FIRST CHAPTER MISTAKES NEW WRITERS MAKE ✖️ how to write the first chapter in your book
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- Today I'm discussing first chapter mistakes new writers make. The first chapter is one of the most important chapters in your novel, as it has to hook the reader if you want them to continue on with your story. I've made a handful of these writing mistakes in my own books, so don't get discouraged if I mention something you do in your first chapter. Writing a book is difficult, and writing a good book is even more so. My recommendation is to write your first draft and then come back to your first chapter so you have a better idea of its purpose in the story and can more effectively edit it to suit your book and characters.
For more writing tips, check out the video below:
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✨ Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed the video and feel more prepared to write a great first chapter. If you want more writing tips, check out my playlist below! ✨
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I really enjoyed it. I'm a 12-year-old boy. I want to write a story, but I was not sure if it's gonna be good, so watching your videos really helped me a lot. I just finished chapter one, but I'm still editing it. When I think it's perfect enough, I'm going to start chapter two. I really need someone to read it, so he/she could tell me if it's good or bad.
Wear higher necks on you blouses to give you the authority you deserve....I hope this helpful because your videos are so valuable so you want your audience to focus on your face an voice...sorry...I edit videos and this is just nice mistake you are making..higher necklines on women give greater authority to your voice and its message....meanwhile his is great advice you are providing your viewers...
Me realizing I started off giving the description of the weather and then the character waking up, making and eating breakfast and it going on like a list : 👁️👄👁️
The first story I ever wrote was in the beginning of seventh grade. My first sentence was 'I looked into the mirror......' lol, it's only been three years but I'm proud of how far I came, yet embarrassed by my old work
I was waiting for the "I look in the mirror" and describe myself cliche haha. That one's a biggie! Loving these videos, Natalia!
Haha yes! We all know it and yet it's still so easy to do, lol
I was cringing so much at that one and I've definitely done that when I started writing.
maybe I read the wrong kind of books, but I dont remember ever actually reading it. well in an actual book, I have seen it on Wattpad.
In my personal opinion, that trope can absolutely work if the character is like doing their makeup or something... but i do think it’s rather amusing that a character like, idk, Bella Swan is standing blankly in front of the mirror writing down in her diary what she looks like.
This trope is especially bad in books that are told first person in diary’s- THE CHARACTER KNOWS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE!! WHY DO THEY NEED TO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES!! IN THEIR PERSONAL JOURNAL.
Okay, rant aside, I absolutely agree. That cliche is annoying
@@kaeleylyons5776 I mean,thinking about it,There HAS to be a good purpose for that opening to be there,otherwise it's just annoying.
For example,If you want to introduce your character's insecurity of their appearance,they could've described it like "The dress looks horrible on me,the reflection reflecting such of others' disgust when I wear this to prom. I stare longer at the full-length mirror,thinking of giving this dress to someone else so they can have it. It looks better when they wear it,anyway." ,or something like that,you know what I mean?
but yes, while I've not read any book that starts with Main Characters looking to the mirror,I can understand fully how annoying that cliché is.
In my first draft, I had my character wake up after having a dream sequence. He then went to the bathroom for a shower and looked into the mirror so I could describe him. He then had the most boring set of scenes to try to build the world. Oh, and it was chock full of back story! We all go through that phase. :)
I was guilty of a dream sequence in my first draft. We definitely grow as we continue to write!
My first draft is like that before lol. I changed mine into my character playing flute in a tree and was later called by his adopted brother.
Murakami did it in Kafka on the Shore. I didn't like that book the first time I read it. And I still don't care for that opening. But after another reading I love the rest of it.
Also, thank you for not telling us "you MUST change the cliches, dont do this it's SOOOO BAD" I've seen a lot of videos that have the illusion of helping but really the person is telling us what we need to do because it worked for them.
