Where to Begin

I'll probably leave this post up for a day or two, because judging by the angst-ridden emails I get, the writers who approach me when I give presentations, and my own experiences, where to start a book seems to give people the most pause.

Growing up, we probably all heard, "Begin at the beginning."

Not true for a novel. Can you imagine if everyone started their novels in Dickens-like fashion with the birth of a baby.

David Copperfield begins with "I AM BORN."

Of course, I adore Dickens. But no, it wouldn't be good for each of us to start with the birth of our characters. Having given birth to four children, I like to regale them, when they are annoying me, with "I was in labor for 26 hours with you, and this is how you repay me?" But no, it's not terribly interesting to anyone but them and me.

Many novels begin with the "set-up," A funny story, an anecdote, something that tells you, "Here, reader, this is what the book is going to be about."

Some with a dilemma.

A longing.

A crisis.

A dead body.

In general, I think it has to start with something . . . captivating. Something different. Funny. A dead body. An engaging voice. A perfect one-liner. Something that makes you sit up and take notice.

And more often than not, you may write a chapter or two before it dawns on you, CRAP, that was all back story, HERE'S where I begin. With the dead body. With the woman walking in on her husband in bed with the neighbor. With the man discovering his accountant has cleaned him out. With the unplanned pregnancy. With the crisis of conscience. With the morning after a bender full of remorse. It begins here.

My feeling is slice as much back story from your opening chapter as you can possibly get away with. Then start with the big moment.

In my new work in progress, I start with the discovery of an ancient manuscript with a very big secret.
In my other . . . I start with a boy discovering he has a special magical ability.
In The Roofer? A dead body. I like starting with those.

If I was to tell you my life story? I would begin with my children, for my life didn't REALLY begin until I had them. Not really. Not living fully. Then I would move backward to tell you why I feel that way. Then forward . . .

So where do you begin?