: Re: Opening chapter foreshadowing or not? In my story, a homicide takes place. I want to describe this homicide at the start of the story, through the eyes of the victim, to foreshadow what's about
You don't have to put the homicide into Chapter 1, but you might want to. While this approach is a well-worn cliche of police procedurals, especially series (in which the protagonist is known in advance), it is nevertheless an excellent way to lead into introducing the protagonist:
An injustice has been done. The world cries out for a hero.
Then you go on describing the hero's daily life, dropping breadcrumbs and red herrings to lead him/her to the main conflict.
The advantages:
Leading with intriguing events can help grab and maintain readers' attention.
Readers will be spotting the breadcrumbs and feeling clever.
Dramatic irony -- the hero makes an observation the reader already knows is wrong, misses one of the chances to get involved -- works on the first readthrough.
Readers are instantly invested in the hero because they want someone to set things right.
The pitfalls:
The initial sequence must matter in the larger scope, which can potentially make you show your hand too early.
Some readers may grow impatient with the pace of the story because they know where it's going and would rather it got there already.
Some readers may feel cheated that the first point-of-view character gets killed for "cheap thrills".
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