Prism Book Group discussion

Which do you find more challenging, writing a book's first chapter or the last?

The last.

The first - if you can't hook the reader in the first chapter, maybe even less than that, you might lose them, especially in the adventure/suspense genres.

Good question, Carlene! That first chapter is all so important--a challenge for many authors, I think. It's all about hooking the reader, NOT about character and story set-up. If your first chapter is about exploring character traits or their history and arranging for something big to happen in the plot during chapter two or three...well, you have some cutting to do! Start with the story. Then blend everything else in. But sometimes, this is easier said then done...why is it so tempting to start somewhere slow?

Amen! I often find I write 3-4 chapters then realize Chapter 1 has to yield to the "delete" button.

I've done that before. LOL