I just outlined a new middle grade novel I'm about to start which got me a lot to thinking about Beginnings. There are two points in the novel I could be starting—one takes place in school which sets up the main character's problem: being bullied in school, having a lack of self-confidence etc., and the other at home as the protagonist's family prepares the ritual for Ching Ming, an annual Chinese festival of paying respects to ancestors. Both of which will give a glimpse into the protagonist's world, and launch the conflict.
Agent Jill Corcoran (Hermann Agency) has a great blog post Activate Your Story about how to craft great beginnings that will hook your reader.
That being said, don't worry if you don't get it right the first round, or second—or third. The most important thing is to get your story down on paper, then you can play around with the beginnings. Many writers toss out their first chapter after they complete the book. Sometimes your first chapter is your last chapter. Where to begin your story is often a challenge for writers, but we don't always know if we've begun it in the right place until we finish the story.
So, Happy First Drafting!
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