: Content follows directly from the function. The function is to hook the reader to the story. So the content should be to introduce what is appealing about your story. To give a good first

@Cooney417

Vote Up Vote Down

Content follows directly from the function. The function is to hook the reader to the story. So the content should be to introduce what is appealing about your story. To give a good first impression of the story.

So if your story appeals by its setting, introduce it. If it is a matter of being funny open with something funny. If it is a matter of style, highlight the style. And so on.

Generally you want the opening to highlight as many appealing aspects as you can. But as mentioned by others the opening is also a promise to the reader, so it should not contain things you cannot deliver. If your story is dark, do not make the opening light unless the story actually consistently delivers light moments in the gloom.

The question then comes : What do these things naturally link to? What naturally highlights them?

In the appeal comes from fast paced action, you need an action sequence as an opener. If it is the funny interactions and dialogue of the characters, you need to open with them interacting. If the story is about how unlucky the main characters is and how he deals with it, opener is about him being unlucky and failing in something. Which then leads to the main story.

So yeah, the content really can be anything you want. But not all content is equally good. Evaluate based on how it highlights the appeal points of the story and also on how it leads to the main story.

Sorry for not having a good clear answer but hopefully this helps at all.

(0)

Login to post a comment!