Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Do You Like Action?

Okay, get your heads out of the gutter. I don't mean that kind of "Action"... I mean the important element of action that must occur in the first chapter of your book. I received notes back from an editor and one of the points she stated was getting to the pivotal point of action straight away. Granted I had maybe six paragraphs before the main action sequence, but it wasn't something that caught her attention. And to be honest, it was a little bit of an info dump if anything.

*shrugs sheepishly*

So, I took out some of that and jumped right into the action in the second sentence of my novel. It's more intriguing now and definitely will capture the reader's attention right off the bat.

I bring this up so that you won't be placed in the same predicament. The first chapter is crucial to make sure your reader moves on to the next chapter. If you dive right into the conflicting action, you'll suck them in. They most likely won't think: "Meh, that was okay."

So, how do you do this? Streamline that first chapter. Yes, you have to give some back story and describe the setting; however, it can be done with little cues here and there. As in the first chapter of my book, I show that it is cold outside by my MC shivering or the puff of air misting from his mouth. I give hints that he is crossing Pont Neuf Bridge. I let the reader know that something crucial happens in the Seine River. I even bring up the simple word Paris once.

The reader can tell now that it is winter-time and the book is set in Paris, France. It's those little cues that will allow you to jump right into the action instead of going on and on with back story, when the conflict has to arise quickly to capture attention. You want your audience to continue reading, right? Well, give them a reason to.  

What are your thoughts on this topic? How do you set up the first chapter?

Writing. Jewels.

PS: I'd like to thank the beautiful Elise Fallson for the 7X7 award. It made me smile so big I almost blew up all of the lightbulbs in my bedroom.

17 comments:

  1. It's so tough to find the right balance. At Storymaker's this year I went to the slush pile panel and several times they stopped the reading because there wasn't enough establishing to let them care. They jumped to the action too soon without grounding the reader in the character enough.

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    1. Definitely. It's so tricky, isn't it? But somehow we do it, right? Thanks for stopping by Stephanie!

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  2. I seem to remember suggesting that your book needed more explosions. Maybe I didn't actually suggest that, but I thought it. I don't think they would actually fit into that book, but I'm a boy and explosions are universally cool.

    I like to think I don't have a tough time with action, since I'm an "act first, think when it's over" kind of person.

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  3. I'll set up the conflict early but I don't tend to start off with action.

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    1. I see what you're saying. There has to be a point in the first chapter that incites the reader. Is the "POW"! I want to continue reading this book.

      Thanks for your input, Alex.

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  4. First chapters are so tough for me! I always end up rewriting mine dozens of times until I hope I get it right, lol. But I read somewhere (Hannah Bowman's tumblr, I think) that it needs to be a story in and of itself with a twist at the end that will hook readers. I've never actually been able to pull that off, but I try! :D

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    1. First chapters are tough for sure. I've had my fair share of revisions. But yes, the twist is important.

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  5. I really want to read your book!

    In my wip, I jump right into the action from the get go, but my first chapter is the one that needs the most attention at this point. I like books that throw you right into the thick of things from page one. But that's just me, I get board easily. (:

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    1. Well, hopefully my FELICITE FOUND will be published one of these days soon. You'll get to see Paris from my POV. Well, my MC's POV. Haha

      I agree. Getting to the point in the first chapter helps me to continue reading.

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  6. I'm an action junky! Love books with action, adventure a slash of love.

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    1. Ya gotta have the love element. Swoon! Haha Although, I have read some books that lacked the romance and it was pretty cool. Those typically are middle grade books that I've read.

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  7. I was nodding with Stephanie's comment above. There have been instances where I've thrown into so much action that I don't know what's going on and why and usually stop reading because it's too much. So yeah, balance.

    Those first chapters are rough. I've gone over mine over and over again "just to make sure". I'm more of a jump into conflict than outright action girl, myself. (I don't think there's an "action" scene in my book until about chapter 9 or so.)

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    1. Hmmm, I think I may have used the wrong wording. You guys have got me thinking. Perhaps the word I should have used was conflict. Action may be too strong of a word. haha

      Still it is good to write something that helps keep the reader, well yeah, reading. haha

      Thanks, Hilred for your comment.

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  8. This is a great post. My WIP is guilty of infodumping on the first page too, so that'll be the first thing to address in edits. I like your tips on setting the scene.

    Something definitely needs to be *happening* in your first chapter, but it doesn't have to be all out slam-bang action. Just a relationship, or a situation that's intriguing so you have to know more - in other words, conflict as others have said. So hard to get it just right!

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  9. One of these days I'm going to jump into the gutter, just to defy those who tell me not to (kidding). Action is awesome, though I seem to be among the few these days who doesn't mind sitting down to a book and let the story do its thing. Can you imagine if The Hobbit was published today? Everything would be cut up to those three trolls. :)

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  10. Very interesting, Julia. I have opened some novels, and the action is BOOM! right there on the first page. It can actually be overwhelming for me. I want my interest piqued, but I like easing into the story a little. I at least want to know something about the character to know why I should care what action they're involved in. Then again, there does have to be something. And too much description in the first few pages can leave me yawning. I think it's a delicate balance. As I send out queries, I suppose I'll find out if I managed to balance well!

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