Is your first chapter losing readers?

Your opening chapter has one main job: to make the reader want to keep reading. But many writers accidentally slow their story down before it has even started.

We’ll talk about why you might be starting your story too early, how too much backstory or worldbuilding can kill curiosity, why your protagonist needs to be active, how to create emotional stakes, and why the end of chapter one needs a turn that pulls the reader into chapter two.

If you are writing a novel, revising your first chapter, editing your manuscript, or preparing to self-publish your book, this video will help you make your opening stronger and more engaging.

In this video, you’ll learn:

how to tell if your first chapter starts too early
why readers do not need all the backstory right away
how to make your protagonist more active
how to add emotional stakes to your opening scene
why every first chapter needs a turn
how to make chapter one promise the right kind of book

Video where I talk about Lisa Cron's book Story Genius https://youtu.be/ORAxSsXR26E?si=FgGd0mSHSX3g-7oP

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:35 Mistake 1: Starting too early

03:17 Mistake 2: Explaining instead of creating curiosity

05:11 Mistake 3: Passive protagonist

08:11 Mistake 4: No emotional reason to care

10:31 Mistake 5: No turn at the end

12:15 Bonus: The first chapter is a promise