WHERE DO YOU START?


All manuscripts contain a beginning, but not all beginnings grab readers by the throat. Why? What makes a powerful first chapter? What is it about those first few pages that cause readers to plop down their hard-earned money?

Hint: ACTION.

Where would you start the following stories? 

1.  An overweight agoraphobic housewife divorces her gambling husband and finds a new life in corporate America. Where do you start?

     a)  A third party calls the housewife with the news that her husband has just gambled away the house. 
     b)  The housewife lies in bed on the day of finalizing her divorce, remembering how her life came to this. 
     c)  She walks in to the courtroom.  

 2.  A medical examiner kills his wife and blames it on her lover.  Where do you start?

     a)  The medical examiner creeps into the bedroom and injects his wife with poison. 
     b)  The medical examiner works out his alibi.   
     c)  The medical examiner researches poisons on the Internet.

3.   Extraterrestrials invade a grocery store in a small Midwestern town. Where do you start?

     a)  Aliens, somewhere in outer space, explain to authorities why the grocery story is so important.
     b)  A shopper hears strange sounds from the Produce section. 
     c)  Aliens search for the perfect store on a holographic map.  

4.  A teenager finds a beat-up Army helmet that, when worn, transports him back to World War II. Where do you start?

     a)  Teenager offers to help grandfather with his yard sale. 
     b)  Teenager places the helmet on his head, and hears gunfire.
     c)  Grandfather shows helmet to teenager, then remembers a war story.

5.  A CEO steals millions from his company, then commits suicide when the shareholders find out. Where do you start?

     a)  The day the CEO first diverts funds to his bank account. 
     b)  The day he assumes the position of CEO. 
     c)  The day the CEO puts the gun in his mouth.

1.  C.  Start this story the moment the overweight agoraphobic housewife steps into the courtroom. Readers will stick around to see how she deals with her frightening new world. 

2.  A.  Start this story the moment the medical examiner enters the bedroom. Readers will stick around to see whether this public officer who conducts autopsies will get away with killing his wife.

3.  B.  Start this story the moment the shopper hears the strange sounds. Readers will stick around to find out who dares invade the Produce section. 

4.  B.  Start this story the moment the teenager places the helmet on his head. Readers will stick around to see what else is going on inside that helmet, and what he plans to do about it.

5.  C.  Start this story the moment the CEO puts the gun in his mouth. Readers will stick around to see what on earth brought him to this desperate point.