Novel Beginnings: How To Start Your Book

[@carole5648]

i also think it's important to remember; yes you do need to nail the beginning, but you don't need to nail it FIRST. the first thing you write does not need to be that perfect beginning. that's the hardest part for me when i'm staring at a blank page. i know the beginning needs to be all of these things but you can go back and correct all of that later, the important part is still, to begin!

[@asdfghjkl29908]

i love you

[@sosom6963]

thank you!

[@Bobaloo92]

Carol E ‘the first thing you write does not need to be perfect... you can go back and correct all of that later.” YESSSSS

[@liamina3563]

I love this comment 👍

[@espy77]

Carol E thank you this helped!!!!

[@UserName-xi8rm]

It’s scary, because I have this whole world, this wonderful story ,and the thought of my reader missing out on that adventure because I failed to intrigued them in the opening is devastating.

[@emmajakobsen8265]

You can always rewrite the beginning. Write the whole book. Once you return to that first page you're a better writer with fresh eyes :)

[@herlizard]

You sound like a true writer then

[@mello.1483]

Rejection is my greatest fear man…

[@ryder1658]

Your book can't appeal to everyone, and neither can the opener. In reality your book, like all books, is probably only compatible with a percentage of the population. The good news is even 1% of 8 billion is still 80 million. If you read each of what most consider to be the greatest books of all time, I'm sure you would recognize their value, but you probably wouldn't have read them if it weren't for their notoriety. I mean, I still haven't read them all and I recognize their value. Don Quixote's great and all, but I don't think its opener is optimal. Yet, were I to "correct" its opener, another author would find it subpar. If... I don't know, Shakespeare corrected me, Twain wouldn't be satisfied with the change. And so on. Perfect is the enemy of good. Your mission shouldn't be to retain all readers, it should be to dig through all the readers to find YOUR readers. If someone isn't intrigued by your writing, provided it is proper in craft, then they aren't your reader, are they? And hey, they might come around when you're on that list of best books ever written!

[@uglystupidloser]

i think a good practice might be to try rewriting the beginning and redoing the outlining for books and film, and adjusting the structure to suit your taste. you could also do this for endings. you are less emotionally invested and wont feel overwhelmed by having your guards up and fending off criticism, whether it be by others or even yourself. also, shaelin from the youtube channels shaelinwrites and reedsy is an advocate of short stories because she can edit and redraft a finished work over a dozen times, while doing that to a novel can be incredibly taxing and frustrating. once you get the flow, you can also get a better idea of what other people are saying when they offer their opinions. tyler mowery is a youtube channel about structure for screenwriting, but his ideas of a template can serve novels very well. his focus on the popular idea of story structure makes it easier to step back and look at your story as both a whole and parts, and it can let you zero in on if a certain part, like the beginning, and see how it isnt helping the rest of the story structure flow the way you would prefer. you can learn how to have the beginning serve as the hook that you want it to, and be the springboard for your story and characters and setting that your audience will hopefully be more willing to take the leap of faith off of.

[@stephaniejohnson229]

"Waking up, getting ready-" Me: -Throws away entire novel-

[@espy77]

Lol me too lol 😂

[@animezae]

Lmfaooooooo

[@Vi12three45]

"Waking up, getting ready-" Me: Throws away entire life

[@gem9535]

YYYYESEEESSS

[@coreysimmons2374]

I started with a dream, went on to getting ready and finally the drive. Now, I’m just going to think about rewriting, everything

[@ashahamrick8871]

Beginnings are my least favorite thing to write. I feel like I can never get the timing right. It always moves too fast or too slow. I have the entire story in my mind, but I struggle incessantly with the beginning. However, watching your videos does help a lot. When I’m stuck or feeling discouraged, I watch your videos for that kick in the rear and encouragement I need to keep going. So thank you for that!(:

[@shahnaj1772]

Same problem here!

[@user-jt5ru6mq5q]

Ikr! samee

[@quill4596]

I end up writing everything in like- 10 pages, For me- that's not a good thing. I either make it too short or I can't stop writing it out and dragging it along.

