Sweating and fretting over the beginnings of a novel, getting it right is always tricky
So much rests on those first few lines of a novel, that first paragraph, that first page even. The reader selects the book from the book shop or library shelf, reads the blurb on the back, opens the book and reads the first page. Even if you are buying on line you might be able to read the first few pages with Amazon's search inside facility. Are you hooked? Are you thinking this sounds like my kind of book, or do you replace it on the shelf? You might give it the benefit of the doubt and find the novel starts well and then disappoints you. That's not necessarily because it's badly written, but it's just not your cup of tea. I've done this myself many times. As a writer I am acutely aware of this and as a writer I sweat and fret over beginnings, as I know many writers do. The beginning of my novels when published are never the same as those of the first draft. And I'm conscious when revising of the sound advice given by o...