Starting a Novel With Dialogue: Five Dos and Don’ts

Starting a novel with dialogue can be tricky, even for the most experienced writers. That’s why many writers avoid it altogether. When done poorly, it can leave readers scratching their heads. Who are these people? Who’s the main character? How is this conversation meaningful to the story?

But it can also be done well. With the right technique, you can start your novel with dialogue without losing readers along the way. It just requires some forethought and planning, and that’s what we’ll...