Rules for Writing? Well … Maybe One

I always like to say there are no hard-fast rules for writing a book.

However, there may be one.

Here it is: Start out a book with a hook, a means of keeping the reader interested.

We all know the best means of losing a reader is by beginning with the time-worn, Once upon a time …

If you’re writing a mystery, don’t be afraid to introduce the murder, the dead body in the first chapter, if not the first page.

Who is the most interesting character of the book and why? What is this person after and why?

Make the reader immediately want to know more about this character and what he or she wants.

Maybe you use your first chapter to describe some place, a haunted mansion high atop a mountain where strange events occur, and people vanish.

Building suspense is fine, but you don’t have to wait till chapter six for your story to take off.

Think of the books that kept you interested.

Why did you keep reading? And I’m not talking about books you had to read for a high school or college literature class.

Chances are the story grabbed you in the very beginning and made you want to continue turning the pages.

Slap readers awake with a great first sentence like this one from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: “Mr. and Mrs. Dursely of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

Kind of makes you want to read on. Right?

There’s nothing worse than a boring story, and there’s no sure-fire way to lose a reader than to start out a book with humdrum details or a long narrative that rambles or meanders.

Sure, some writers can pull this off with a unique approach, say provocative description or lyrical prose that touches the very soul of the reader. As I mentioned before, there are no hard-fast rules, and I don’t mean to contradict myself.

I think of all the times I’ve clicked on the purchase button of an Amazon Kindle ebook after reading through just the first chapter or so of the story.

Whatever you write, put forth your best effort, but special attention should be given to the very beginning of your book.

In journalism, students are taught to get the who, what, where, why and how of a story in that first paragraph. The story then flows from there.

Don’t be afraid your story will lose its impact if you start it out with something dramatic or altogether interesting, lest you burn up your best material right away.

You might be surprised how much easier it is to write your book when you start it out with a bang.

Mike Reuther is a novelist and author of books on writing, including Write the Darn Book. His blog, Become an Author, helps budding authors realize their writing dreams.