How do you start a novel?

[The_Book_Keeper]

The above question seems a bit vague, but here's what I want to ask,
Let's say you have planned your story in every and any method out there, and now you are ready to start writing your very first episode/chapter. Right at that very instance, does anyone get a feeling as to how to begin the story? If yes, then what are the ways you guys use to counter that feeling? are there any special steps you take? Please feel free to express in the comments.
Note: you can feel free to share a link to your work if you so like it.
here's mine,

The Book of Worlds | Tapas

[Zorianna]

I had mine mostly planned out for a comic to begin with and then went for a novel instead. So I knew what was happening and I had images in my mind so I just needed to descibe them instead. One day I started writing and kept the flow going as best as I could, even if it sounded horrible. The main thing is getting it on paper, and dont be afraid to go with the flow of the story. Mine has changed quite a bit form the original, I didnt think it would since I had it so planned out, but there's a lot of extra information I ended up adding or changing anyways.

Some days it's hard to pick up the writing again, so I would suggest having a buffer of a few chapters before you start posting so it wont catch you off guard on those days where you can't think of what to write. When you feel like writing and you're in a groove, then hold on to it and write as much as you can even if it's just word vomit, it's the first step to getting something better.

It can also help to have other creators to talk to and bounce ideas off of when you get stuck or a little bit lost. Plus proofreading can be a lifesaver. I hope this all helps, and here's my novel so far if you want to check it out.

Retribution | Tapas

[ScarletDemon]

As obvious by my page, I write a lot of novels. The process for me is I make an outline of everything within the story: locations, characters, magic systems and the various sort. When I actually start the story, I think about what would be a good way to get people's attention, but most of the times, I just go and may go back and make the intro better. Think about the story and how the intro and make the story's air and style come across as quickly and as easily as possible. Hope that helps.
Check out my stories if you want:

Deathblooded | Tapas

Shrouds and Stilettos | Tapas

Sky Garden | Tapas

The Wizard of Wall Street | Tapas

Rain | Tapas

The Weirdos in 1642 | Tapas

[cherrystark]

I have multiple stories in my series so I've started a lot of stories. haha. I find it easiest to start a story mid-action. If you watch American crime dramas, you see this method used a lot and it's effective. The story opens with the unsuspecting person jogging, walking out to their car, on a date, and then BOOM inciting incident. We're instantly made aware of what the problem is in the story before we're introduced to the main characters.

I think it's also important to know why type and genre your story is. A dramatic car chase or kidnapping isn't always the best way to introduce your lovers in a romance novel. (Though it could be really great, tbh.) We as humans love visuals so hooking readers in those first few pages is important. I think this is also why most readers hate the "wake up, look in the mirror, and eat a bite of toast" opener so much. There is no visual appeal to draw us in.

The Museum | Tapas

[kmlangleyauthor]

The tip I’ve heard that seems most versatile is this:

Start where something changes.

How the characters react will show how it’s different from normal life/situations. There’s no need for several chapters of “this is normal” to show the “big change” moment. I like it because it’s a lot less specific than other tips. Starting in the middle of action, as stated above, won’t work as well for certain genres.

[therosesword]

The best piece of advice I ever received about this was from a novelist friend of mine and it was:

"Sit your ass down in front of the screen/piece of paper/notebook/whatever and start spewing. Make an outline if you want, or don't. Name your characters or not. Everything you write will change along the way anyway so don't overthink it, just do it."

I obviously paraphrase except for sitting one's derrière down in front of whatever you're going to write on.

He felt it didn't matter where it started (high action, low etc.) you can always change it. Everything about what you're doing can be changed. To try and do it perfectly from the beginning is overthinking and second guessing yourself.

Write hard, write true.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

For me it's honestly just trial and error. ^^; But if you're really feeling clueless, just start with the first event that's supposed to happen in the story (that's apparently already outlined) and find a way to get there.

For instance, I spent the summer trying to rewrite a story that begins with the main character committing a crime. In the original version, she's planning to leave town and evade law enforcement anyway, but she ends up getting coerced into going away with a rebel group...in the new version, I thought it would be more interesting and 'intrigue-y' to have her arrested, and let the rebels intercept her on her way to prison.

