How to Write a Hallelujah Chorus-Worthy First Chapter
“Without a great first chapter your reader will never move onto to chapter two.”
That reality is beat into us at writer conferences, on blogs, and in writing email loops. But before a reader can love your first chapter, you need to believe in your first chapter and love it.
But, let’s face it. How often do you love your first chapter?
I think we need a different slant on this first chapter biz. Yes, we want our readers hooked by line one. Yes, we want a potential agent to hit “play” on the boombox next to them on the table when we pitch it and have the Hallelujah chorus announce to the world that our first chapter is praise worthy! But if you don’t sing the Hallelujah chorus to yourself as you end chapter one, how will you feel good about pouring your creativity into chapter two?
So how do you write a Hallelujah chorus worthy first chapter?
Tune the Singer in You
Every good writer has tools to get to that moment when Handel’s chorus resonates through their world . Mine is coffee. Load me up with coffee and we’re off to a good start. A comfortable chair is second – who sits at a desk? Well, okay, maybe you do, but for me I need to recline and feel the music in me. Gathering your writer-arsenal is vital to the warbling that you’ll hopefully do later. That first chapter needs YOUR ATTENTION. Good things don’t come haphazardly. What does that mean? Well, this probably isn’t the chapter you write while watching your kid’s soccer game. This is the one you grab your bit of whatever helps you concentrate and you whisk yourself off to imaginary places.
You Got the Music in You
Forget the formula. Be mindful of the rules, sure, you don’t want to do forty rewrites of your book, but first chapter – first time? Eh! Don’t squelch your creativity by being rigid. Trust me on this one. I very creatively solved theories in geometry class way back in the days of high-school, but my teacher didn’t recognize my creativity. She wanted me to use pre-designated rotes of mathematics that completely took the joy out of triangular thinking. If you write your heart out, your introductory chapter will not be in its final form when you’re done, but you’ll be on your way to writing chapter two.
Throw Up Your Hands and Sing
Finally, reread it and don’t be afraid to say you love it. Stop reading it with the eyes of an agent or editor. That day will come. It will have to come but for now, fall in love with your characters, let them percolate on page. It’s your chapter. Love on it.
And shout Hallelujah when you’re ready to move on to chapter two!
How do you write your first chapter?
