Top 10 ingredients for a great novel opening

We asked the current Curtis Brown Creative Novel-Writing course students what they think makes a great opening to a novel.

Here are their top 10 ingredients – or in some cases, points to avoid! How many of these feature in the opening to your novel?

1. Start fast.
2. Give the reader a character to care about.
3. Make something happen.
4. Cut that ‘something’ with conflict,
5. and / or jeopardy.
6. and / or a question.
7. Go easy on landscape,
8. and weather,
9. and avoid hangovers.
10. Voice!

If you want to write a novel and are looking for help with the basics, our Starting To Write Your Novel 6-week online course will help you plan your story, work out your plot and get started with the writing. creative writing courses.