Why your first chapter sucks

You’re disgusted with your first chapter. No matter how many times you tweak it and revise it, you're STILL not happy with it. (In fact, you want to burn it.) But what if I told you there is an exact scientific formula for capturing your reader's attention on page one? What if I told you there is a way to make your reader CARE about your character the moment you introduce them? In this video, I'm going to show you why your first chapter sucks... and how to fix it.

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✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ HOW TO FIND YOUR MC'S FATAL FLAW

→ THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY STORY

→ MY SCRIVENER SETUP

→ 10 WEAK WORDS TO CUT FROM YOUR NOVEL

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[readbooks]

Abbie's editing–video editing–skills are beyond the standards. Period.

[EricaLucasLoves]

Dance on the ashes... while you cry. 😂

[mianguyen]

Abbie: Correction: you *hate* it; you want to BURN it and dance on the ashes... while crying
Me: this is the line I will use for all future advice to anyone, anywhere, anytime, and to everyone, everywhere, all the time.

[natseritt]

Let me take a guess, before I watch the video.

There’s no internal conflict?

[Amy_Mi]

Me: Abbie's vids are so amazing, she can't possibly get any better.

Abbie: Uploads this video

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[warmflash]

We need some WHY DOES IT MATTER? coffee cups.

[jose]

I actually feel all my first chapters are great! I do attack them with very strong interval conflict... It’s just the rest of the book that doesn’t match up to the expectations. 😅🥸

[ameliabrockmann]

I just started writing and I was stuck here. I had a misbelief, fear and desire. I had a whole outline but I just couldn’t write the first page! Thank you, this helped a lot.

[olacheney]

Why did I just notice that space in your left eyebrow? 😯 it's pretty neat.

[DarkRuins]

Update 2: it is complete! after 10 years. ive got chills. now just editing, beta readers and off to publishing!

Update: I'm stunned at the comments this has received. Thank you guys so much!! I hit 300 pages and am at the story's climax. One day i will comment the title here when it's published

ya know, ive been writing a story since i was 17, im at over 200 pages and its been a journey. im really only halfway done. ive literally written it for 10 years, the plot has transformed and its just, its unlike anything ive read. its semi biographical and it matters because, its a life guide on how to overcome grief. but its personal grief based on actions, regrets, and death. its about how to say goodbye. unfortunately school has me distracted so i cant work on it like i did in the summer, but its so special to me and i feel in my bones that when, not if but when, its published, it will save me and be a one hit wonder like "to kill a mockingbird". its a story that i hope would save someone who is thinking of ending things, a story that would release the tension and sadness that life puts on us. i have the ending envisioned and its just, its my life work. i hope you guys can read it someday.

[RebekahEKoontz]

I'd love if you showed us your "behind the scenes" for 100 Days Of Sunlight. Your answers to fear, desire, misbelief when it comes to your characters, etc. It would really help to see further examples of "brain science" and it would be great marketing for your book. What do you say? ;-)

[reyofsunshine]

I do want to burn all of my first chapters 😂😂

[happyfellowship]

If I had a nickel for every "first chapter" I started...
I'd probably have enough to start saving up to join your Masterclass! Or Patreon! Both of which I want!!

[emxry]

Me just wondering how people have stayed motivated to write their first chapter: ;-;

[Mrtyville]

The problem I have is that my first chapter is either too quick or too slow.

[thebrookeriley]

I love the entire vibe of this video. It reminds me of the old vlogs, but remastered into this amazing video. Like your video quality is getting better and better! I love this so much <3

[PrettyMissSunshine]

That was exactly what i need today. I was really dissatisfied with my first chapter and i saw already a lot of your videos and i know how important the internal conflict is but you got me new ideas again for my chapter. It sucked really and now i know what i want to do. So thanks again abbie for your helpful videos.

[BudderChezMC]

Oh my gosh the beginning is just 😂🙈😭 Too relatable 🤣

[brickfilminc]

A classmate introduced me to your channel last year, and can't possibly thank her enough! Your channel is amazing, and I look forward to every new video. You show how you can capture your reader, and no one else on youtube talks about that a lot. I appreciate it! You deserve more subs!

[NeonAGC]

Well then. Time to scrap the first 30 pages of my novel, because this video made me rethink my life choices! LOL
Thank you Abbie. You probably just saved me from a total failure of a book and also saved me from *actually* reconsidering my life choices -- as in, my dreams to be a novelist.

It gets frustrating and discouraging when you don't even like the first chapter of your own book. I mean, if you made it from your own mind at least *you* should enjoy it, right? Because if *you*, the one who put the work in to bring your imagination to life, don't like it, then *who would* ? Pretty discouraging for young people like me who aspire to be a novelist. So thank you for these tips and this knowledge that I can use; I know it'll really help me in the long run. Have another subscriber!