Absolutely. I know some of those cliches can be done well, so I don't want to say, "Don't do this ever!" I just want to make people aware of cliches so they can choose if that's the direction they want to go it :)
I am guilty of all these mistakes. :P This is why it is so important for new writers to learn writing craft by watching videos or reading help articles. Thanks for your videos, they are really helpful.
Believe me, I was guilty of all these mistakes at one point as well! I'm glad you found the video helpful - it's my goal to offer tips and advice, but I don't want anyone to feel like I'm trying to "tell" them how to write their book 💙
I just realized I haven’t described my MC’s appearance at all 😂😂
I described my main character through the love interest's panic attack. You know that making them use their senses method you use to stop their panic attack? She asked him about the colors around them to ground him and make him focus on something else including asking him what the color of her eyes and hair is. Idk if this is a good way but I did it. :')
That's actually a very nice and unique way to do that. Don't think I've seen that method used, but it's smart.
@@midnightbloomofeorzea7182 Thank youu!! :)))
That sounds pretty inventive to me!
@@lesliewells1062 thanks! :D
You just reminded me I need to continue writing the book! I've been so busy I forgot about it but I think I can go back to it now. 😅
@@zey4367 Great!! you are welcome!!
Lol dam. My first chapter starts with waking up🤣, time for a rewrite!
I find that the most effective thing to do is just to jump into the action, and only show info when it’s needed. Starting in the middle of the action is refreshing :)
Okay, now I'm trying to think if I've ever had one of my characters look in a mirror. Surely I must have. Oh wait, I did! It was in the middle of book three in my trilogy. I think I'm safe on that one anyway. Happy writing.
Oh I definitely have, lol But it's all a process of learning 😊
How I describe my main character's appearance in first person pov without mirrors or puddles to gaze into:
Example 1. "My pale skin practically glowed in comparison."
Example 2. "I brushed some wispy black strands (of hair) behind my ear."
Example 3. "I wished my blue (eyes) was as vivid as hers."
“I threw on a blue shirt, matching it to my eyes”
“I never like keeping my hair long, it doesn’t fit my face”
“The pink bow was harsh against my black hair.”
“The bruise stood out on my white skin” (pale doesn’t always equal white)
@@mellowrosado1458 I threw on my Brown shoes, matching them to my pubes
"I took off my crimson red capelet coat, revealing a black bodycon dress"
" ... as I didn't want to risk destroying my favorite pair of heels, black sandal heels with a pin heel to be exact"
"My usually wavy long black hair straightened from the heavy water. "
thank you so much for this! I'm 12 and i've just finished planning my first book ever, i was trying to write my first chapter but was already having major writer's block on how to start it and introduce my main character 😅 Thank you for the help!!!
What about dream sequences that come maybe after chapter one? Say dreams are a big part of the book, and they come often. I think as a reader I could handle that, and maybe starting with a dream would be fine if it's very, very key to the story plot.
Abigail Joanna Dream sequences aren’t a bad thing, and they can certainly be used successfully. It’s when they’re used immediately in Chapter One that I think they can be disorienting, misleading, and a bit cliche. But, again, each story requires something different, and just because it’s a cliche doesn’t mean you can’t do it. 😊
Thank you so much for this! I've seen other "cliche" or "first chapter" videos that just leave me discouraged without offering positive advice.
'I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror'. Line First. Chapter One. Fifty Shades of Grey. Sold millions of copies worldwide bringing tremendous wealth to the author and popularity to her novels.
Laughably awful book though. Terribly written. It didn't sell for the literary accomplishment.
Very matter-of-fact advice. Thanks, Natalia! First chapters are always the scariest for me to write.
Your video is really specific. Very good for people that are starting out and are in need of guidance. No vagueness at all. Impressive, truly.
I'm editing right now and this was super helpful 💜
I'm happy to hear it Athena! Writing the first chapter can be super difficult, so I hope this is helpful in some way 💙
I love how clear you make these points. It has given me lots to think about.
Immediately I had the first 2 cliches written down in my first chapter lmfao. Off to a great start
I am doing my absolute best to make my story as GOOD as possible. I'm throwing a bunch of information into my brain to make this great.