[@reach4thestars]

yeah i struggle with info dumping

[@crystalgalaxy8940]

It's also ok not to have a great beginning at first. Write something then move on to the next part. As long as you write down the general idea of what you want you can always go back later and tidy it up.

[@emmawagner8915]

Another reason katniss waking up worked is because her day was so different from pretty much anyone else’s that no reader is reliving something they do every day already

[@cathal9596]

OMG!!! I always try to write the start of a book and just give up, but I think this video will help!

[@mrscalpouzos]

Start somewhere else! You are the omnipresent, omnipotent writer and you can start at whatever exciting middle point you want. Write the beginning later when you feel like it and you know your characters better.

[@SlimeforJesus]

Try watching Abbie Emmons, she talks about psychology of writing. I understand what all writers are talking about 5x better, after watching her trilog on three act plot structure.

[@AlexaDonne]

Eyeshadow is from the Tina Yong Run Wild palette by BH Cosmetics :) TIMESTAMPS 01:38 Starting in the right place 04:41 Exposition pitfalls 07:07 Info dumping & trusting your reader 09:14 Getting readers to care about your character/world 12:24 Inciting incidents 15:57 Examples of inciting incidents 17:31 Decision point/break into two 18:49 First impressions 20:18 Delivering on the promise of your premise/first pages 23:14 First lines (with examples)

[@ummukatheer247]

I like how you answered the question about the eyeshadow before the info about the timestamps!! I was feeling the eyeshadow before you opened up your mouth and gave us the gems! Thank you for the look and the video! This has been extremely helpful to me in writing as I'm writing my memoir even! Taking pertinent notes as you speak. Thanks again!

[@uslee19]

But the lipstick is fabulous! What kind?

[@AlexaDonne]

@@uslee19 It's a weird combination of Paparazzi and Dream Big from Colourpop. I put on the first one and it was a bit too coral so I added the second to balance it out a bit.

[@nbb2553]

Thank you. The timestamps are really helpful. Wish more youtubers do this

[@AlexaDonne]

@@nbb2553 np! I know I'm super long winded, so timestamps are the least I can do!

[@christinag2919]

Okay here’s where I’m stuck: my villain is so interesting that my main heroine seems boring now. I also feel like I’m so influenced by books I’ve read that my characters will never be original.

[@demeta3201]

Tbh I love story's where it's hard to root for the heroine and you instead prefere the villain. It makes things kind of tricky and you question how you judge people! I wish I could help you with the "my characters will never feel original" problem, but I have the same one :( But what I like to remember is that no one is original some people have similar character trades and thats okay ! Its what you do with those characters (what they choose to do, what they think and say etc.) Anyways that was just my humble opinion I hope you found a way to make things work (btw sorry if I spelled anything wrong English isn't my first language)

[@christinag2919]

Gordon Phillips Wow! Thanks for your lengthy comment, really useful advice!

[@jaredjohannson7354]

It'll never be original, no story is original anymore, so don't think your writing is shit because you find similarities.

[@wendellfeliciano6138]

No story is ever truly original. It's not your job to come up with original ideas, but to come up with original executions.

[@sophiebell4758]

@@demeta3201 if you have a problem with Making your Main charakter Original, remember. It doesnt matter. Try to make the charakter in a way that u want to see him grow or u wabt to see him fall. Make a character that u really like (not a mary sue of course) so u want to create a whole World for you

[@gem9535]

"Waking up, getting ready-" I did this, yep. I did this, and as soon as I found out how much this was used, I died on the inside. I am going to YEET that beginning, still keep the foreshadowing, and instead introduce a very important aspect of my character. I am going to have him painting! This book is very art inspired, so why not nail that head until it goes THROUGH the coffin?

[@poppy6635]

Starting with painting sounds like a great beginning !

[@kevywilliams3304]

Maybe you can start with that. But set a mood . Example .. you got woken up early again today.. and why are his dam socks on the floor again. Or .. wow . I’m never been woken up by such a sunny sunny day !!!

