How to Start an Isekai Story

Isekai, or “second world,” stories are a staple of light novels and webfiction for many reasons. They start with a natural hook that makes readers interested, and then they lend themselves to all kinds of fun, adventures and romance. Not only that, they’re instantly relatable because the main character is usually from our world, and so the audience has an instant bond with them.

And, with so many isekai stories being written, it’s no surprise that patterns started to appear as people kept tel...