I learned a lot from you! You teach in a kind and supportive way. Thanks to you (in my opinion) my book looks and sounds amazing. I will keep watching to learn more.
I definitely went through the first chapter of my book in my head while watching this, lol! great video!
Thank you so much!!! Knowing these mistakes made my eyes wider and my mind pop up with more ideas than before
Very good advice! I really agree with the overused cliches. I used to do those all the time in my beginning works! So glad you touched on them.
This was excellent. While I didn’t have these mistakes (going to back through and check though), it’s a good list to have on hand as I progress in my writing journey. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
Natalia thank god we finally met, you are the teacher that i never had.
That totally made me smile! I'm so glad you enjoy my teaching style, and hope you find my videos helpful!
@@NataliaLeigh Awe :-)
I always enjoy your lessons. Please keep them coming!
You are such a gift! I found your channel a couple of weeks back. You make writing approachable for the newbie. You cut right to the issue. Thank you so much. Look forward to future vids.
Fantastic advise! I appreciate all the time you put into your videos to help all of us!
This is super helpful. It just pushed me to cull 400 words of tragic backstory and meandering inner thought from chapter 1. Great video :)
That was really helpful! Thank you!💐
Enjoy hearing your Point of View.
Thank Bonnie! I hope you found it helpful 💙
This is just what i needed, great information. 📚 😀 thanks.
I originally came across your videos as I was considering self publishing, which by the way, are very clear and engaging. They make going the self publishing route exciting and a no brainer for me. But then I ended up watching this video and suddenly have this sinking feeling that I have to rework my opening chapters, re-edit and polish further before considering the next steps. Thanks...I think :)
Thanks! Your video was so nice and useful. I'm totally subscribing!
Great points. I love to drop teasers here and there in my stories. I have seen many ways to avoid the pitfalls which inhibit good story flow. Still honing the skills. Thanks.
Great video and wonderful teaching skills. Thank you.
Right on point!! I finally got it explained to me in the best way. Thank you!😊
Information overload in chapter one is probably very common. I really hate a book or movie that keeps going back and forth in time. I'm really into an event and then the next chapter goes back in time ten years. What? LOL I like to stop and go to page one and read my book until I get back to where I was in my writing. It kind of keeps me on track. It might take weeks or months to get to chapter 10, but a reader gets there in hours. I catch a lot of my mistakes this way. Great information/advice video. Thank you.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! SUBSCRIBED.
Great video. Thanks so much.
You are so awesome. your video has really encouraged me because I am a new author and did not know if I had a good chapter. I think I do thanks to you.
Definitely one of the best videos I’ve seen for this kind of advice. I’m really struggling with my first chapter as My story is from the POV of the villain, she has a really elaborate plot on how she is planning to destroy a city, but because I have written so much about her past in her character bio (that I’m not going to include right away) I’m scared that people will read the first chapter and be confused that the story starts when she is an adult and almost ready to unfold her plan (e.g. she has all her allies, has her plan mapped out etc.), rather than the first day she thought up the plan. If that makes sense.
Anyway, thanks for the advice.
Wow, I've done all of those cliches. Should probably try to avoid those. But in all seriousness, these videos are actually really helpful. I've put some of them to use in my own stories, and I'm already noticing a difference. Thank you for all the help. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
I love your style for your videos. You're so nice and understanding. Some people film these videos with a "You're an idiot stop annoying me with these mistakes you all suck and you suck" down, sardonic vibe and it's really discouraging. This positivity and simple breakdown is exactly what I like to see
Thank you for such a thorough craft video!! These points are so true. They aren't the worst writing sins but they def give a story a really rocky start.
I feel like the over-explanation of terms, locations, names etc early on is the most damaging cliche. A lot of people don't give fantasy a chance because of the stereotype that it's stuffed full of complicated magic systems and lore. If I'm reading the first chapter and I keep having to take mental notes of the characters or refer to a map in the beginning of the book, that's a problem 😓 personally I can forgive this, but so many of my friends don't.