[@taylorbillet4318]

Could you possibly do a video on how to write dialogue? It has always been a struggle for me when writing

[@kb470]

Lol, my dialogue got better later on, but it started like a couple t800s "YES. HELLO. I AM A HUMAN WHO IS SPEAKING."

[@scarlet8078]

Try using a voice recorder to "act out" your dialogue. Whether you use it to write the dialogue or just to revise it, I think you'll find it really helps.

[@lizzychrome7630]

There is only on rule for writing dialogue: If you spend a paragraph describing a murder victim's throat slit wide opened, with torrents of blood soaking her gown, don't immediately follow with someone saying, "...She's bleeding!"

[@heynae2016]

@@kb470 same here

[@MOTHHMAN]

@@lizzychrome7630 Okay but that would actually be hilarious

[@amandaknight1406]

I definitely have blank page phobia. I used to stare at a blank sheet of paper for hours just stressing out over what I should write first. Now, whenever I start writing out a new idea I begin with, "First sentences suck and this one won't be any better, but on to the story!", just so there will be something on the page to take the place of the perfect beautiful sentence that I'm never going to figure out on the first try.

[@Growndweller]

That's a great idea! The first sentence is, after all, only the first sentence. I've never had a problem with first sentences because all I want to do is just start the story and you have to start somewhere!

[@booksvsmovies]

One of my Favorite first lines I've read recently was from The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin. "Let's start with the end of the world, why don’t we? Get it over with and move on to more interesting things." I love this line because looking back on the novel the book literally does just that. Before starting this book I was so nervous the story would be filled with overwrought prose and confusing worldbuilding but this great line reassured me that this book would be a fun ride.

[@justadexdpup]

"If you repeat the same idea, the readers will become frustrated" That on swing scene in Naruto: i'm gonna pretend i didn't see that

[@Tinnika12345]

bro i was thinking the same

[@searchlunasbox]

no don’t attack naruto like that ✨

[@AGlyn-ep9ic]

Believe it!

[@emanzahra1249]

but it never gets boring. It always HITS

[@novemberninth4392]

But that one h i t s

[@madeline2282]

I actually think it's more interesting when authors leave some things open ended in the beginning of the novel, especially between characters, and it makes you curious to read more

[@vikingtje._511]

the first line of a book I love the most was in The Seven Sisters series where each book started with the same quote. "I will always remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard my my father had died."

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I’ve been writing a novel for 6 years now and am struggling to tell the story in a way I an happy with. With this video, it was like you had read my book and were telling me how to fix it! Thanks so much for this super helpful content 😃😃

[@Ashestoashesjc]

Right? She makes incredibly informative and knowledgeable videos. Something you two have in common!

[@ajfalcone7917]

Did you finish the book

[@mayaobrien754]

I don't really plan books. I'll just be sitting there and my brain will suddenly read to me this scene and then I have to base a book of of it...

[@Redditaurus]

I have great dialogue in my head, so I start writing. Then I forget the dialogue in 30 secs

[@thiyaradesilva26]

Same! What I do is write as much of that scene/dialogue as I can manage in a random doc or book so I have them in case I decide to write it or add it to whatever I'm already writing:)

[@potatosack7492]

Same, this is how I write

[@erikperhs_]

SAME!! Right now, I have an amazing scene where the character sees the love interest for the first time and I'm trying to create a romance book around these two

[@nineteeneightyfour374]

you're a pantser then.. like grrm

[@Paige-wo3uk]

You and Jenna Moreci are my favorite writer KZbinrs. You’re advice is so hard cut and honest. You give realistic expectations and don’t sugar coat things

[@sillylilgoose08]

I know her videos are amazing!

[@Redditaurus]

No disrespect, but your*

[@WinterWind]

This is where I think fanfic writers have to take different notes. A lot of the time the reader doesn't need much if any world building or character description to understand exactly what is happening and why.

