The hardliners often tell us that you can’t use this or do that with regards to how you write your opening chapter–but only come to find out…?
PEOPLE DO IT ANYWAY.
I like writing about morning rituals. Waking up to the alarm going off and getting up. To me, that’s normal. That’s real life.
That’s what gives my books a sense of realism because it brings a part of our world into the fictional one that we’ve gone and created.
Agents may not like it, publishers may hate it, but you know what? It’s LIFE.
If you want to suspend disbelief, please proceed. But me, I’m going to enjoy writing about that first cup of coffee that my character enjoys upon waking up, or taking a shower, or whatever.
The same with going to school. Because in a fictional universe, there’s always that sense of adventure–regardless of how it starts out.
So the first chapter has your MC in her jammies and listening to Green Day–before jetting off to school. My gods…I think hell just froze over from writing that.
Or not. But the point is, none of us should be restricted from writing what’s in our hearts and in the backs of our minds. We should all be allowed a measure of freedom and flexibility when it comes to writing out that first chapter.
And if it doesn’t have a hook? Who’s going to be the real whiny bitch about it and complain? Your readers? The mainstream? Or some overpaid stuffed shirt of a critic?
Please! You should be more focused on writing the fucking story than trying to reel in your audience with the first sentence. Think about how much time you’re wasting by trying to come up with the perfect pitch, when your muse should be kicking your ass and telling you to move the fuck on!
Start the story!
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