PS cant wait for more writing advice videos! Id really like to hear your thoughts on deciding on 1st or 2nd person for a story, and what you think about books that change POVs ☆
Hey Libra! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. What you said about fantasy is especially true, and is the genre where I tend to see the most backstory and info-dumping in the first chapter. It can feel tempting to give readers all the info at once, but can actually scare them away instead of making them feel at home.
Thanks for the video idea! I'll definitely add POV to my list of videos to film 💙
I loved your video! I think these should be essential things that especially teens need to learn in school, while my teacher takes months you took 16 minutes... Nice work!
Thank you I've learned a lot from you
highly helpful, all your advice, are always mistakes I make.
Writing my first novel. This video was helpful. Thank you Natalia. I am a new subscriber to our videos.
Excellent video Thank you
I have to read "to kill a mocking bird" for my final assignment. It took me 30 minuets to read the first chapter, of 9 pages, and there was *so much* info dumping and it was so slow with very little stakes that only rank up at the end. This is supposed to be a CLASSIC, a FANTASTIC book but the first chapter didn't hook me at all.
This really helped me I'm at the beginning of chapter one of my book.
I love this! You should do one about series mistakes. One I can tell you is some authors don't let the series grow up with the readers. Characters talk like a 14 year old even when they become 18 in the last book.
Wow... this was unbelievably helpful. My biggest problem was info dumping. I knew it was something I didn't want to do, but it really stressed be out how i was going to cleverly and smoothly weave this entire world of information that I had developed and created in my head, into the story and make it clear for readers. I ended up pouring it all into the prologue but I kind of hated that... not quite sure how to fix this...
Thanks for encouraging me to make my 2(!) first chapter flashbacks succeed xD
Thank you for telling the tips I am going to be a new writer and this is VERY helpful for me
Now I feel compelled to rock a cliche, but do it in a new way. 😄
Very helpful. Ty
Natalie Leigh is to get access to my character, and also, the best parts of these operations.
Thank you so much for this! I am going to have to do some rewriting but I’m so happy to do it-I did think beginning with a nightmare might be clichéd-😂 back to the drawing board I go! 🤪😁👏💫
Thanks for the lesson, Natalia. As a lover of Henry James (think "Daisy Miller"), I started my "for time and eternity" love story with "too much background." Not a bad idea, but your warning led me to think of starting the story in chapter 3, and blending that background and chapter 2 in later. Something to think about, anyway, because that background info, though important and elegantly written, was getting too long.
Thank you Natalia, your videos are helping me so much right now-at this stage of my project. You rock! 🤩
Hey Alissa, I'm so happy to hear it! Is there any other content that you'd find helpful at this point in your WIP? If so, please let me know! 💙
I’ve been trying to think about what might help me right now, but your videos have surprised me as the advice I didn’t know I needed. I am feeling both overwhelmed and excited by the reworking my novel needs. It is currently chronological, so the beginning is quite happy until obstacles come along to flip things upside down. This means that there is no real investment in the story or protagonist at the start of the book. I need to bring internal conflict in more immediately. Then I need to work out how to structure the timeline (it’s multi-decade). If you have any thoughts on timelines (chronological vs flashbacks) I’m sure it would help me. I think the discussion would need to be about timelines over a short period, like SOTD, and over a long period, memoir-style. Thanks, Natalia 😍
Yes, I started with a nightmare in my first version long ago! I winded up just taking the actual nightmare and just saying they had a nightmare, and then you can always go back and explore that nightmare later where it might be more significant. Because like you said, gotta get this story moving first.
Also I think lists are fine as long as they attack showing something, in this case, a list works alright if it is specifically not meant to show the character per say, but if they have a monotonous terrible life and hate their routine. Then, showing the irony of their terrible routine (done deftly), can work.