[@izzyrod.6502]

I'm 13 and I'm really hoping to start a book right now but I've been thinking about the beginning and I had a lot of trouble, thanks for the help.

[@yusufHaffejee-ql9oj]

Same as a 14 year old. My problem is that i throw myself and book straight into action and it gets more boring as i go in

[@thatonefriend4862]

Same

[@lifeonmars3147]

13 here too! What type of book are you writing?? :)

[@droptherapy2085]

I'm 18 and I'm much more of a lyricist than a writer, but I've attempted writing in the past and hopefully this attempt will work out

[@geckyoskitz]

bro what are your playlists

[@valeriaq1810]

You look BEAUTIFUL, Alexa! I legit gasped. Thank you so much for the video, I kinda needed it

[@ApricotStone]

Ha within the first five minutes I already figured out how to rewrite the first chapter! Thanks for another great video!!

[@thescaredy-cat860]

I needed this I just shelved a book, and now it's time to start over

[@kb470]

Aw, don't be such a scaredy cat 🤣

[@twichingsparrow2052]

My novel starts right AFTER the "inciting incident" (her punching a senior in the hallway), where the main character is waiting to get picked up from school. We basically learn about the incident AS we learn about her relationship with the people she lives with. Everyones reaction is a pretty solid representatin of how they see and treat her, which is a HUGE thing throughout the book because she *hates* how a lot of the people around her see her. Hunter, who is like a brotherly father figure, is mad because it got her in trouble and she has anger issues, Tim is upset because shes a girl and shouldnt be fighting, and so on and so forth

[@BentleyHouseMinis]

I read Brightly Burning this summer and I LOVED IT! So excited to continue on in my own writing with your advice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!

[@ACourtofHooksAndBooks]

I love when stories have the first chapter telling you how the story is going to end and then spending the rest of the book showing how the mc got where they ended up

[@whoami4534]

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." THE most iconic first line that almost no Potterhead could forget. Also, I'd like to thank you for the great content! I am planning on writing a story and your video just gave me the spark! I have my beginning, so now I'll have to write it before my train of thought leaves the station.

[@k-0316]

My band and English teacher always said the beginnings and endings are what influence an audience's opinion the most. We carefully chose the order of songs for concerts so the audience left satisfied. My English teacher heavily stressed openers and hooks in writing and would have us rewrite our beginnings if she didnt like them.

[@skyforquer9327]

"Describing the weather is another cliche" LOL literally my first line is that it's a hot fucking day

[@theatheistpaladin]

Middles are easy for me. I choose the emotion and the thing the whole story pivots on. Making beginnings that are not slow are clique is my problem.

[@josephcourtright8071]

I'm with you. The only trick to the middle is just to keep the story moving.

[@grassrootstexas]

I'm 60. It's always been a heavy want in my life to write. What you've said is exactly the thing I needed to hear. It was delivered well. Thanks. You may be the straw that collapsed my procrastination

[@Mis_Molly]

Yes same I needed to hear this to exsept I'm 14

[@gomiho91]

So spot on. For me the most iconic first line/page is from Haunting of Hill House.

[@natasham4184]

I agree!

[@jourdana9740]

I’ve been on a kick of watching your videos recently and even though this is a little old, I wanted to share: I absolutely love dropping the reader in at the end of a small conflict. I feel like it draws them in more and it certainly draws me in when an author lets me know that something just happened that isn’t big to the plot but that conflict is no stranger to our character. I feel like it sets up a good action heavy book

[@ShadowWolf1307]

I already knew all of this BUT it helped me to hear it from you to finally start writing the scray, scary beginning of my sequel! YAY!! I had like nearly all of it plotted out and really knew where and how to start, but... somehow i just couldnt for half a year... but now i just felt like i could! AND I DID! I'm so happy!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!

