The first chapter

ILove2Write · Jun 30, 2009

Is it ok to have a really short first chapter for a middle grade novel that doesn't have the main character in it? I'm trying to find out if agents look upon this unfavorably. Right now my MC appears in the second chapter, but my first chapter is literally under two pages double spaced. Is that too short?

Vimes · Jun 30, 2009

Are all the other chapters longer? If so, it sounds like it might be more of a prologue. Maybe you could add it to the beginning of your first chapter and at the end of it, indicate a break in the text with a star or a space before moving on to what was the old beginning of your second chapter? Just a thought.

P.S. What a great avatar!

MsJudy · Jun 30, 2009

Another way I've seen it done is to have that first shorter part written in italics at the beginning of the chapter, then switch to regular font for the POV shift.

You can always post it in SYW and see what people think about it. But usually agents who ask for pages with the query ask for 5-10, which would give you a chance to include the MC's POV as well as this short prologue, so I don't think it would hurt your chances any.

Cyia · Jun 30, 2009

Maybe make it a prologue instead of a real 1st chapter, then the disconnect isn't so glaring.

Leila · Jul 1, 2009

What they said. Sounds like a prologue to me. I've seen that sort of stuff in MG plenty of times, it shouldn't hurt your chances as far as I know. Especially if it's interesting

abctriplets · Jul 1, 2009

Out of curiosity, if you make it the prologue, would this still be the first few pages you'd submit? Or would you start with Chapter 1?

Viking Horse · Jul 1, 2009

abctriplets said:
Out of curiosity, if you make it the prologue, would this still be the first few pages you'd submit? Or would you start with Chapter 1?

I've actually been wondering about that one myself.

Bufty · Jul 2, 2009

My thoughts?

Yes, include it -it's presumably a necessary part of the story so it should be included.

If it's not a necessary or vital part of the story -why is it there at all?

Viking Horse said:
I've actually been wondering about that one myself.

MsJudy · Jul 2, 2009

Bufty said:
My thoughts?

Yes, include it -it's presumably a necessary part of the story so it should be included.

If it's not a necessary or vital part of the story -why is it there at all?

I agree 100%.

abctriplets · Jul 3, 2009

Bufty said:
My thoughts?

Yes, include it -it's presumably a necessary part of the story so it should be included.

If it's not a necessary or vital part of the story -why is it there at all?

I've got conflicting opinions about this. If the prologue is necessary/vital to the story, then it should be placed where it is in the book. But is the prologue representative of the work as a whole? (i.e. When someone requests to read your first chapter, is this really what you want to send out?) I almost feel that its better to get rid of the prologue just so that you have a strong(er) first chapter to submit.

Bufty · Jul 3, 2009

To me, that's illogical.

If the prologue is doing its job properly the first chapter won't necessarily be any stronger without it.

And if the prologue is not doing its job it shouldn't be there at all.

Why should it not be representative of the writing? Because it's all packed with dull backstory or too much narrative or dialogue or whatever?

If it's only a page or so, I doubt anyone is going to shoot one for including it with Chapter 1. If it's ten pages....

Just cross fingers and hope more than one chapter is requested - usually is.

abctriplets said:
I've got conflicting opinions about this. If the prologue is necessary/vital to the story, then it should be placed where it is in the book. But is the prologue representative of the work as a whole? (i.e. When someone requests to read your first chapter, is this really what you want to send out?) I almost feel that its better to get rid of the prologue just so that you have a strong(er) first chapter to submit.

ILove2Write · Jul 8, 2009

Thanks for all the replies everybody! They were very helpful.

I also have another question. If you're putting a letter in your text, do you give an extra space between that and the rest of your story?

The first chapter

ILove2Write

Jaws has nightmares too

Vimes

MsJudy

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Leila

bookshop girl

abctriplets

Viking Horse

Devil in the Top Hat

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?