Why Your Opening Chapter Isn’t the Beginning of Your Story
One of the most persistent editing problems among new authors shows up in the same place every time:
Page one.
The author opens with careful scene setting, describing a city in loving detail; showing a character’s daily routine. He writes pages of background meant to orient the reader before anything “important” happens.
And by the time the story finally starts, the reader has already checked out.
This issue survives multiple drafts because it feels like the responsible approach. Writers believe they’re doing their job by explaining the world before asking the reader to engage with it. In reality, starting with setting slowly bleeds reader attention.
Because readers don’t need an orientation. They need a reason to care.
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