Writing the first chapter...?

Question

What sort of things should be in the first chapter of a novel? what's the purpose of the first chapter? are there certain things that the first chapter of every novel has/should have?

Answer 1

Been trying to write the first chapter since late 2004 until to day still could not get it out from the coconut in planet of apes.
If you can do better.
Wish you well done.
The children out there living in misery still waiting for the yellow ribbon in planet of apes.
Still burn late night candles in cracking the coconut.
Wonder why the coconut is tough to crack in planet of apes?

Answer 2

To understand the first chapter, you should understand the ending. It doesn't have to be set in stone, but the first chapter provides the inciting incident and sets your characters on a quest to the last climax.

So, you need to understand how to create the inciting incident and what it is. I will try to explain briefly without writing a thesis, but really you should do a lot of studying about this. Many writers understand the form subconsciously by reading. You can do that too but you can also explicitly learn the form of storytelling.

All stories are in the form of a quest. Life is often predictable. We have our ups and downs. But stories dramatize life -- they are a metaphor for life. The first chapter provides a snapshot of our character(s) going through the ups and downs of life until the moment where life is upset and forces the character to set things right. This forces the character on a quest, which makes up the bulk of your story, until the last final act climax which resolves whether the character sets things correct or not and makes the character(s) go through a major change.

Writers can set up the inciting incident in different places and get very creative with it. But understanding the form will help you to know where to place it.

For example, I just finished reading a detective novel. The first chapter showed me the day in the life of a businessman. He left the office for the day. Went to his car. Rolled down the window. Smoked a cigarette. Rolled up the window. Put a gun to his head and shot and killed himself. End of the first chapter.

That set the world of the characters on a quest to solve it. It forces them to act. And I know that the climax is going to deal with how it's solved (or not).

Take a look at these tutorials. You should try to read them all to get a good grasp of the story structure:
http://www.storyentertainment.com/subs.asp?idsub=157

E-mail me as well if you have any questions.

Answer 3

I have read "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris. The author says that when you start a novel, start in the present. Start with what you see right now, what you think. The rest will just follow. (not verbatim)

It does makes sense. Don't think so hard. Just write the present events of your story. You'll be surprised of the outcome.

☺Good Luck!☺

Answer 4

hmmmm

lets look at some of my classic novels

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen:
"But consider your daughters. Only think what an
establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and
Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for
in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you
must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do
not."
"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will
be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to
assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he
chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for
my little Lizzy."
"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better
than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as
Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always
giving Her the preference."
"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied
he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has
something more of quickness than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how Can you abuse your own children in such a
way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion
for my poor nerves."
"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your
nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention
them with consideration these last twenty years at least."

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic
humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-
twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand
his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was
a woman of mean understanding, little information, and
uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied
herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her
daughters married; its solace was visiting and new

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This establishes that Mr. and Mrs Bennet are fairly dodering parents who are concerned with thier chilren's futures, at least, marraige wise. THis shoudl tell you that thier daughters are under considerable pressure to marry the right man, and thus, sets up the tone of the story.

so, chapter one should introduce some character background, and the catalysts that spur on the events an situations in the book.


oooooooooooooooooooo

From "The Jungle Book", but Rudyard Kipling
Mowgli put up his strong brown hand, and just under Bagheera's
silky chin, where the giant rolling muscles were all hid by the
glossy hair, he came upon a little bald spot.

"There is no one in the jungle that knows that I, Bagheera,
carry that mark--the mark of the collar; and yet, Little
Brother, I was born among men, and it was among men that my mother
died--in the cages of the king's palace at Oodeypore. It was
because of this that I paid the price for thee at the Council when
thou wast a little naked cub. Yes, I too was born among men. I
had never seen the jungle. They fed me behind bars from an iron
pan till one night I felt that I was Bagheera--the Panther--
and no man's plaything, and I broke the silly lock with one blow
of my paw and came away. And because I had learned the ways of
men, I became more terrible in the jungle than Shere Khan. Is it
not so?"

"Yes," said Mowgli, "all the jungle fear Bagheera--all
except Mowgli."

"Oh, thou art a man's cub," said the Black Panther very
tenderly. "And even as I returned to my jungle, so thou must go
back to men at last--to the men who are thy brothers--if thou
art not killed in the Council."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This shows that the animals know who Mowgli is, and what he is to them... someone that some of the animals like, an the other hate. Also, it shows that Mowgli is fearless, an importatn ingredient in his mental chemistry.


So, in these examples, you can see that it's not always neccessary to introduce the main character directly, but they do drop a name or two, and refer to thier futures, hint at plotlines... foreshadowing. If you're not forshaowing, or climbing towards a climax, you're padding. It's not always bad to pad, but unless you make it interesting, you're wasting time.

Summary:
Charcter or character's backgrounds
names
setting, place
other characters
clues to society, if social commentary
implied personfiication if neccesary.

Answer 5

It should grab the reader by the throat, shake them around and leave them wanting to read Chaper 2...Chapter 3...