[@kak4191]

Out of all my WIPs, I have four favorite openings. 1) Main character wakes up and lays in bed checking his phone for like five minutes while texting his boss before getting up to change. And it’s a lot of just him being who he is. I love it because it shows that he’s just like everyone else, which would help make the reveal and reaction more effective. 2) A long paragraph or two describing this character’s appearance in that moment. Dress porn. Makeup porn. Whole nine yards. It’s a dream outfit for a dream wedding. And it ends with: “She hated it all.” It’s also revealed that the main character (not the described one) is actually dead and has been. 3) Learning about the main character through a character profile in a computer program. You read through it, and watch as someone tries to log in a couple times. The computer gets hacked and you meet the main character for the first time and realize the profile doesn’t give you a full version of her. 4) Retelling of Eve and the Apple and the snake who is not actually the Devil learning how to be a snake because he’s never done it before. He even gets surprised when he hisses.

[@novemberninth4392]

Number 2 is really cool and I'd LOVE to read it

[@exoticcats6119]

Number 2 is super cool! How would you go about introducing or including the dead main character?

[@autumnrenee8894]

WAIT IS NUMBER 2 UH.. WHATS IT CALLED, THE ONE MYSTERY BOOK ABOUT THE SIBLINGS WHO PLAY INSTRUMENTS AND THE FREAKY HOTEL

[@autumnrenee8894]

@@novemberninth4392 I think, THINK, 2 is Bellwether Rhapsody, and I highly recommend it it was so good

[@autumnrenee8894]

@@exoticcats6119 I think it's called Bellwether Rhapsody and I love love love it, absolutely recommend it it's one of my favorites

[@saydeewalton5536]

Don't start the story too early. Don't start the story too late. Don't start it with them waking up, but it works sometimes. Don't repeat too much. Something about backstories? I want to learn. This is so hard and confusing.

[@PrettyAndOrOdd]

If you have a library near you, visit and select 5 books from the ‘most popular’ section (or from the genre you want to write). Read the first couple of pages of each and think about what you liked, disliked etc. This might help you work out where you want your own story to start :)

[@LauraWrites]

Uggghhhh. I have been low key thinking my opening image beat was not going to work, but this video just confirmed it! Thanks for the confirmation!

[@theallergynaturopath60]

I have only recently found Alexa Donne, I am writing my first story, and Alexa I can't tell you how grateful I am for everything that you teach us, I am not traditionally trained, it is clear that you are, and sometimes it feels you have shared the wisdom gained from years of study in just a few minutes, I think about mistakes I am making and want to fix and I watch your videos and you confirm what I am thinking, I am beyond grateful that you share your knowledge with us.

[@jonathanmarks5720]

The first line of the book I'm working on was actually handed to me by my dad. I knew what I wanted to kick the book off with- the protagonist having to switch schools because he got expelled after YET ANOTHER fight- but I wasn't sure about the first sentence. The first line my dad handed me was, "It was his last day at this school, but Joshua Davies didn't know it until he stood staring at his bloodied knuckles and the even bloodier face of Malcolm Butthead." I changed Butthead to Lewis and rolled with it.

[@jaydingiesler5280]

Me sitting here taking notes as I’m gearing up to start Draft 3 of my story. Freaking love all the advice. Thank you!!!

[@jkwonsmiff]

Always love to see an Alexa Donne video in my sub box! You always come off so professional and genuinely interested in helping to teach aspiring writers. Thank you! As for my beginnings, I usually plow through them, then go back and re-write them either halfway through a draft or after I've finished (if I manage to finish).

[@pokelover02]

“In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three.” First line from the best book of all time

[@lizzychrome7630]

