How do you start a story?

Question

Please Read this before you answer. I am trying to write out a story for a book i want to write. I have all these good ideas in my head on what happens and even a climax and how it ends. The problem I always have is I don't know how I should start it, like I don't know what my main character should be doing in the beginning or the setting. This is supposed to be a sci-fi/fantasy genre with some adventure. I am not asking for ideas as that would not be creative on my part, I am just asking what is a good way of doing this as this is my major problem when creating a story. Thank you for your answers.

Answer 1

I have trouble starting stories as well. So I look at the Pros. How do they start their novels? Just pick up somebody who is known for their sci-fi/fantasy - flip to the first chapter and see what they do that makes it good.

Hope this has helped some.

Answer 2

I have never actually attempted to write a novel, but have written several short stories for fun as well as for assignments in college. The most interesting way I have found to start a story is to describe the overall setting, or where the majority of the story takes place, in great detail. Really rub the reader's nose in the details about setting. After doing that, I like to start with some sort of hook that endears a character, usually the main character, to the reader. Maybe it is an outright statement about the conflict the main character will encounter (this hooks the reader, and the joy is in the discovery of how the protagonist will handle the conflict), or maybe it is an interesting dynamic between the protagonist and the setting, or another character, that would most hook the reader.
Stories can start in any way, but I've found that an extremely detailed description of setting, or a main character, has a way of hooking readers right away, and leaves a lot of room for plot development (mostly because the first few paragraphs may not be exactly about the plot or conflict resolution). This allows for needed details about the setting, and also allows a relationship to develop between the reader and the story's main character or characters.

Answer 3

Elaine M gave you some very good advice. Just write the scenes you can see in your mind right now. The act of writing those will create more scenes in your mind. Write those as well.

Eventually you will have a whole story that you can look over. When you know for sure what the whole thing looks like, where you want to take the reader as they journey through the "world" of your story, then you can decide where is the best place to set them down into it. You want to start as close to the important parts of the journey as possible, so your readers don't get too tired of reading before they find out what exciting reasons there are for staying in your story.

The most important thing, though, is to write. The rest of the story will come if you just start writing.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Not every story has to be started at the very first paragraph, you can start writing anywhere in the story. Once you have something down on paper, you can go to different parts and begin those, so starting in the middle is fine. The beginning will come to you eventually--in the meantime it doesn't mean you have to wait on writing what you want. You'll be doing rewrites a couple of times anyway. Just start where it feels comfortable and do the beginning when you get an idea for that.

Answer 5

well, stories tend to start out with he situation being normal. Give the readers a setting of how things are going to be if nothing ever changes. As soon as you've done that, create a problem. Spark the fire that ignites into the plot.

Answer 6

Either start with a small snippet of whats happened or is happening right now
Then go back to tell the story

Or think about the main plot. You want the main char to be doing something that can easily be moved on to the main plot without being obvious or forced.

Answer 7

“Just give her this Pepsi,” Ven told Ryan, handing him a bottle.

Ida stared at the ground, not really seeing it as they walked back to the house.

Ivy stood facing the mirror, her hands turned and resting on the edge of the counter

The sudden gust of cold air across my bare chest brought me awake instantly.

The charnel house smell of death nearly overwhelmed him and he recoiled slightly

The electronic gavel came down for the final time.

Gods she hated the Bazaar.

Rain pattered softly off the leather of the hood to wind its way down in ever growing rivulets towards the hem of a cloak.

The teenaged girl that burst into the room was thirteen but looked nine.

Doberman jerked his head around, looking over his shoulder at the crunch of gravel on frozen tar.

Just a few of my first lines.

Answer 8

when i write a story i usually make a "map" first, list all the basic events and characters and make a skeleton story, then add details and fluff.... i hope that makes sense