An Exercise for Better Beginnings

by Bryan Patrick Avery

In month two of our stay-at-home period, I’ve found myself with a bit of extra time to focus on my art. With respect to magic, I’ve been working on a new cups and balls routine that I plan to perform at my upcoming author appearances (once it’s safe to be out and around again). In the world of writing, I’ve working (struggling, really) with the beginning of my latest chapter book. 
I’ve spent the time reading the opening chapters of my favorite chapter books to see what they have in common, or what stands out. In doing so, I’ve made notes about the first chapter and have created a little exercise I’d like to share with you. I’m working on a chapter book so I used my favorite chapter books but this exercise with work with the first three or four pages of a picture book or the first chapter of a novel.
Grab your favorite two or three (or five or ten) books off your bookshelf. Read the first chapter of the first book on your stack. Now, answer these two questions:

1. What is my main character doing?
2. What happens that impacts my character?

Here’s an example:

The Absent Author by Ron Roy

1. What is my main character doing? Dink is rushing to the bookstore with his friends to meet his favorite author.
   
2. What happens that impacts my character? When Dink arrives at the bookstore, he discovers that the author hasn’t shown up.
   

Notice the simplicity of the chapter. Even though a lot happens in the chapter (Dink begs his friend Josh to come with him, Dink shows Josh his collection of books, Dink and Josh stop at Ruth Rose’s house to pick her up, etc.) there is, essentially one main action: the kids are going to the bookstore.
The same is true with what happens to impact the character. It’s a simply thing, the author not showing up, but this simply occurrence drives the rest of the story.
Here are a couple more examples.

Ann Fights for Freedom by Nikki Shannon Smith

1. What is my main character doing? Ann, an enslaved black girl, is gathering with her family in their cabin after a long day.
   

What happens that impacts my character? A neighbor comes to tell Ann’s father that Ann and her brother are going to be sold.

The Magic Tree House #4 - Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne

1. What is my main character doing? Jack and Annie brave a rainstorm to visit the magic tree house in the woods behind their house.
   
2. What happens that impacts my character? The tree house transports them to a different place and time.
   

Ellie May on April Fool’s Day by Hillary Homzie

1. What is my main character doing? Ellie May is in class participating in morning sharing.
2. What happens that impacts my character? Ellie May’s teacher announces that the students can celebrate April Fool’s Day in class.

I would suggest doing this exercise on a regular basis. This will build up a library of beginnings that you can refer back to when you’re working on the start of your own stories. In my case, comparing the first chapter of my WIP, The Disappearing Book – an Amazing Micah Mystery, to the notes a took on other chapter books, I realized that my main character was doing too many things in the first chapter. It made it difficult to focus on what was really important. This is what the first chapter looked like originally:

1. What is my main character doing? Micah is at the library preparing for his monthly magic show. He takes a break to see a 150 year magic book that has just arrived at the library. A local newspaper photographer takes Micah’s picture with the book.
2. What happens that impacts my character? Just as Micah’s magic show begins, the fire alarm goes off.

Now, my first chapter looks like this:

1. What is my main character doing? Micah is racing to the library with his twin sister and best friend to see a 150-year magic book that was donated to the library.
2. What happens that impacts my character? Before Micah can see the book, the fire alarm goes off.

Reviewing my notes on other books helped me see what was wrong with mine. Simplifying the action in chapter 1 helped me get the story on track and make for a much stronger beginning. This exercise helped me. I hope it will help you too.
Well, that’s all for this month, stay safe, and have a magical month.

​At the ripe old age of 7, Bryan Patrick Avery discovered his destiny after receiving a children’s magic set and his first Bobbsey Twins Mystery book. A published poet and author, Bryan is African American, a member of SCBWI, and the Society of American Magicians. He delights in making mysterious stories appear out of thin air.