First Chapter Mistakes New Fantasy Writers Make

In this video, I cover the six most common first chapter mistakes that I see new fantasy writers make - and I provide solutions for crafting better opening hooks and chapters in your story.

⏲️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:19 - Sloppy prose
07:15 - No USP
11:34 - Starting too early
13:08 - Meaningless action
16:36 - False promises
20:51 - Worldbuilding overload

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Hi! My name's Jed. I'm a fantasy author with three published novels and a bestselling video game. On this channel, I draw from my 10+ years of writing experience to help you become a better writer.

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(Note: I don't always get a chance to reply to every email. However, I do my best to read as many of them as possible, and it's my preferred method of communication.)

[FablestoneSeries]

Your wall of text advice is actually a good one I haven't heard mentioned before, and it's solid advice.

[ceilingsintheireyes]

That “wall of text” thing is so true. I’m always conscious of it even as a reader. If I’m reading a book and, this is usually when I’m tired and wanting to get to the end of a chapter, I see pages of just block text I get a bit “ugh”, but I see pages of dialogue Im more like “thank god” haha

[StarlasAiko]

9:27 I use the differentiation as: If it is implemented well, it's a Trope; if is implemented badly, it's Cliche.

[liftedmarco]

Hilariously my novel starts on a prison ship during transport, so no execution at least, and his purpose is to recruit the ship’s warden and a prisoner at the same time. I really thought I was onto something unique lmao😂

[MagnusItland]

That was fun to listen to. Tolkien is my hero when it comes to "worldbuilding iceberg". Even after his unfinished tales are published, we are left with the feeling that there is a much larger world out there, dimly seen through the fog of time.

[MatrixQ]

The indiana Jones example is probably my favorite kind of opening. Have a scene that's basically a small scale version of your overall story that shows us the core of who the characters are. A fearful character instinctively saving a friend from a minor incident can be a great start for a story that's about overcoming your fear, because we've seen that the goal is in the character, he just needs to learn to do it consciously. It can also serve as a great bookend, if you structure the ending similarly.

[FabbeNJ]

I had stopped completely writing before I found this channel, you’ve motivated me to begin again and I’ve begun working on a new story now. Thanks for making me interested in writing again

[sebastiansilverfox]

The first chapter should be a microcosm for the entire book. Let it be a small version that is either left unresolved or that ends in a way that sets the stage or tone for the rest of the story. This is why Raiders of the Lost Ark has an opening that works well despite not following all the standard "rules" everyone likes to give. You establish what to expect from both the character and the plot and set up the tone of the rivalry by having the protagonist lose yet still "win" by escaping. It even have the pet snake used to introduce his ophidian fear. Furthermore, it would diminish the story to remove it, because of the foreshadowing it gives for various beats throughout the story.

[jyll]

I actually feel that I might be too sensitive to walls of texts. When I read, blocks of text turn me off pretty quickly, so when I write I get too conscious of the amount of lines that I get paranoid if it's too short or not.

And the advice about not writing things that hasn't happened is something I've only h eard once before but is especially helpful! Thanks for including that.

[EricTheINTP]

10:55 "Jed, that sounds like it's going to take a lot of time for me to get to that point." For me it has taken ten years of writing and rewriting, editing and starting from scratch over and over again to get to a point of clarity. It is still an arduous journey because I am not naturally a writer but rather grew a deep love and belief in the idea I developed back in 2014, but I have been able to gain so much progress in story development, character development, and conveying cohesive thoughts. Writing a novel is like painting a mural, and each detail on the canvas is just as important as the rest. It can be rather overwhelming, especially if all the nuances haven't been discovered or if I am not aware of them yet. Anyway, thank you for your videos. They are enjoyable to watch and they help me sharpen the craft of writing.

[lks_mobile]

Just had to mention this here because I've watched so many writing advice videos I rarely hear something actually new, but applying the idea of the USP to a book is genius, and the way you want to give the reader a taste of what your USP is in the first chapter finally gave me a clearer idea on how I want my book to start (writing non-chronologically here so I already have some other parts but was really struggling with the beginning.) Thanks! That was eye-opening.

[SleepParty]

I've been writing a YA Fantasy trilogy since 2011, and I'm excited to finally get out there and do my best to publish it. I've rewritten the story a gajillion times, making sure it's the best version of the story it can be.

[spilchsaysstuff]

First mistake writers make is taking advice from other people. Look, these things are subjective. You're told make your opening exciting. Yet Fellowship of the Ring is one of the most boring, slow openings there is. And that did alright. Write as a writer, read as a reader. That's all you need.

[mageprometheus]

Thanks, Jed. I like the promise-progress-payoff idea. I think in addition to becoming a grammar expert, it's useful to have a working knowledge of rhetoric.

[alexgallagher]

I’ve been working on my own world for over a year now and I just had no idea where to start my actual story, but since I’ve found this channel I’ve come almost double the way in terms of Plot:) thank you so much

[MePeterNicholls]

Orwell changed prose style completely across genres. From strange old fashioned meandering verbosity, in to straightforward and clear modernity.

[therealgogo]

You appeared on my feed even though I haven't ever thought of writing a novel. After listening to how passionately you speak on the subject I am now considering giving this thing a try!

[benjaminfrost]

The Wheel of Time does the prologue with a character that is not the main character of the book nor novel series but is also done well.

[m.j.johnsonbooks]

I love your fourth point. It's a big goal for me right now to properly portray internal conflict during action scenes to really nail that emotional hit. Great stuff Jed.

[benjii_boi]

A note about sentence splices: there is a purpose-made punctuation mark for sentences too broad for a comma, yet unfit for the break of a full stop; this, of course, is a semicolon.

I'd say that the semicolon is one of the most underutilized means of linking two defined but interrelated ideas. I rarely see them used to great effect in most modern literature; they're remarkably sparse when compared against even mid-20th century writing