Why Start At The Beginning?

Beginnings are really crucial. How often do you pick up a book at the library or book store, glance at the first page and put it back on the shelves? But if you get past the first page, the first chapter, you'll probably want to read on.

In the good old days, before television and computers and Facebook and Twitter, perhaps readers had the necessary patience and concentration to follow a leisurely exploration of someone's life. Nowadays our attention span is much shorter. None of us wants to wade through whole chapters waiting for something to happen.

So don't start at the beginning. Start in the middle, with a real attention grabber, something that will hook your readers and draw them instantly into your story. A crisis, a murder, a love scene, a quarrel. 

Imagine your character in a situation that's dramatic, funny, emotional or atmospheric in some way and start at that point.

There! Isn't that better?

Next time - What exactly is a short story? How is it different from a novel?