As a writer, the opening of your story is very much crucial to the success of the entire work. The content of your first page will determine whether your readers will get interested in the novel or drop the book. Hence, the opening of your story needs to be engaging to keep readers enticed to read till the end.
In this article, I’ll share a few ideas on crafting captivating openings to keep your readers hooked.
Techniques for Creating Engaging Openings
An engaging opening captures your readers’ interest, sets the mood and tone of the story, and establishes the story setting. Here are some tips to help you get your readers hooked.
Begin with an Action
Starting your story with action sets your storyline in motion and keeps your readers active. It makes your story lively while getting your readers’ hearts pumping as they are eager to know what happens next. You can also introduce suspense into that action by not giving complete details about the reason for the action. This would help to keep your readers glued to your story as they wait patiently for answers. However, ensure that the action is relevant to the story and not misleading or unrelated.
Begin with a Suspenseful or Intriguing First Line
To get your readers hooked, you can start with a line that stirs their curiosity. Craft an opening line that gets them into deep thought, arouses their interest, and keeps them engaged with your book. For instance, `All men are liars: every person tells a lie, whether intentionally or unintentionally.’ Such an opening line can leave your readers confused and curious making them want to know more. You can also introduce other techniques such as action which would give meaning and light to the first line.
Have a Distinctive Tone
Every author or writer has a distinct tone or voice which distinguishes them from others. If you must get your readers hitched to your story from the first page, ensure you use a unique tone that catches their attention. Let your narrator’s voice be filled with eagerness to tell a story while creating a feeling of excitement in your readers. Furthermore, the story tone says a lot about your characters’ personalities, thereby fostering a connection between the narrator and the reader.
Point of View
Using the first or third-person point of view appropriately helps you create a compelling plot and grab your readers into your story. Most especially, the first-person point of view intertwines the minds of the reader and the protagonist. Thus, the reader sees him/herself inside of the protagonist. This point of view initiates a strong emotional bond between the reader and the main character which makes the story engaging. The third-person point of view is quite similar to the first-person. However, it creates a little bit of distance between the reader and the character, portraying the readers as onlookers.
Pose a One-Answer Question
Asking a one-answer question on the first page of your novel is creatively engaging. It keeps your readers’ thoughts engaged as they ponder over your question ready to respond with either a `yes’ or a `no’. Such a question opens up the minds of your readers on what your story is all about. It also creates a feeling of curiosity as they prepare their minds to expect something from your story. You could also use this technique more than once on the first page of your book.
Conclusion
A compelling opening is a significant approach to catching your readers’ attention. Once the stage is set, your readers are glued to your story till the end. To achieve this, ensure you keep your first page brief, straightforward, and entertaining and also maintain the use of active voice. By carefully following this guide, you’ll effectively develop mastery in crafting engaging openings.