“I’m angry with you!” Sally said as she sat down. She was smiling, so I frowned. “You let me write the first chapter before I was ready.”
“Oh, that,” I said. “Yes, I did, knowing you weren’t quite ready. But I knew you had so much story in you that if you didn’t get started you’d only get frustrated. I know why you weren’t ready, but you tell me.”
“I didn’t really know what my character wanted, nor how to hint at his greatest fear in the first chapter, so I created exactly the wrong scene.”
“You created the scene that helped you jump start your story. You were doing a lot of “Wax On, Wax Off” and getting ansty. So, I told you to simply let your character walk onto the page and let him start talking. Did I know you’d have to rewrite your chapter? Yes. But every author has to rewrite – it’s a part of the process. I encouraged you to write for three reasons:
First – it gave you a chance to hear your character speak and see if he fit the profile you created for him.
Second – it allowed you into the story to get excited about writing and see your words on the page. Part of writing is just the success of building scenes and chapters and then believing you can do it all the way to the end.
Third – It made my job of convincing you that you needed to start in a different place easier, because once you saw the story, you realized that it needed to move faster.” I smiled. “Authors often think we have to lay out all the information about a character in the beginning. I wanted you to get that out of your system so you could go back and rebuild the chapter with just the essentials.”
She made a face at me, then smiled. “Okay, Mr. Miyagi, what are the essentials of the first chapter?”
“I watched Frequency, an old, but favorite movie this weekend. I love the opening because it so well captures all the elements of the first chapter/scene. The story is about a fireman and his son, and how they reconnect via a time/sun spot anomaly. It’s a thriller, fabulously plotted, and if you have a chance to see it, you should.” (btw: Here’s the YouTube clip of the first scene: http://youtu.be/dRFjOHjy7KE)
“The first 2 scenes capture what I consider the 5 essentials of the first chapter.
- It sets up the character’s Competence (or what he does well).
- It sets up his inner journey issue – that he isn’t “behind” his son. He’s too much of a risk taker. (the bicycle scene)
- It sets up the greatest fear – him taking too much of a risk so that they lose each other.
- It shows what both characters want in a very poignant moment when the “Little Chief” (the other main character, John) sees what they want, or what their focus is: a great family.
- Something happens that ignites the plot, and sets up the Inciting Incident. In this case, it’s the aurora borealis.
Note: Because this movie is a thriller, these first scenes also set up the suspense plot (the nightingale murders hinted at in the radio).
All this is wrapped up in his home world – the 5 W’s – who he is, when it is, where it takes place, what he does for a living, and why (his current motivations).
By the end of the first chapter, your reader has to know through the action and dialogue these five things: Competence, Lie, Fear, Focus/Want, Ignition.
I made it into a nice little acronym for you, because that helps me remember everything as I write, but think of it like a CLIFF…and you are about to send your character off it. You want us to see him before he goes flying into the story.”
“I should have expected another acrynom,” she said, winking. “So, when I rewrite I want to create a scene that shows these five things.”
“Exactly. Tomorrow, in Quick Skills, I’ll give you some ideas on what to ask your character if you are stuck. Here’s the truth. A great novel isn’t written – it’s rewritten. (I don’t know where that quote comes from, but it’s not mine.) Sometimes you just need to let your character speak to you before you can craft that first scene. But if you want to build a solid story foundation, you have to start with him on the edge of the CLIFF.”
Sally was somewhere else. Finally she looked at me and smiled. “I’m not angry at you anymore,” she said.
“I’m very glad to hear that.”
Truth: Rewriting is your friend. Letting your character have some breathing room in the first chapter allows you to get to know him, but it may not be your actual first scene.
Dare: When you’re ready, go back to the beginning and craft a scene with the 5 essentials.
Tomorrow in Quick Skills: some questions to ask your character to help you build that solid first chapter!
Susie May
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