Writer Unleashed

#182: 5 Ways To Nail Your First Chapter


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Your first chapter matters.

It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading.

There's a lot riding on your first chapter.  So you want to get this right.

Bore them with too much exposition, long forays into backstory, too many characters and superfluous  details, and your reader will grow bored, overwhelmed, and will stop reading.

In this episode,  I'm sharing 5 ways to nail your first chapter.

We'll cover how to:

  •  Resist the urge to tell readers too much too soon
  • Write exposition that doesn't read like exposition
  • Choose which characters to introduce, who to omit, and who to save for later
  • How and when to use backstory and where to place it
  • Shape your first chapter 
  • Embed conflict and narrative tension right from the start

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Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.

Download Your Quick Guide Here


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Writer UnleashedBy Nanci Panuccio

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