Read opening scenes from great writers

As you read other novels, take note of what draws you to the book’s opening scene. Learn what great writers do differently that makes the beginning of their books stand out. After reading their works, write your own and compare it to theirs and assess whether you are getting better and whether you come close to their work.

Define the time period and setting in which the story is taking place

The opening of a story defines the time period in which the story is set. If the work is based during a different century or time in history, the opening scene should reflect this. Aspects such as the setting of the work should also show. Novels based during world wars and other significant historical events should carry elements that relate to the time period.

You can use flashbacks later in the story to clarify the details to the reader if the opening scene relates to an event in the past. Flashbacks offer descriptions of past events without interfering with the timeline in which the story is set. It should be clear to the reader that it is a flashback and belongs to a different past period. Such clarification can be made by using a different font and separating it from the rest of the story.

Consider a prologue

When developed correctly, a prologue can be a useful addition to a book. However, the possibility that it can create confusion and fail to blend with the rest of the story may make a prologue a demerit to the work. Other prologues also read like opening scenes which makes the separation between them and the rest of the story unnecessary. Only use prologues when you have to and when you can create one successfully as they are mostly considered immaterial in modern literary works.

Create an impact right from the first sentence

Pull the reader right into the action from the beginning. Do not waste the first sentences of the scene by including unnecessary details. Let the very first sentence be impactful such that the reader will find themselves right in the middle of things and they will want to turn the next page and keep reading the book. Create short sentences and use words carefully to achieve the maximum impact without having to use too many words. Paragraphs should be short too, always showing and letting the reader come to their own conclusion without having to tell.

Avoid slow emotional dialogue or monologue at the beginning

The aim of the opening scene is to grip and maintain the reader’s attention. Intimate thoughts and conversations should be introduced later after the reader is already familiar with the characters and the reader can connect to their experiences. In the beginning, the reader has not yet learned the role of each character and hence an emotional conversation will not create the intended impact on them.

While there are no strict rules as to what applies or does not in an opening scene, there are definitely distinct aspects that can help you create an unforgettable one.