I can't tell you how helpful this was. I went into this thinking "meh, maybe there'll be something helpful." You made me realize there's a good 55% chance that I've been trying to start my book at the absolute wrong scene all this time. For me, the main problem is one you addressed here; too much information at once. To answer your last question, the thing I hate most about writing beginnings is trying to weave important visual information into the narration, without textwall descriptions. When it's a movie or a comic, the entire environment can be conveyed perfectly clearly with no words at all, right away, in the very first panel or opening moments. But when all you have to work with is written words? I'm tearing my hair out trying to describe, even in the vaguest sense, what my fantasy world looks like to the reader. (It's a combination of vastly different historical eras. Sort of 1950s steampunk.) To answer the former question, openings I hate seeing in other people's books: the dream fake-out. The exception is when the author tells you right away that it's a dream. In fact, I would say dreams in general are usually far better when the author tells you right away that it's a dream, instead of trying to make it a surprise. When you're told right away, you know exactly what kind of a feeling to imagine, and it comes off feeling far more like a real dream, than the corny fake-out "surprise" dream twists. In any case, it's a pisser to think you're seeing the start of a cool story, wondering where this will lead, only to be told, "Kidding! It's a dream. This ain't going anywhere!" The only opening I hate worse than the fake-out dream is the prophecy. Blech. Both are of course exceptions if the work is a parody.

[@livelifelovingly9983]

Honestly, thank you very much for going out of your way to do this. Great content & even greater help to the writing community. The beginning middle & end of this video had me captivated so good job my dear ✊✊

[@nveletkoslin33771]

yas PLEASE give us more on firsts! 👁👄👁

[@marinas.7862]

Oh, how I needed this video. I made this account literally just to focus on the writing of my new project and a video about beginnings was basically a need, because soon I'll start to write the book and don't know exactly how to begin. Thanks Alexa!

[@cenedra20]

I finally went ahead and read your book, Brightly Burning, and I can safely say WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE. Can't wait for your next one!

[@lorettroest3810]

I am in the process of writing a book, based on a true story but will be published as a novel. This really helps and actually gave me confidence and confirmation that I am on the right path. Thank you!

[@amandarandomtube4793]

I completely changed my beginning after watching this for the first time and it f&*king rocks now! AND changing it also caused me to solve a major character issue I had. So basically I love you, you're the Rori to my Stella 💜

[@JaniceSeagraves]

Inciting incident: If nothing changes then nothing happens. Excellent point. The save the cat moment sounds like the pet the dog moment that I've heard about before.

[@tytaylor8525]

Your posts are absolutely beautiful to watch... Everything from the excellent lighting and contast to the background of books to the beautiful color of your hair... All of that coupled with the fact that you are extremely articulate clear and concise, keeps me coming back day after day... I literally can't get enough! Thank you for the OBVIOUS WORK you put into these invaluable post!!! Your work and attention to detail is not going unnoticed!!! SUBSCRIBED!!!

[@Woolenskin.Production]

I am starting my first ever novel, i’m literally trying something out here. And you have just confirmed that what i had in mind for my first line AND first act all together where going to be perfect. (Havent started writing the actual book yet, 🤪 but my excuse here is that i watch your videos) You give a bunch a bullets for when comes the time, to sit and just friggin write 🙌🥰 thank you for all your help!

[@ravenw.2699]

This is one of the the only channel that actually helps

[@Fig_Faerie]

I have been trying to figure out how to start my project's first chapter for months- this video had me inspired within the first fifteen minutes. Thank you ❤

[@WhatDoesEvilMean]

I’m just here to leave a positive and supportive comment. Thanks for posting your videos on writing, I enjoy listening to writers talk about writing. :)

[@michellekyle1880]

The 15 minutes before the change happens helped a lot. Thanks.

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

I didn't realize dress porn in books was a thing until you said it, and then I realized I love dress porn XD

[@jakeaurod]

I just realized my WIP is full of dress porn.

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

As a gown designer, it is hard for me to know what is too much since I usually deal with details you can't even imagine. So, to me, what I write isn't much, but may be too much.

[@JayJayJackson]

Rewriting my beginning now. Thank you! This is both helpful and inspiring.

[@aboundsstoermer4329]

Happened upon your KZbin video by mistake... I found you such a fasinating presenter, I subscribed, watched a couple more and now, I'm hooked. I started writing my first book using your advice. I'll let you know how it comes out. Thanks a bunch, GG Storm

[@PrettyAndOrOdd]

23:00 Hey Alexa, I know you did a video on first lines, but I’d still LOVE to see a video analyzing first pages! Super appreciate your content!

