My first beta reader was kind enough to admit that my novel has a slow beginning. In truth, this came as a big shock. I share several of her other concerns, but don’t know what to do about them. But I had reworked and fine-tuned the beginning far more than the rest of the book. As a debut novelist, the last thing I want for my book is a slow start. Also, the beginning plays a crucial role in the query process. Consequently, I had worked on the first chapter until I was convinced it took off like a rocket, too quickly if anything.
I was attached to this first chapter because — as the last of several potential first chapters — it was the first to grow into a full-length first draft. If I was wrong about it, I could be wrong about everything that followed. I took several deep breaths. The beta reader’s suggestion was to start in the middle of the second chapter and to include the essential information that was cut exactly where it was needed. That is reasonable.
The takeaway was that my story did take off in the second chapter. If the first chapter is just for me, I can keep it in a scrapbook. Readers are hard to come by. No point in putting them off. And this was just one of several invaluable suggestions. What a fool I would be to press on without taking advantage of her feedback. And yet, that is just what I have done for a lot of my life. Any thoughts?
(first published on 27 Sept 22)