As a professional book critic, I agree with you about dumping too many characters on the reader at the start of the story. (At the same time, I see published writers being celebrated when they've done just that--character dump. I see it in bestsellers all the time. The one thing I see in a lot of in these videos targeting book writers that I take issue with is what constitutes cliche. I, as a critic, would have no problem with a book opening with a dream if the dream is vivid and/or compelling. Dreaming is such a large part of our lives that I don't understand why it's considered such a no-no by many editors and or people creating these videos. I feel more like it's an industry bias. For me, it's more about the execution and I feel it's dangerous and even cripples young writers when we give them a list of things that are cliches and tropes when in fact if there is a unique voice, who cares if it's familiar or considered cliche if, again, the voice is unique.
great advice as always
im attempting to write my first draft ever of this story I have in mind, and I feel so proud of myself because I totally checked all of your points :P
ps. Fan from Slovenia
Extremely helpful video Natalia. Based on what I have seen, I have so much learning and growing to do. I love your content and energy so much.
Hey Ragini! I think it's healthy to be able to look at the process of learning through a positive lens. I used to get frustrated when I couldn't do something the way I wanted to, or couldn't write the way I wanted, but now I'm able to look at my learning process as something to be excited about, rather than frustrated with. Does that make sense? 😅
@@NataliaLeighYes it totally makes sense. We are human being and it is normal to feel frustrated. But as long as we are open to learning and focus on what we can do in those moment we can only get better each day. Continuing to work towards our dreams and goals and never giving up is the key. 🙂
Another great video! I've heard of these before, but it's always good with a reminder. Plus I love how in depth you are when teaching 😊
You're hair is extra pretty today by the way 🧚♀️
I'm glad you enjoy my teaching style! And thanks for the compliment! I've been growing my hair out for so long, it feels really nice to have someone admire it, lol
@@NataliaLeigh keep up the great work! ❤😊.
I've always had long hair, but sadly not your pretty curls and waves and I just thought your hair deserved some love randomly cause it looked even more stunning than usual 😆
Thanks for this! I made one of these mistakes in my current WIP. I named a non-consequential character in chapter one. At least it's an easy fix!
Very easy fix! And not a big deal, but always helps to polish and clean things up. 💙 Hope your WIP is coming along well!
@@NataliaLeigh Thanks! It's coming along slowly. We've been dealing with the flu and upper respiratory issues in my house. It's been a rough couple of months.
Woohoo!!! I avoided all of these!
Granted, while this is my first full novel, I've been writing for decades so it's not as surprising.
:-P
Was watching this and I'm like "Yes didn't make any of these mistakes." then you said the thing about slow and uninteresting first chapter and I might need to rewrite it.
Wooow. I think I've done all five of these, esp the backstory prologue lol. now off to storylocks...
i'm kinda late here but this is sooo helpful thank you
tysm i am working on my first book as a teen and i put waaay to much backstory thanks x
Im writing my first novel and thank God. I didn't do any of the cliches you mentioned. Lol..
That list part seriously called out my chapter 1😃
BUT NOW I CAN FIX IT THANKSS💕
Thank God I found this video. I struggle on what my chapter 1 should be lol.
I actually have never done the mirror thing, but oohhh boy have i done the other two! Pretty much every story i make i start with the main character waking up!
Lack of tension is why I don't like first person narrative, and try to not write in it. Because it's VERY hard to do that view well. It always comes off as if the character is writing\telling the story after the fact, and it loses the tension of any dangers because you know they're going to be fine.
That's an interesting approach. I actually find that I tend to write tension and action much more successfully in first person then in third. To each their own!
@@NataliaLeigh and that's fine too. If you like the style. I've just read very few books where i feel it comes off well, and i don't trust myself trying to write it. That old cliche of being too hard on yourself lol.
But I know at least one novel, which ends with the first person narrator bleeding to death in a forest.
So you never know...
Excellent. Do you have a video on prologues (vs chapter)?
