2 Comments
User's avatar
Cara's avatar

Long ago I read the advice "Start your story at its most exciting moment." I like that idea because it gets the writer excited, too.

Expand full comment
Catherine Forrest's avatar

Yes! A great tip I got recently from a friend is that when you're finished writing your novel, take the whole first chapter and delete it. (Maybe chop it and paste it into your discard file instead of wholesale deleting.) I think a lot of writers (definitely me) put tons of exposition into that first chapter and readers don't want to wade through that to get to the action. Just lead with the action.

Expand full comment