So, how to get there...I tried several times; it's almost embarrassing. ^^; First I tried starting the story with her being arrested at her hideout...then I tried starting the story with her already in jail, talking to the arresting officer.
It was after that that I gave up and moved on to other projects...but when I eventually give it another go, I want to try starting the story with her on her way to prison, right before the rebels attack the transport.

I keep getting closer to that first event, using it as an anchor...but you don't have to move closer to it. You can move further away, you can approach it from a different direction...it's the act of changing the approach which gets you closer to a beginning that you can really launch from.

[domisotto]

I usually try to build a snap-shot the encapsulates where the character is now in life, while they are doing something interesting, and not on the list of 10 Most Common Things MC Does in the Beginning of the Novel, such as waking up to the alarm clock or running through the forest in abject terror.

I also want to show what problem they are facing in their character development, what they will need to change as the book progresses. And, now my goal is emotions, to show emotions. Lots of emotions.

Then I edit it million times as I write the rest of the story.

A couple of times I tried to invert an order of narration to bring a more interesting piece upfront, but it ends up confusing people, so now I try to go chronologically.

My goal is give the main character’s name in the first 2 lines, and in the very first paragraph make it obvious Who the protagonist is, What they are doing and Where they are.

I take the most time with my first chapter, edit it again and again and again, and in the end I almost always get comments how second chapter is better than the first, so I am pulling hair on my head.

Trapped by the Mafia | Tapas

[Berserker]

I kinda write each chapter in a form of short form. I do an outline first then I write in present tense the actions the characters are taking in brief. I might add certain dialogue that must happen in the chapter or I might just write in brief what they talk about.

The idea behind this short form of a chapter is to remove all pressure to write well. I just want to churn out the basic skeleton of the events of a chapter. It will then be written in long form later.

[Teddy-Stonehill]

My writing process starts with an idea, usually a plot concept, and then I let it sit in my brain and slowly build out over time. Sometimes I'll be sitting with an idea for years before I actually write it. Sometimes just a few weeks.

But usually by the time I actually start writing, I've got a pretty solid notion of how it should start, because so much of it has already been built up in my head.

As I move forward, I do a sort of combination of discover and outline writing. I'll plan really far ahead in my mind, a few chapters ahead in an outline, and then make additional changes as I actually write. I don't go in completely blind, but I don't do a detailed outline either.

The Saintess and the Villainess | Tapas

For my current project, The Saintess and the Villainess, it was really easy to figure out where to start because I wanted to do an earnest and sincere version of a very tropey genre I enjoy. So obviously I just had to start with the tropes that usually start this kind of story. It's a bit cheesy, but fun, I think.

[rajillustration]

For me I make a goal of "I will write at least 1200 words a day until this book is done" (with exemptions of course, some days I get very busy) and that goal is what drives me to start.

I usaully don't stick to the beginnings I do write--I rewrite the beginning a lot. Beginnings are kind of rough so I will simply keep starting scenes until it feels right. But, by the time I'm at about Ch 5 or Ch 6, I have the flow down.

[darkone4587]

I mainly start with either something big and attention grabbing or something that introduces the lead in a good way. From there the world is expanded via the MC and the people they interact with and the craziness that starts going on around them.

[BlunderingAlbatross]

"Once upon a time"

Serious answer: Honestly I don't really think about it, I just jump straight in and start writing. It probably helps that I like to start things in media res, which kinda cuts out having to build up the background and setting in a way because that all forms around the scene that I'm writing.

I know other people like to do things differently, that's just my method

The End of All Things | Tapas

[Pan]

So I'm a few days late to this discussion but: I'm a plotter, so I plan all major plot points out in advance, but as for where to start, I settle on a killer opening line that clearly sets the tone and mood of the book, and maybe has a little bit of foreshadowing, too. The rest falls into place for me, after that.

For example, the opening line from my WIP:

Rosemary Espinoza is still catching her breath when Tía Carmen says “You’re going to fall in love this October.”

Sets the tone, gives the audience a pretty good idea of what to expect plot-wise, and it's a natural transition into the rest of the scene, because if my aunt told me I was going to fall in love in October I would have some questions lol. Because I love examples, here's two more from other books I've written:

It's funny how quickly dreams-come-true can dissolve into nightmares.

and

The air in Fairview Cove is much too thick to be normal.

This method works pretty well for me, but it's important you find what works for you! I personally think if you nail a killer first line, the rest will write itself. It leaves the readers with questions, which will compel them to keep reading!