What do you look for in a first chapter?

[KJBatson]

I am working on planning my next novel. I have a ton of views on the first chapter of my current novel and it drops off a ton in the next chapter. WHICH i know is very normal. I just would like to know what you look for in the first chapter of a novel that draws you into the next chapter?

Ihave a dark twisted fantasy romance and am not sure if I should just jump into the story, or have a 'preview' chapter of later action. Opinions on what draws you in?

[BLTX]

SPEAKING FROM A CREATOR'S STAND POINT

I don't really have a chapter novel, instead I have a comic released in different issues, but It's also a "dark, twisted, fantasy thing." While I was creating it, the most important thing for me was properly establishing what kind of world the characters live, as they live in an unnamed dictatorship country, with incredibly stupid, and backwards people.

It was actually may main concern in the first issue, as it's meant to be a dark comedy with "phsycologicly realistic" characters, so I felt it should be the main thing I should attempt in the first issue, obviously among other things of course.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

After all the novels I've seen, my standards have gotten pretty low...all I want these days is for an author to just...talk normally. >_< Like, if it's a first person POV, just say normal things that would actually likely be part of someone's stream of consciousness. Not "Hi. I'm MC. I'm an average/above-average/below-average teen with lots of/very few friends and excellent/terrible grades, or somehow all of these things at once. Before we jump into the plot, here's a detailed description of my hair and what I'm wearing that no one in their right mind would ever care about...!"

...You'd be surprised how often people do that. ╯︿╰ I know it's easier than starting with a thought process and/or situation that exemplifies the character and shows off their core qualities in a way that makes them apparent through their way of speaking and their actions (which is what I would ACTUALLY recommend doing)...

...but most people don't open a novel looking for a character bio. They want a story, and they want it to be clear that you can make your characters part of the story, not "accessories" that have to be explained separately.

Ihave a dark twisted fantasy romance and am not sure if I should just jump into the story, or have a 'preview' chapter of later action.

A 'preview' could definitely work if you do it right. Like the most obvious strategy: "It's a dark and stormy night, and I'm running for my life from a hideous monster...and I bet you're wondering how I got here. Well, here's how it started..."
Obviously, don't actually write something that cheesy (or that short...). ^^; The point is to start from a suspenseful part, 'flash back' to the beginning of the story, and then write normally until you actually get there.

Or if this is a story where characters can have dreams or visions of the future, start with one of those. Foreshadow future events and characters...have fun with it~

[emanon]

as a reader, suspense and the dynamics between the characters are what interest me into learning more about the story. especially the character dynamics!! they're going to be what drive the story so personally, establishing their relationships and how they interact with each other in the first chapter are probably what i'd focus on first.

you'd find that it works across most genres, especially in one like yours where (i'm assuming) is more psychological and emotional in nature.

if you can also squeeze in the core idea of the main conflict/theme within the first chapter, only enough to give a preview of how the narrative will flow, it'll also probably lure in more people to take interest!

[vapidink]

As a writer and reader, I want to have a quick intro to the characters that shows me who they are without being heavy on exposition. I'd also like to see things kick off--not the core conflict, that's something to be introduced later, but I want to see things moving in some way. Writing a first chapter is actually a lot like writing the first act of a movie, you need to introduce the characters, set up the world/settings/situation your character(s) are currently living in, and throw in the "call to action". By the end of the chapter, there should be some event that changes things for your character. The reader should want to keep going to find out what the consequences will be. They should have questions and a grasp of or connection to your character that makes them care about the answer.

Personally, I don't want to read a preview in the first chapter. It makes the second chapter, which should be the actual beginning, feel anticlimactic as it will most likely be a slower introduction to your characters. The shift in tone and the gimmicky feel of it is enough to throw me off. Your story should build up the tension as it progresses and the plot and core conflict unravels.

[Mallory]

Writing that flows and characters that catch me. I always read the blurb first so I'm fine if the world or plot details get fleshed out later - and I'm willing to compromise a bit on the "flow"; but if the characters don't grab me - I won't read further.