Where to start a novel/webcomic

[Seaby]

Every work needs a starting point, but I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what that should be.
I have the entire plot planned out, have written thousands of words of scattered scenes, already started and stopped several times in several different places because it all seemed wrong. Some books or comics begin during the 'inciting incident' because it hooks readers, but sometimes that doesn't work out. Is a slow start preferred, or do readers want to jump right in to the drama/action?

Basically, tell me how you started your novel/comic and why you felt that was the right choice, or if you have any regrets looking back.

[tchotchkeco]

It depends on what type of story you want to present. Mine starts off with my MC entering a new city by train. In the background we are introduced to a futuristic environment and social issues to give the reader an idea of the world. My MC then enters the streets to quickly be greeted by a riot. This introduces a combat scene.

I basically started chill to get an idea of the world and MC. Then I jumped right into action because there is going to be a bit of combat going on throughout the series. So I wanted to make sure the reader knows why they're getting into. All this happens around the first 20 pages.

For the most part I like my pacing and don’t regret it. My story has a lot going on. So a slowler pacing is needed for mine to not overwhelm the reader with the lore.

[VibrantFox]

My current set of comics are primarily slice of life but the one with a sort of "chronology" has a slow start introducing the base cast then moving towards the development of their stories and character

As for some other in development stories of mine, there a bit more varied. One starts with a dream/nightmare sequence which serves as the attention grabber with a bit of action and tension. Another has a similar setup introducing the main character with a rising tension scene establishing some basic details on the who and where. Then on the other hand I have a set of stories with more casual/calm opening scenes.

Personally I think choosing the start depends on how you want to set the tone initially or overall. Sometimes jumping right into the action works because it can quickly introduce the main conflict of a story and can quickly grab attention but it's also got to be good at introducing key characters who are relevant to the plot. Then there's the mater of the story's time line. Is that conflict at the very start and then the story progresses forward or will it flash back to the events that led up to it then progress normally.

There's no way of knowing what's guaranteed to grab the attention of your audience but so long as things flow well and can be followed without to much issue then people will stick around.

[Tanako]

I think it's interesting when people ask this question. it's not a bad question to ask it shows that you are willing to do what it takes to dive in but honestly, there is no Right or wrong and there is no particular order in where to start because it all depends on how you want to tell that story.

with my own comic. it started with an idea. my idea was to write a story about a obese guy who never found love growing up untill he met his partner. that was ALL i had and i dived right into it.

not saying you should do it this way, but it is important to "TAKE A DIVE", if you keep pondering, "where do i start", "how do i go about this", "is this the right way" you will "NEVER", get anything accomplished and you will never start.

when you make the decision to start, and you actually start creating scenes and panels and drawing your characters, you will learn what works for you in the process.

so my dear, START. dosen't matter if you start in the beginning or end or tell it backwards. just start and then, you will know what you want and how you want it.

sorry for long message. i hope this helps.

[ivanskilling]

The starting is always the most difficult! In the end, where you start really depends on the story itself. Sometimes jumping into the action works, sometimes it doesn't. If you're stuck, maybe you could get a beta-reader (or multiple beta-readers) to read different versions of the beginning and ask which ones they prefer?

For me, my novel is set in ancient China. So I wanted to set the tone by starting out in the Forbidden City and introduce the main villain as he sits on the throne as a stand-in replacement for the missing Empress Dowager. By the end of the scene, it's shown that he intends to assassinate the kidnapped Empress, which gives people a sense of foreboding and urgency. So that's the hook for readers. In the immediate next scene, it shows the Empress Dowager strung up in the enemy camp which eventually leads up to some action.

I hope this helps somewhat!

[IndigoShirtProd]

a good place to start is the beginning. If you have multiple scattered scenes, It might be a good idea to figure out which scenes can't happen before the other scenes. Once you have a loose thread of scenes in some form of order then you can figure out the inciting incident: What moment/scene puts your story into motion. From there, you can write the precursor to the inciting incident: The calm before the storm. What was the status quo, whether in the world or between your characters, before the inciting incident occurred. Showing this allows the readers to understand how much of change this creates in the characters or in the world. Change leads to conflict, which will in form the plot of the remainder of your story.

Now it's always good t have a beginning, but it's not always necessary. If your going the more episodic route, starting in the middle of the story isn't that jarring. Really just giving readers a brief flashback to why the story started(inciting incident) its all that's needed and even then, you don't have to write it. If the start of the story is supposed to be a long running mystery or purposely vague to push the themes of the plot, have a beginning should be a big source of stress. It really just depends on how you want your story to go.

[CodeMonkeyArts]

The beginning of novel started into an immediate action scene. It followed a minor character who ended up meeting the MCs...and died. Then the POV shifted.

I kinda wanted that action film/comic feel to my novel, thus I opened it the way I did. It doesn't reveal too much about the actual plot, but it let me show that my story has some scary characters and a fair amount of gore and violence that I don't shy away from. I may start another novel very differently depending on the tone I decide to take.

