Starting the Story Sooner: What It Means and Why It’s So Important
Hello, fellow fiction writers.
We’ve all been there—you hand your manuscript to a beta reader, and the first thing they say is, “It takes a while to get going.” Ouch.
Here’s the hard truth: readers these days are impatient. If your story doesn’t hook them fast, they’ll put the book down and scroll TikTok instead. That’s why starting your story sooner is one of the most important things you can do as a fiction writer.
But what does that actually mean? And how do you pull it off without chopping all the good stuff? Let’s break it down.
🎯 What “Starting the Story Sooner” Really Means
It doesn’t mean rushing. It doesn’t mean skipping all the setup. It means dropping readers into the action—the conflict, the tension, the reason your character’s life is about to change—without pages of throat-clearing first.
In plain terms: start as close to the story problem as possible.
✏️ A Tale of Two Openings
Opening 1 (Telling/Too Slow):
It was a beautiful spring morning. Jane woke up, brushed her teeth, picked out her clothes, and wondered if she’d have toast or cereal for breakfast. She thought about her school years and her best friend who moved away…
Are you yawning yet? Readers will be.
Opening 2 (Starting Sooner):
Jane ducked as the first bullet smashed through the kitchen window, scattering glass across her untouched toast. She’d only been awake ten minutes, and someone already wanted her dead.
Boom. We’ve met Jane. We’ve got tension. And we want to know what happens next.
🧠 Why It’s So ImportantModern readers have less patience. With so much competition for attention, you can’t afford three chapters of backstory before things get moving.It sets expectations. Your opening scene tells readers what kind of ride they’re in for—thriller, romance, horror, fantasy. If it’s too slow, they may misjudge your book’s tone.It hooks the right audience. Starting with action and conflict draws in the readers who’ll actually love your story.
👣 Personal Anecdote: My Own False Start
In one of my early drafts (long since buried in a drawer), my first chapter was twenty pages of my protagonist walking around a small town, saying hi to neighbours, and reflecting on how bored he was. My critique partner looked at me and said: “You know the story doesn’t actually start until Chapter 3, right?”
I cut the first two chapters, started where the conflict hit, and suddenly the book came alive. Painful, yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
🚀 How to Start the Story Sooner
Here are a few practical tricks you can use in your own writing:Ask yourself: What’s the first moment of change? That’s probably where your story should begin.Cut the warm-up. Most drafts start with the author easing in. That’s fine—just trim it later.Drop backstory in later. You don’t need your character’s entire life history up front. Weave it in when it becomes relevant.Hook with conflict or curiosity. It doesn’t have to be a car chase—an overheard secret, a missed train, or a strange visitor can do the job.Start in motion. A character making choices, reacting to something, or stepping into new territory is always more engaging than one just waking up.
📝 Quick Before-and-After Example
Before (Too Slow):
Mark stared out the window, thinking about his dull job and the argument he had last week with his boss. He sighed, wondering if life would ever change.
After (Starting Sooner):
Mark’s boss fired him before lunch. By dinner, he’d stolen the company car and was halfway to Mexico.
See how much more promise the second one has?
🎬 Wrapping It Up
Starting your story sooner doesn’t mean cutting all setup—it means giving readers what they came for: conflict, tension, and change. If you hook them quickly, they’ll happily follow you anywhere, even through the slower, quieter scenes that come later.
Your turn: Have you ever chopped your first chapter (or two… or three) to get to the real story? Share your war stories in the comments—I promise, you’re not alone. I answer each comment personally.
We’ve all been there—you hand your manuscript to a beta reader, and the first thing they say is, “It takes a while to get going.” Ouch.
Here’s the hard truth: readers these days are impatient. If your story doesn’t hook them fast, they’ll put the book down and scroll TikTok instead. That’s why starting your story sooner is one of the most important things you can do as a fiction writer.
But what does that actually mean? And how do you pull it off without chopping all the good stuff? Let’s break it down.
🎯 What “Starting the Story Sooner” Really Means
It doesn’t mean rushing. It doesn’t mean skipping all the setup. It means dropping readers into the action—the conflict, the tension, the reason your character’s life is about to change—without pages of throat-clearing first.
In plain terms: start as close to the story problem as possible.
✏️ A Tale of Two Openings
Opening 1 (Telling/Too Slow):
It was a beautiful spring morning. Jane woke up, brushed her teeth, picked out her clothes, and wondered if she’d have toast or cereal for breakfast. She thought about her school years and her best friend who moved away…
Are you yawning yet? Readers will be.
Opening 2 (Starting Sooner):
Jane ducked as the first bullet smashed through the kitchen window, scattering glass across her untouched toast. She’d only been awake ten minutes, and someone already wanted her dead.
Boom. We’ve met Jane. We’ve got tension. And we want to know what happens next.
🧠 Why It’s So ImportantModern readers have less patience. With so much competition for attention, you can’t afford three chapters of backstory before things get moving.It sets expectations. Your opening scene tells readers what kind of ride they’re in for—thriller, romance, horror, fantasy. If it’s too slow, they may misjudge your book’s tone.It hooks the right audience. Starting with action and conflict draws in the readers who’ll actually love your story.
👣 Personal Anecdote: My Own False Start
In one of my early drafts (long since buried in a drawer), my first chapter was twenty pages of my protagonist walking around a small town, saying hi to neighbours, and reflecting on how bored he was. My critique partner looked at me and said: “You know the story doesn’t actually start until Chapter 3, right?”
I cut the first two chapters, started where the conflict hit, and suddenly the book came alive. Painful, yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
🚀 How to Start the Story Sooner
Here are a few practical tricks you can use in your own writing:Ask yourself: What’s the first moment of change? That’s probably where your story should begin.Cut the warm-up. Most drafts start with the author easing in. That’s fine—just trim it later.Drop backstory in later. You don’t need your character’s entire life history up front. Weave it in when it becomes relevant.Hook with conflict or curiosity. It doesn’t have to be a car chase—an overheard secret, a missed train, or a strange visitor can do the job.Start in motion. A character making choices, reacting to something, or stepping into new territory is always more engaging than one just waking up.
📝 Quick Before-and-After Example
Before (Too Slow):
Mark stared out the window, thinking about his dull job and the argument he had last week with his boss. He sighed, wondering if life would ever change.
After (Starting Sooner):
Mark’s boss fired him before lunch. By dinner, he’d stolen the company car and was halfway to Mexico.
See how much more promise the second one has?
🎬 Wrapping It Up
Starting your story sooner doesn’t mean cutting all setup—it means giving readers what they came for: conflict, tension, and change. If you hook them quickly, they’ll happily follow you anywhere, even through the slower, quieter scenes that come later.
Your turn: Have you ever chopped your first chapter (or two… or three) to get to the real story? Share your war stories in the comments—I promise, you’re not alone. I answer each comment personally.
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