[@vuyiswa-fumba]

Working on my first book and this video is so unbelievably helpful, it gave me so much clarity and direction for my beginning.

[@roses_are_rosies-g4h]

I got really excited to see this video after watching your list of what amateurs writers do. Because trying to begin my story is always the most difficult part in writing for me, it's always confusing me in where to begin first because my topic tends to be all over the place since my ideas, topics and thoughts of the story that I'm about to write because I'm still brainstorming so this was really helpful.

[@mrs.psstories1764]

Nothing like having to redo your whole first chapter! Thanks for the advice!

[@lostinabookcase3796]

Hahaha I love writing the middle! It's the beginning I struggle with :))

[@gemmalev]

lost in a booKCase same!! I have the best inciting incident and idea for the middle but I can’t seem to have that hook for the first chapter :(

[@philosophicsblog]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I discovered you among several others earlier this week and have watched a few by now. Besides the information and topic choices, your enthusiastic delivery is appropriate with just the right amount of snark.

[@RafaelRodrigues-rx9ry]

"Ready Player One" missed ALL these points. To this day I couldn't go through the third page.

[@fate042]

OMG!!! I saw the Dresden Files on your bookshelf and had a fangirl moment! I love Jim Butcher's work.

[@DistinctlyMeFilms]

For some reason listening to you just flipped a switch in my head and I knew exactly how I had to restructure my beginning. Thank you!!

[@tessa3474]

I don't have a middle ground for first lines. Either it's there, crystal clear, or I agonize over it for a bit. I try to stay away of the cliches you mentioned just because I, personally, get driven a little mad about it. Like...is the weather important or??? Another beginning trope I've seen a few times is you just get an entire page of the MC being bitchy about their entire life. Which can be done in a funny way, I'm sure, but I haven't seen many of those yet LOL. I enjoy these breakdowns and how you use examples from books you know. It's actually extremely helpful that way !

[@barbaroi_9]

Definitely an eye opening video in regards to how important beginnings are. Thanks a ton for the videos

[@EYEFILE]

i'm a teenager who just started writing their first book. your videos are really helping me! thank you!! :D

[@cherry6609]

Your makeup is on point. And thank you for this video, I needed this as I am currently writing my first chapter draft after having tried it 6 times.

[@lisaduncan2606]

I find all you’re videos so helpful! I take copious notes.

[@MultiTaylorswift1234]

Loved this video Alexa, thanks for the reminders of what a good book beginning needs. Strong declarative sentences are my favored way to go.

[@melsbookshelves]

This was a great video, but honestly your eye shadow stole the show. It is fabulous!

[@annanas6216]

This just helped me delete over 20 pages of unnecessary information!! Thank you!!!

[@phanboy8059]

When I write a story most of the time I have to work towards the beginning and reach it through trial and error since I create the stories based around different concepts or ideas that stand as the story's backbone. I'm working on a first chapter right now and and it starts out focusing on the main female lead, about how nervous and out of place she feels as she is about to take part in her first mission as part of a highly ranked unit, how she ends up meeting with the main male lead and ends with a events that puts the main plot into motion.

[@grimmdanny]

I start off simple: "Today is an important day. A *really* important day."

[@kodocean]

And on this important day something important is going to happen. To an important character 😜

[@FanfluxDiary]

Thank you. I've watched a lot of your videos and as a young writer they really help me.

[@globetrekker86]

Thank you for another insightful video. You mentioned not relying heavily on describing the setting in the first several paragraphs. It is, admittedly, a challenge for me, as a few of my favorite novels use this tactic. Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita begins with the narrator describing the eerily quiet, sweltering late afternoon in the park. Two characters sit on the bench and converse. (Bulgakov spends quite a bit of time describing what they look like and what their respective professions are: an info dump, of sorts). Then, the inciting incident occurs: An odd-looking man asks to sit beside them

[@plague2179]

You just said inciting incident and immediately I realized I needed one so I immediately came up with one, thank you

[@a113auto]

Thank you so much!! I usually write short stories but there’s a story I want to read that hasn’t been written yet so I’m trying to write a book. This advice helps soooo much

[@jeannerogers711]

Great stuff here. I do believe that the ‘save the cat’ beginning is worthy. Making the main character worthy of that ‘save’ is important. 😊

[@j.87558]

Really appreciate your vids. It's great information for a screenwriter too!!