[yansusu]

I think this is a matter of preference. As a reader, I've always loved books that didn't 'waste' time with explaining anything to me. Heck, my favorite novel series starts off with the heroine looking at an article about her own death (Karen Chance, anyone?) without the reader being told who she is and what is happening. That's the kind of beginning I love the most where I slowly piece things together myself (and I honestly feel that Karen Chance is still doing a lot of exposition even though she spread it over the whole first volume).

Now, as an author, I'm going a similar way and just throw the reader right in. I even have some beginnings at odd places. E.g. one of my BL novels starts off with a woman who will only appear in a few chapters throughout the series but it kind of was the incident that made the story possible.
Sometimes that doesn't work too well though. In another series, I also started off at a scene were things had already been set in motion but, apparently, readers misunderstood and rage quit on me So for the revision, I went back and added a few chapters in the beginning so that it would be easier to understand. There is still a lot of backstory that isn't explained and only hinted at though.

[jdlareva]

I've done a comic from a script, so essentially just doing rough character designs and figuring out the environment works for that. I feel like this is the easiest way to get started. However, I personally can't seem to have the patience to write everything out before starting. I have a more go with the flow, let the characters drive the story mentality.

I have a fantasy-ish adventure novel with a giant world and huge cast of characters that I've been rolling around in my head for the past 5 years. I drew the first issue last year but I have put it slightly on the backburner to keep fleshing out the story.

My current comic I am working on, Zombie Wife, started with a storyboard that I sent around to a few other artists who I respected. I then was able to take the feedback and craft it so that it both flowed better and made sense.

My philosophy of comics is that you have to hook the reader with something. I always want my comics to get straight to the point. I've read a lot of comics in my day and they require a huge investment, so I usually judge a piece within the first chapter to see if I want to invest my time into it.

[Fascher]

I think it depends on what genre you're doing but overall I try to make my beginnings easy to read. Like no walls of text on world-building, mental energy or memorisation required. Which works with both action and slow starts. Usually if I have to explain something immediately (eg. in a short story/comic) I try to do it in the simplest wording possible and then expand more on it later.

Grounding the reader helps a lot as well. Not as in explaining the whole world, just making sure the starting scene is a simple situation that anyone can quickly understand at a glance. Favourite example is a show that starts episode 1 with the main character held at gunpoint. Sweet, I now have a basic understanding of the situation. Like that.
...
Not that I don't sometimes enjoy long prologues floating through space monologuing about the legend that happened 500 years ago but I personally prefer stories that start with a character doing something.

[joannekwan]

Definitely depends on the genre, but most of my stories are slow-paced slice-of-lifes so I always generally start with the characters interacting or if they're by themselves, showing some scene that gives insight to their personality with a bit about their background.

For my mystery/drama/horror though I started with a scene showing the protagonist doing something odd, which later gets explained. It all unfolds as part of a multi-layered mystery.

I did rewrite one beginning scene though. For my webnovel I initially had my protagonist wake up in bed and start her day, but how many other stories begin like that? A shit ton LOL. So I rewrote it and started the scene with her already cooking breakfast.

[CodeMonkeyArts]

I did rewrite one beginning scene though. For my webnovel I initially had my protagonist wake up in bed and start her day, but how many other stories begin like that? A shit ton LOL. So I rewrote it and started the scene with her already cooking breakfast.

I have a few chapters where the MC starts off her day waking up...but only early chapters! Not my starting chapter either. No that started with somebody being splattered onto the ground.

God that was fun to write.

[BlueWorldComics]

From the beginning.

Sounds too simple, I know, that's kinda the point.

Prologues are great, I use them. You can start a prologue from the middle of an exciting event to hook the readers in. But once there, the story should start for the readers where it does for the characters.

[dan]

When I first started my comic, I started with an overly verbose internal monologue:

The Demon Archives :: Chapter 1: Pages 1 - 5 | Tapas

I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. I ended up adding a prologue ahead of it that better set both the visual and storytelling expectations of the story better. You often only have a few pages to hook the audience by putting your best foot forward and showing what they can expect from their investment into your work.

This ended up being a much better hook for me:

The Demon Archives :: Chapter 0: Page 2 - Bye Bye, Dubai | Tapas

If you more mean from a pure writing perspective how to get the story rolling, I'd recommend starting with your protagonist doing something active and interesting. You don't have to start with an introductory prologue to the world, you can just start with them mid action. You can start with a fantasy/space cop chasing a subject without having to establish the whole world and creation myth ahead of time. Generally within the first chapter you should be alluding to the main plot, with your protagonists discovering/reacting to it.

[arisakawa]

i have the same problem long ago.. the solution is always the same. JUST DO IT!!
it's ok if it's not perfect. we all have time to fix things up. and usually i'm realizing more of my mistakes when i decided to post my comic on the internet, rather than sitting for hours trying to perfect it. responses and critiques from readers also can help a lot. i hope you're posting your comic soon!
just do your best