how to make chapter one promise the right kind of book
Video where I talk about Lisa Cron's book Story Genius https://youtu.be/ORAxSsXR26E?si=FgGd0mSHSX3g-7oP
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Mistake 1: Starting too early
03:17 Mistake 2: Explaining instead of creating curiosity
05:11 Mistake 3: Passive protagonist
08:11 Mistake 4: No emotional reason to care
10:31 Mistake 5: No turn at the end
12:15 Bonus: The first chapter is a promise
