It's a weird thing I have where I can write once I have things going. But every 'new' chapter I always end up staring at the blank page. Any help on how to just start chapters? It doesn't matter if I am 50K into a story- beginnings of chapters are rough and I need some help. I have thought maybe copy and pasting the last paragraph from the previous chapter would help, but that doesn't always work. Help please? Thanks. P.s. This is the 1000th thread in this section.
This was a problem that plagued me for a long time. You struggle to start but then once you do, everything is easier, and you roll down the creative hill (if things work out). I think this is called "getting in the zone". So, you're not weird! Everyone experiences it to some degree. That's why there is a phrase for it. But I do believe that it was especially hard for me to get in the zone for various reasons that don't really matter. Maybe that's the case for you too. The way I partially solved this was using planning. Planning helps (the Snowflake Method specifically) because I can look at my plan and build up some excitement for the story to help me get started. I'd say that this reduced the "getting started" dread greatly. Planning is not for everyone. It wasn't for me either but I just couldn't deal with this problem, so I explored it for a few months and quickly saw a lot of benefit. I still don't like it all that much but massive benefits are massive benefits. Here is another thing I do that doesn't require planning (and might even help pantsers). It's based on the same principle of looking at something to help get you in the zone. When you're in the zone and just finished a chapter, don't stop writing yet! Use that fire in your belly and write the first couple of paragraphs to the next chapter. The next time you start a writing session and you aren't in the zone yet, looking at those first couple of paragraphs will help get started. And since you wrote them while previously in the zone, there is a good chance they are inspirational enough for that to work. You write better while in the zone. It's like your mind opens up. You did say that you kind of do this, but with previous chapter material, which just might not be as effective. None of these are perfect solutions and I still get pretty stuck sometimes but they do help. At least they help me. They might not help you as much. Good luck! You'll figure this out with enough effort.
I agree, this is something I also struggled with for a while. I agree with ps102. I also use the snowflake method to outline my stories. It doesn't tell you how to start a chapter, but what it does do is help you figure out (in general terms) what the chapter should achieve - and the chapter start grows out of that. Here's an example ... I'll use the classic story of Hercules's 12 Labors, and write a quick chapter summary for chapter 1. Setup: In a fit of madness, Hercules has just slaughtered his entire family. He is horror-stricken at what he had done, and vows to make amends by volunteering his services to the nearest king, and clearing out monsters plaguing the kingdom. 1. goal: Redemption. Hercules wants to redeem himself. He approaches a priest and asks to be purified. Conflict: The priest is horrified. I cannot help you, my child! You have gone against the gods! Setback: By killing his family, Hercules has made himself anathema. Unclean. No-one will help him. reaction: Hercules is frustrated. He's trying to do the right thing, but no-one wants to help! Dilemma: How can he move forward? By persuasion? Intimidation? Bribery (e.g. food)? What does the priest want? Decision: He intimidates the priest. Help me, or I will squash you! (Obviously, he hasn't yet learned that he can't intimidate everyone). The king learns of this troublemaker, and sends his soldiers to escort Hercules to the palace. (This leads on to the chapter 2 goal. Hercules is a Big Damn Hero, he isn't keen on being escorted by soldiers. But he's smart enough to understand that if he wants redemption, his best bet is to cooperate for now). So ... one method I used to start a chapter was an instinctive "pan-in", i.e. from the big world (weather, sun, buildings) to the MC and his/her surrounds (people, kids, dogs, whatever). But instead of telling (e.g. "The sun shone on Hercules" etc.), I showed (e.g. "Hercules wiped the sweat off his brow"). In other words, how does this big wide world make your MC feel? What does he/she think about it? (This damnable heat! He'd be glad when he got to the temple and spoken to the priest), etc. Another method is to start a chapter with conflict. So, the last chapter ended with Hercules kills his entire family ... and the neighbors aren't pleased. Mutter, mutter. MUTTER, mutter. Unclean! Get away from here! We don't want you as our neighbor! So the new chapter starts with him yelling at them to shut up, he knows he did wrong, and he will do his best before the gods to be redeemed. That satisfies them -- all except old Adamantios, the neighborhood grump. He's never satisfied. He starts neighborhood gossip. I saw him drinking last night. He's a drunk and a wife beater. No wonder he did all this, blah, blah, blah. I hope this helps you!
I've found unresolved tension in dilemmas help the end of a chapter to carry over into the next chapter. It doesn't have to be as obvious as splitting up a scene with a revelation like a commercial break in a soap opera. But it could be a tone. In my WIP my mc, a director, is all set to visit an estranged young actor he worked with only to discover someone beat him to it. Here is how I split up the chapters - By not quite resolving the issue I can carry on the momentum, and with technique by not showing all or telling all I can delay it to continue into the next Chapter creating tension and curiosity.
I totally agree with what you said. Momentum does carry a scene into a next chapter, but for some reason, when I split it up like that, my mind goes blank. Because I think I am trying to craft a perfect opening line for the next chapter. So, I've started just continuing chapters and splitting them later. Which might be my solution, but it's weird what a blank page does to my head.
