How to Write a Strong First Chapter

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I HAVE A NEW P.O. BOX NOW!
Vivien Reis
P.O. Box 352033
Jacksonville, FL 32235

Find me online! Do it nooow!

[nannanuggetzzz]

If you are scared to write, just remember;


Rose are red
Violets are blue
Your writing is unique and beautiful
And so are you

[wesleypatterson]

"So take a page from J.K Rowling..."
*tears out first page of Sorcerer's Stone*
"Not really, that's illegal"
"now she tells

[frodobaggins]

Actually, it's "curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back." So many people seem to forget that it's not meant to be a negative saying, but encouraging!

[segoleneroseline]

when your thirteen and trying to write a book your a holy angel sent from heaven vivien

[devilishmorgue]

*when your just writing a fan fiction*

IM A REAL WRITER I SWEAR

[deffdefying]

“Even though curiosity killed the cat...”

The whole quip is “Curiosity killed the cat, *_but satisfaction brought it back_* “
So go kill that cat.

Not literally, that’s illegal.

[IceRiver]

I hate writing first chapters, so helpful!

[jmds]

Great video. My only disagreement stems from a warning from one of my writing instructors. "Never let anyone review your book that knows less about writing than you do, especially your mom unless your mom is Editor in Chief at Harper Collins."

[theredadmiral]

Even the first line in 1984 is just so intriguing to the point where it's become iconic, "It was a bright, cold day in April and the clocks were striking 13".

[NAUDIYA_NICOLE]

TYSM I’m 11 years old and writing a story about a girl who was kidnapped by a cult and this helped me start off 🥰

[candylover]

Could you do a video on how to END a novel.

[theversatilegeek]

One of my favorite authors always has amazing first chapters. I've grown to expect this from him, so a week ago when I started reading a book he wrote 25 years ago, I nearly had to check that I had the right author. It was an interesting setup but the style was a mess and the first sentence had nothing to draw the reader in. It's amazing how far practice and hard work can take someone. In a weird way, it inspired me to keep trying.

[cat]

The one thing I absolutely dread writing is the first chapter. So many expectations! So much worry! :o my mother always tells me "the first line has to be amazing, otherwise readers will assume that the book will be terrible"

[dangelaf.lucarelli]

*You've just wasted*... not a single second of my my life!
Seriously. this is extremely useful. I was so motivated while watching the video that I thought : I must get writing! You just earned yourself a new sub :D

[grayblackhelm]

Outlines suffocate the work. Create the world. Create the characters. And set them loose.

[redgeoblaze]

My first chapter: with vague, and muffled memories, the main character wakes up in a shaking sweat. he appears to be stuck in a prison cell. when a guard comes in, Dera-lynth asks the obvious questions, to not many answers. He devises a cunning escape plan, and puts it into motion, only to find that the prison has better security than he thought. (Red Herring ID numbers, an ever changing security phrase to prove you're not an escapee in disguise.) and he uses his brain and unexplained power to escape, and it ends on a cliffhanger where he passes out and falls off of a floating island.

[amxzingseries]

Is anyone else out there writing down some scenes of the beginning, some of the end and so on, but never writing a whole chapter?

[yardencalif]

Something that always ruins a first chapter for me is when the writer spends that entire time describing the MC and dumping exposition about their life. It's dull, and I've seen it countless times before. That's why in my first chapter, I give no exposition, no description of the MC, NOTHING-- only what he's seeing as he stumbles through the woods, losing his mind and having an insomnia-fueled panic attack before coming across the catalyst of the story (the other MC). Instead of having them stand in front of a mirror and tell us about their appearance, I have them describe one another, and what we get is only what they see. Same for exposition- the only things we get are what they're willing to tell one another.

[JoyStar]

Found this video in my recommended videos while watching Jenna's. I do see similarities in style (in fact to be truthful I thought your video was one of hers until I clicked it and watched a bit), but I really like how you both cover different topics (and you don't swear). I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of your videos!

[NoName-dhzb]

I'm not that old, I'm not even a teenager so I don't think I'm super qualified to write. But I do want to write as a living someday, this is helpful 😊