On Writing Romance_ How to Craft a Novel That Sells - Leigh Michaels [48]
The first chapter of a beginner's manuscript can often be chopped off altogether, because it's all history and the story itself starts unfolding at the beginning of chapter two. Sometimes the author tells all about the heroine's past without sharing information about the problem that is going to change her life. Or she introduces too many characters, confusing the readers about who's who.
There are two reasons why writers tend to start the story too soon. First, it's instinctual to put the background of the story right up front. After all, the readers need to know this stuff in order to understand what's going on—don't they?
Well, yes. Eventually.
The trouble is that if you give the readers all the background before you make them care about the character, the background is wasted and you may lose the readers entirely. But once readers have formed an emotional connection with the character, they'll sit still for all kinds of explanations and backstory.
The second reason why authors tend to start the story too early is that the background is the part of the story they know best. They figured it out in the process of developing their main characters and problems, so it's tempting to get it out of the way before starting to write the difficult stuff
So what's the solution? Go right ahead and do it. Write down in excruciating detail what brought your main character to this point in her life. Print it out and hang it up beside the computer for future reference—and then start writing the mil chapter one.
STARTING TOO LATE
It's also possible to start the story too late, far enough into the action that the readers feel lost and left out and are never quite able to catch up.
Starting too late usually happens when the author, who already knows a great deal about her characters because of all the research and planning she's done, forgets that her readers don't have access to all the information she's created. The readers only know what the writer tells them. So even if the writer knows that these two main characters are lovely people who are just right for each other, if the story starts with the hero and heroine shrieking abuse at one another, the readers may not hang around long enough to see how wonderful they are.
Starting with action is usually good, but if page one starts with a very complex event, the readers will be lost. If they don't know who the main characters are, starting the book with a big group of people will leave the readers feeling unconnected to any of the characters. If they don't have any idea of what the main problem will be, picking up in the middle of a complicated argument will only confuse them.
In all those cases, backing up just a little—introducing the main characters first, and then putting them in the situation that will change their lives—is a better plan.
The readers' introduction to the characters need not be lengthy or complex. Often, even a few paragraphs is enough to establish each character, make a positive impression, and introduce the situation.
Starting too late is a particularly common problem in paranormal romances in which the author sets up a world or society that's very different from reality. The more unusual the setting, background, and characters, the more help the readers need to understand what's going on. Again, a long explanation isn't necessary, but starting with a bit of calm—so the readers can get a glimpse of the characters' very different world before all the trouble breaks loose—is usually a good idea.
Starting too late is also a common difficulty with romantic suspense novels and romantic mysteries, especially if the characters are put in danger before the readers have begun to care what happens to them.
PAGE ONE
Every story has a number of potential beginning points, but a book can only have one, the moment when chapter one begins and the readers are first introduced to the characters and the situation. The challenge