I surprisingly haven't make them mistakes apart from the chapter seeming slow but I was going to change that in editing anyway
Hi, Natalia great information. Can I make a suggestion for a future video? Could you do something on the lines of cliches and how not to use them? Such as, looking in a mirror to describe a character. Could you give some other ideas on how to go about describing your character other than this way? Thanks.
4 of the 5 recommendations are easy to understand and writers hear them all the time--no waking up, no dreams, no lists, no info dumping. Got it. The one that is more subjective and harder to get your hands around is the chapter that is too slow or boring. We read many published books that have this exact problem despite having been through numerous rewrites, beta readers, and editors. A video outlining some outstanding first chapters of books from various genres would be useful. A first chapter for a romance may sound very different than a first chapter for a mystery or fantasy or SCI FI.
This was great to hear and remember before starting on a new draft! You mention outlining, what kind of outlining process do you use? I still have a lot to learn about the process and becoming a better writer, and one of my goals is to find a better way of outlining before writing. Thanks for the video!
Hi Hailey! Gosh, I definitely need to make a new outlining video. Currently I use the Save the Cat beat sheet for my outlines. I'll make sure to film a video about it soon! :)
A video sounds amazing! And how funny, I actually just finished that book and found it to be super helpful!
Hi! I just discovered your channel and I'm so happy I did! I subscribed, of course! I have a question. The end of my book is, I'm almost positive, how the reader expects it to end. And I hope how they want it to end. If I have managed to create characters that readers care about, it's really the only ending that could be satisfying. It's a happy ending, with some really bad stuff happening right before the happy ending. Is a predictable buy satisfying ending a bad thing? Can it be a good thing? there is suspense along the way and I've gotten good feedback, but still...I question my ending. What are your thoughts on satisfying but predictable endings?
Too helpful...redoing everything 😏
Thanks for the advice, I outlined my first romance chapter and I did not make any of those mistakes, besides the 8 side characters that fit the context. I intend to show her family and house dynamics, but not say anything about their background. Maybe all of them in the breakfast will be too overwhelming.
This is a good vid.
Ur looking gorgeous today! 😄
When you said information overload in chapter one, I thought of Mickie Spillane. LOL I imagine Mike Hammer standing under an awning on a rainy night in some city. It's dark. Everyone is wearing a long raincoat. Mike is standing half in the dark with only the glow from a neon sign shining on his face. I have no idea what city it is, what street it is, what time it is, I have no idea what is going on, and I have no idea what he's doing...but I want to know. LOL It got my attention.
*LAINI TAYLOR IS MAGICAL*
You are officially amazing. :)
Hahaha, I take it you enjoy her writing as well? 💙
@@NataliaLeigh I absolutely *ADORE* her style. I recently read the Strange the Dreamer duology and have put Daughter of Smoke and Bone at the top of my TBR. :)
I did a stupider version of the trick when I was 13. I wrote a character playing a video game in an arcade with a glitch that made the game distort her reflection. Then I described the weird distorted reflection and described how she actually looked. It was bizarre.
I'm definitely a fan of the "need to know basis" for world information. I think infodumps happen either because the writer wants to express how much time and effort they put into this world, or because they don't want the reader getting lost. But the larger problem is telling a story through the main character. Would the main character describe all these things they should already know because they live in this world? Probably not ^^' Readers can infer just fine
"looking in a mirror to describe themselves?." I must admit this is my first time hearing this
A current Edgar nominee has the protagonist wake up and check the mirror on the very first page. Published by a huge house and in the running for a 2020 Edgar. Couldn't believe it!
Haha, guess that goes to show that breaking the "rules" isn't always a bad thing 😉
Thank you!
You're welcome Shannon! Was there a tip you found particularly helpful?
@@NataliaLeigh Making sure about not having too much backstory up front. It is tempting. I have been trying to weave the backstory of my book throughout to try and keep readers engaged.
@@tinkerbell4161 Thanks for letting me know! I think this tip is one of the most important in the video, and it can be so easily overlooked when trying to "catch readers up" at the beginning of a story.