#182: 5 Ways To Nail Your First Chapter

Your first chapter matters. It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading. There's a lot riding on your first chapter.  So you want to get this right.Bore them with too much exposition, long forays into backstory, too many characters and superfluous  details, and your reader will grow bored, overwhelmed, and will stop reading. In this episode,  I'm sharing 5 ways to nail your first chapter. We'll cover how to: Resist the urge to tell readers too much too soonWrite exposition that doesn't read like expositionChoose which characters to introduce, who to omit, and who to save for laterHow and when to use backstory and where to place itShape your first chapter Embed conflict and narrative tension right from the startEpisode WebsiteStructure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here. Not sure how to structure your story? Start Here. This free 3-Act Worksheet gives you a clear framework so you know exactly what your beginning, middle, and end need to do — so you can stop guessing and start writing. Grab it free here.