I. Can. Not. Stress. Enough. How. Important. The. Beginning. Chapter. Is. Especially. A. Character's. First Chapter. And. The. Story's. First. Chapter. SO. PAY. ATTENTION!!!!!!!
RULE ONE: DO NOT START WITH WEATHER!!!!
THIS WILL KILL YOU. YOU'LL HATE HOW IT LOOKS, AND TRUST ME, SO WILL EVERYONE ELSE. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST WAYS YOU COULD EVER BEGIN.
Keep in mind, we've all done it at one point or the other. The story isn't about how the day went, save that for your diary, no, the story is about a character, an action, and chaos. What does this mean? Simple, Start with one of those, not the weather, we get enough of that on the weather channel.
RULE TWO: DO NOT START WITH DREAMS!!!!
Ok, this one needs a little explaining...
Basically, don't start with a nightmare/dream and then 'surprise' the reader with the character finding out it was a dream. When you do that, trust me, your reader will roll their eyes and probably pick up a new book.
If you do, however, wish to start this way, don't have it as some 'plot twist'. Have your character know it's a dream. Your reader likes to feel included, not confused and rudely surprised.
Heck, don't even do this in any chapter unless your reader and character know it's a dream.
RULE THREE: NO DUMPING INFO
This is a story, not a paper... Just don't even describe their daily life and you'll be fine. Don't even describe the world, let the reader find all this out throughout the story. Remember, it's your job to show them around the world in an entertaining way while introducing them to your characters and having your readers get to know them.
RULE FOUR: NO BACKSTORIES
No flash backs, No backstories, NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT THEIR PAST UNLESS IT IS RELEVANT TO THEIR CURRENT SITUATION.
That is all I have to say about that matter.
RULE FIVE: NO BEGINNINGS!!
No. Just. No.
Don't start at the beginning of the day when they wake up.
Don't start at the beginning of anything.
THROW YOUR READER INTO THE STORY.
~Rey Brooks
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