Writing a major event: How soon is too soon?

BeautifulNightmare · Sep 22, 2009

Hi!
Well, my story is going brilliantly... I am on my second page!!!! Yaaaay!! Anyway, I have started to wonder when I should start the main storyline in my book? Because at the moment, I am introducing characters (They are four girls at high school so far) but I really do not want to bore anyone in my first chapter, because that will not be good!!! So I need to know what you guys think, how soon is too soon for my major event? I need it to happen pretty soon so I can launch into the good bits of my book.

Thanks alot for any help guys!

bsolah · Sep 22, 2009

Have the major event as soon as possible. Throw your reader into the action!

TheIT · Sep 22, 2009

Welcome to AW, BeautifulNightmare! (OK, that sounds scary...

)

You're working on the first draft, right? Write the story down. Don't worry if it's not perfect, don't worry if events are in the wrong order, just get the story down. Once you have the whole story written, you can see the whole shape and decide what order the events should be in.

That said, it's good to get the readers involved in the story quickly. Make the reader want to turn the page and find out what happens next.

Good luck!

Stijn Hommes · Sep 22, 2009

I've seen books where the big event is in the first line. "The president of the United States is dead. He was murdered in the morning sunlight by a four year old boy..." -- J.C. Hutchins

Others waiting to drop the reader into a big event until they reached the end of chapter one. Both can work as long as you keep the reader's interest.

benbradley · Sep 22, 2009

bsolah said:
Have the major event as soon as possible. Throw your reader ~~into the action~~ under the bus!

At least that's how I read it at first glance (seems I've heard that phrase a few times in the last year or so). Or maybe it's throw your MC under the bus and see if he/she/it survives. THEN the excitement starts...

bsolah · Sep 22, 2009

I'd read a book where the main character is thrown under a bus in the first page.

Danthia · Sep 23, 2009

Start the story where it starts, which sounds weird, but true. If that's at the major event, start it there. But it can also mean it starts with a smaller event just before that, and that smaller event is what sets the hero on the path TO that major event.

Often it's good to see a snippet of the hero's normal life and troubles before they're thrown under the bus, but the trick is to make that snippet something interesting as well. Some problem going on that will draw readers in, show them the kind of person the hero is, and make them curious to see how the hero solves this problem. Naturally the hero doesn't, and that sends everyone on a story to fix the real problem.

Sometimes you don't know where this start is until you write it, so don't be afraid to try a few things or write a while until you find your perfect opening.

Libbie · Sep 23, 2009

I don't think Page One is too soon, if it's well written.

An entire chapter or more of really boring introduction and exposition makes the main event come far too late. Be sure you're actually giving the reader a reason to care about your story from the first chapter, and not just flitting through the lives of high-school girls.

ishtar'sgate · Sep 23, 2009

BeautifulNightmare said:
Hi!
So I need to know what you guys think, how soon is too soon for my major event? I need it to happen pretty soon so I can launch into the good bits of my book.

Is it A major event or the ONLY major event? IMO a strong event that sets all the wheels in motion should happen as soon as possible. But it can't be the sole major event. I see it as an initial catalyst with more major events looming in the distance. It's nice - just my opinion now - when the first major event hints at further and larger major events.

Bufty · Sep 23, 2009

Always get to the point. What makes you think readers are going to wade through whatever comes before in order to get to the good bit?

Start with a good bit.

The books you read -how long before they have good bits? How long before you say -I must read on/I can't stop here? I bet it's on the first page.

Anyway if this is your first novel just concentrate on writing it. Keep going till you reach the end. Strange as it may seem, how and where one should really start is often not apparent until the tale is finished.

Good luck.

BeautifulNightmare said:
Hi!
Well, my story is going brilliantly... I am on my second page!!!! Yaaaay!! Anyway, I have started to wonder when I should start the main storyline in my book? Because at the moment, I am introducing characters (They are four girls at high school so far) but I really do not want to bore anyone in my first chapter, because that will not be good!!! So I need to know what you guys think, how soon is too soon for my major event? I need it to happen pretty soon so I can launch into the good bits of my book.

Thanks alot for any help guys!

Lady Ice · Sep 23, 2009

ishtar'sgate said:
Is it A major event or the ONLY major event? IMO a strong event that sets all the wheels in motion should happen as soon as possible. But it can't be the sole major event. I see it as an initial catalyst with more major events looming in the distance. It's nice - just my opinion now - when the first major event hints at further and larger major events.

Agreed. You can start with a major event but if it is THE major event, people will get bored as they know that's the best it'll get. Some readers also like to get to know the characters first.

freeman801 · Sep 23, 2009

On my WIP a major event happened in the first chapter. My MC punched a customer at her work and got fired. That would be a major event in anyones life

Like the others above said, as long as its not THE major event I think your fine!

Stijn Hommes · Sep 23, 2009

Reader expectations also play a role. I've read a Dutch detective series that always ended the first chapter with the detectives discovering a murder victim, the second to last chapter with a sting operation to catch the killer and the last chapter explaining all the background. Readers got used to the formula and the cases in which the operation never happened or in which the detective couldn't arrest the killer stand out even more.

My point: readers will stick around longer if they know when to expect the good stuff and if it doesn't take too long to get there.

kct webber · Sep 23, 2009

In my experience, once you get to the ending of your first draft, you're going to change the beginning anyway. So just write the thing to the end. Then worry about the beginning.

Or... you know... what TheIT said. :tongue

BeautifulNightmare · Sep 25, 2009

Thanks for all your fab answers so far!

It isn't going to be the only major event, basically it is an "accident" that throws the main characters life into turmoil and there are going to be other events to follow, so the readers will be kept on their toes!

Writing a major event: How soon is too soon?

BeautifulNightmare

Look out, there's a student about!!

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

Danthia

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

ishtar'sgate

living in the past

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

freeman801

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

kct webber

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

BeautifulNightmare

Look out, there's a student about!!