Writers: How do you start off a novel?

It helps if you start with a scene that is high in tension or action; not necessarily the main conflict, but something that sets the scene and will innately explain a few things to the reader. For example, many books start with a chase scene, an ambush, something like that. Usually it will not have many repercussions on the main character; Rather, it will start events going that will eventually reach him/her, or tell the reader something about the setting, the characters, or the beginning of the conflict.

Your first line can be short, so that your reader immediately is put into the action. Longer lines are more likely to lose your audience. It must also be completely clear as to what you're trying to say; If your audience is confused, they might put down the book.

Don't try to give all the background info in the beginning. Slowly bring facts to light over time. If you write in a way that your audience is not confused, and only tell them what they have to know for the current scene, they will not feel overloaded by excess information.

Try going to your local library to a section of books similar to the one you're planning on writing. Open up ones that catch your eye and read the first paragraph. If it catches your attention, take note of why. If it doesn't, take note of why not. This is what I did while trying to figure out how to start, and I felt like it helped a TON.

Good luck!

I'm an avid reader, and writer, I personally love starting the book from something that will foreshadow what the book will be about, but yet don't give to much info. For example you can start off with a complete different character than your main ones, if the book is fantasy. For instance if it's a vampire book (a real vampire book), it could be about someone that had been missing for days, and was found dead with his/her blood drained. Then your main character could be watching the news, and start the story from there. So I mean, start with something that will get the reader's attention aka action. Also, I've read some really bad starers of books, which is why I will tell you how you shouldn't start a book. These includes: waking up in the morning, taking a shower, a sex scene, or moving into a new town.

Good Luck, and I hope this helps.

I like to start with a bang - not necessarily a literal explosion, but something to grab the reader's attention. Start as near to the end of a scene as you can without being totally incomprehensible. If you can, introduce a character or a conflict in the first sentence or first paragraph. This is the first paragraph of the first book that I decided to start in this way (a science fiction novel):

Jennie, my wife, phoned late one Thursday evening. Not exactly what I expected, seeing as she’d been dead over a year. Then again, she’d always viewed the laws of physics as being open to interpretation.

This is the beginning of the book I wrote after that. Not as arresting, but it introduces some characters and a conflict:

Alesin stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at his boots. Wizards didn’t fidget, but Councillor Fathraim was making him wait. He wondered what his daughter had done this time.

Don't get too hung up on having a great beginning from the start. You can always come back and fix it later, once the rest of the story is finished. You don't have to write a story in the same order that the reader is supposed to read it. (That's usually the best option, though, as it minimises the risk of continuity errors.) Sometimes you need to write a lot of waffle at the start in order to know where the real beginning should be. A writer I know says she usually cuts her first three or four chapters, or condenses them into one. But she writes them anyway, because they help her to get to know the characters. Do whatever works for you.

'I like to write short stories and novels, and the only problem I ever have is how to start it off. How are you supposed to start off a novel properly, so it grabs the reader in and it isn't boring?' I finished the sentence closed my eyes, hit enter and then started screaming, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO! OH MY GAWD!" 'That was so stupid. Anyone can steal my idea on the internet; and if I'm a real writer then I should be able to make even that question look exciting.' I thought my body hot with panic. 'It could be the start of my next great novel and here I let it go,' I thought miserably as I looked at the cursed cursor taunting me on the blank page...

(I hope you are getting the point...) Start anywhere as long as you finish at 'The End'. 'What type of trite crappy advice was this. I'm never going to get my book done if I keep putting off trying'. I wallowed for a few moments longer, the silence closing in on me, the characters on the paper flat and lifeless. "What to do what to do?"

"Sen, You in there?"

"Of course I''m in here. I'm a writer, where else would I be except my office at..." I looked at my watch.

"Three honey. It's almost three. I just came in and heard you screaming. Want me to read a scene over with you before the kids get home. Maybe critique some pages before dinner."

I opened the door I'm sure looking like a tormented writer, so I dramatically threw myself up against the doorjamb, "No. My muse has abandoned me and I don't know where to start. How to start. I want it to grab my reader, snatch them into my world, I don't want them to put it down for lack of action and thrills, I don't want them bored," I said using a warbly voice as if I was Hamlet.

"Quit the silliness." She said kissing my cheek. Take a break, have an Ensure and I'll give you something to write about." She said winking at me on her way to the kitchen.

I like to think of writing as jumping into a pool when you are dry, just jump. Once you have the story all written out, then you can go back and dissect it. I do try to have a little action right up front, something mysterious and attention grabbing, but it is always a work in progress. Just write and think about the changes later. One trick I was taught was that once you have your beginning, take away the first paragraph and there is your attention grabber. But again, just jump.

I personally start mine off in the middle of an action scene. A girl being chased by a group bandits, a town being attacked by pirates, with explosions everywhere, the works. Lots of adrenaline, lots of action, that's the way I roll. Once the reader is entertained, I slowly sneak in the background info.

With a thought...

Like...

*I never believed them when they told me that life is too short. Now I believe, and I know, and I don't want to die...not yet...*

Then dive into an awesome scene! Like waking up in the middle of nowhere with weird creatures surrounding you, or a bunch of fairies discussing what to do with you.

*I tried to open my eyes, but sunlight shone directly into my eyes, and I immediately shut them. I heard what sounded like millions of high voices, all talking at once. I shaded my eyes from the sun and peeked out, and I stared into a small face that grinned mischievously.

"Over here, girls, she's awake!"*

That would be funny... :P

I'm not exactly the greatest writer in the world, but in my short stories I start off with a gripping (which is all in my opinion, it's probably terrible in others) sentence.

I would recommend that you start with a prologue which gives away a part in the story that the reader will want to continue and find out what is going on.

Please answer my question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201001...

You do realise this is pretty much like saying "Sprinters: How do you run fast?", right?

You practice. You observe what other people do and think about what works and what doesn't. You get better at it.