For June's tips and tricks, our topic discussion is 'Opening Scenes'. Tired of trying to tackle those opening scenes on your own? Well, stress no more! This month we'll explore opening scenes in-depth!

Ⅰ) What is an opening scene? The opening scene of your book is the very first portion of your first chapter (or sometimes, maybe even the whole first chapter) that aims to hook readers and set the tone from the very first line to the very last line.

Ⅱ) What should my opening scene look like? Writing an opening scene isn't easy for every writer to do. Sometimes, it requires a lot of thought behind it, and there may be a lot of doubt too. However, that doesn't mean writing your opening scene is hopeless! When writing your opening scene, there are a few things to take into consideration. Here, I'll list them off in bullet points and dissect them a little deeper.

1. Characters and Setting: Your audience should know who your main characters are—or even just your protagonist in which the story is following—and the world they're in by the time they're done reading your opening chapter. Because what the opening scene does is set up the story. What is your character doing? What kind of life are they living and what kind of person are they? How does the setting look? What time is it? Etc.

2. The Purpose of Your Scene: Making sure your opening scene has a purpose, and that you stick to that purpose, is important because essentially, you are laying down the groundwork for important plot points that will contribute to the overall storyline later on. Have any information that needs to be relayed early on for the story to move forward? Your opening scene is the perfect opportunity!

3. How You Want to Start: An opening scene can be character-driven, or it can start with action, or it can even start with dialogue. The decision is yours! The important question, however, is which type of opening would benefit your opening scene more? Below, are just a few options I've delved into to start:

Character-driven OR Thought-driven - An opening scene like this may set up an opportunity for your character, or maybe an obstacle your character is currently facing, that will benefit their character development down the line. It is also a way for you to introduce your character's traits, their wants, their needs, and their goals.

Action Scene - Action doesn't necessarily mean your character has to be doing something physical; like fighting, moving, or whatever. It can be anything that creates tension and instantly pulls your readers in. The goal of this is to drop your reader into the middle of the action so they're engaged.

Dialogue - While sometimes frowned up, an opening scene that uses dialogue can be good—or even great—if done right. Perhaps, your character is having an intense conversation. Or maybe it's not intense but it could be just as important. Possibly hinting at plot points that'll be touched on again.

Loutka

Team Of Dreams