I'm writing a sci-fi novel, and I can't figure out how to start the book, as in how to introduce everything.

Question

I have this book I'm writing, and everythong is planned out, but how do I strat it, I can write the middle parts and ending just fine, but Iv'e been wondering for over a year how to introduce it, showing the reader the information they need for the book without boring them, HELP PLEASE!

Answer 1

When reading a book, one of the indicators which draws a reader in is the question, "What's happening? Where is this going?" How to capture your reader's interest typically arises from the singular reason that you are writing: You are writing to and for your audience. While without knowing any details of your book (and I should not), my best advice is to begin with a minimum of descriptive narrative and tantalize the imagination. Writing is a "hot" medium which means you engage imagination. A friend once told me that she thought a great opening line for a novel would be, "He died today." ... Perhaps this is not my personal choice, but you are best to open with a reason for your reader to continue reading, by posing a question in the reader's mind, in statement form!

Answer 2

You did not specify whether you are writing serious sci fi - or bug eyed monster sci fi. If it is the former - who is your main character? Start by introducing him/her and develop this character by describing an event in that person's day. It should be something seemingly insignificant - but will take on much more relevance later in your book - or begin by letting the readers know what you envisage for the future.....what is the fate of our little old planet???? Give the readers a brief, unemotional account of how life will be at this point in time. If it is bug eyed monster sci fi - the solution is easy. Just start with someone walking somewhere spooky who has something awful happen to them. Then begin introducing your main characters - the hero who will pull off absolutely unbelievably brave feats while juggling his two estranged children who are staying with him for the weekend so his wife can get it on with the new boyfriend. There will be a number of expendable characters who will have only minimal word space devoted to them as they are to be killed off in the first chapter. You will also need some loveable, goofy guy - who everyone loves but gets killed off near the end but for the good of all the more serious characters. Oh - and a dog who gets lost and needs to be rescued by one of the main love interests. Whether you are writing serious or bug-eyed monster sci fi- - best of luck.

Answer 3

I always like to read a book that starts out with some sort of action. Try starting out in the middle of a semi-dramatic situation. Proceed through this situation and possibly have a flashback to explain some of the plot. Or you could introduce other things during the act. Unless it is well planned, I hate when a book starts out by trying to explain a background. Just flow with it and introduce information as you see fit. It's your book.

Answer 4

auch!, this is really hard. well lets see you said it was a sci-fi novel so you have to have in mind to introduce your readers to this sci-fi word, for example;

"Where it rains up insted of down, were the dogs walk the people,and the cars fly up high. A story borns from the origins of this city..."

This one is kind of poor because I just made it. But i hope you got the idea. Best of luck!