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GREAT BEGINNINGS
The beginning of your story is the most important part. In the first few pages, paragraphs,
and sentences, an editor will get a general idea about the rest of your manuscript
and make a decision as to whether or not she will continue reading. If the first
pages don’t knock your socks off, chances are they won’t impress an agent or editor
either. Re-
Don’t make the mistake of starting off with a dream sequence, someone waking up late, or an alarm clock buzzing/playing a radio station that provides important information. It’s not clever, innovative, poignant, or unique. Also, don’t use dialogue as the first sentence. It leaves you wondering who’s speaking and to whom. Readers don’t want to begin a story in confusion, learn what everything meant, And then mentally backtrack to put it into perspective. It doesn’t work. Any of these mistakes can result in your manuscript being stabbed repeatedly, stuffed into a scarecrow made in your likeness, and then set aflame as you are burned in effigy. Just don’t do it.
Make sure you include plenty of dialogue.