[@dragonking184]

Great video really helped a lot. Another thing that the first chapter has to do is set up the tone and genre of the book. Dont bait and switch the audience. Example: don't start with a fast paced scene that's action packed of the rest of the book is going to be moving slower than a sloth.

[@gailasprey7787]

My personal experience is I changed my chapter 4 to chapter 1. It seemed more intriguing than my character waking up in the morning to have the story open up with how the mentor character turns into a fox. I think that was essential information that would get the reader guessing and I think it makes more sense than what I had before. Btw, I’m trying to make my characters fleshed out but I’m not really able to put their dreams and wants into the story very well. Can you make a video about how to flesh out your characters discretely? And maybe a video on writing disabilities?

[@Natalie.164]

Thank you Alexa for this and the other videos. You really are able to say concisely and clearly what we new writers need to hear. So glad I found you!

[@carolinezina3543]

I just found your videos and I really like them in the background while I draw! They are really helping me with my writing! Thank you!❤️

[@sunnypetawriter9624]

My kind of woman. Love your heavy hitting tough style. Brilliant!

[@elisa4620]

This was very interesting. Thank you! I liked that you used examples to illustrate what you said. I would love a "sequel" video with several more examples of first lines and first acts and inciting incidents, from various genres, and your analysis of it.

[@shinigamiyuu]

I'm so full of ideas that i can't put on paper, i can picture them in my head, but if i write it's either a mess, stupid or just come out wrong.

[@Growndweller]

Exactly me! And what I often end up doing is watering certain things down because I'm afraid people will think I'm crazy.

[@zechester6346]

Just get something down friend. You can go back and edit it later. Maybe figure out the main events of the book and the direction of the characters. And then just write.

[@sunshowerpainting1]

Excellent information and for a aspiring beginning writer, much needed. Thank you.....

[@feistyfrog6949]

You really inspire me with your videos! I've been searching high and low and in every crevice of KZbin, but only you have actually helped me shut off my damn phone and sit my butt down and write! New Sub ❤️

[@esotericguard3808]

I loveeeee this lady. Shes so honest like straight up will tell you

[@carrieksnider]

Super helpful as I’m pants-ing my way through my chapter 1!

[@Ruthie888]

I love the Save the Cat references!!!! yay! When a person asks me to critique a book (or screenplay), I ask them to read it so we speak the same language. there are other books that I have added to my outline-outline, but it's #1! Thank you!

[@BundaBear]

I’d love to see that video about analysing first pages! Your videos are so informative, the way you explain things makes it really easy to follow and understand

[@theslothmaster1663]

This video was a fantastic help! Thank you so much for all you do for the writing community! :)

[@pickled625]

As a self proclaimed coffee aficionado, Titan Thorn eagerly poured his first cup of the day....

[@crimsonchoucho5258]

Before I watch this for a third time, because seriously you pack a LOT of useful information in these videos. I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to make all of these videos. I've been writing since I was 11 (which would be back in '01) and I recently completed that book after years of working on it. I would stop in the middle, and redo the beginning like five times, it wasn't until about 2014 I actually had time to sit down and dedicate to writing like I should have. I wrote in my spare time, but none of it was actually the book I WANTED to write. So between '14 and last December I finished my first full draft to the tune of about 105k words. Since then started revising, and thank the gods for your revision video because holy crud did I get lost in the process. I spent from December up until the end of July stream lining it, and right now I'm starting my second major edit on it. Things are going super smoothly thanks to all the helpful tips and advice in your videos, and I really just wanted to give you a giant thank you for making the process less of a headache. Sincerely, a grateful rookie writer.