Start a story by knowing who your main character is at the opening and what they want. Then open at the moment pressure on that want begins, with a concrete action, image or line of dialogue rather than backstory. That is the core of it. This guide turns that into seven steps you can finish in about an hour, at beginner level, with nothing more than a notebook.
What you’ll need
Keep the kit small. Too much preparation becomes its own excuse.
- A notebook or a blank document. Paper works perfectly well.
- One idea. A single image, situation or question is enough to begin.
- A named main character. A name makes them real enough to write about.
- Thirty minutes of uninterrupted time for the drafting steps, plus planning time, about an hour in total.
- Optional: the free First-Novel Finisher’s Kit. It includes a one-page plan, a chapter-planning grid, a seven-plots cheat sheet and a series of emails, and it needs only pen and paper.
If you want the bigger picture first, our guide on how to write a book step by step sets this opening inside the full journey.
Next step: put the notebook on the desk and write your character’s name at the top of a page.
Before you start
Make three decisions now: point of view, tense, and whether this is a short story or a novel. Changing point of view or tense after several chapters means rewriting every line. The form matters too. The National Centre for Writing describes the short story as a distinct form with its own characteristics, not a tiny novel, so it demands different choices from the first page.
Next step: write “first or third person, past or present, short story or novel” in your notebook and circle one of each.
Step-by-step: how to start a story
Work through these in order. Each step has a check so you know it is done.
1. Write down your character’s starting position and goal
Write two separate lines. First, the internal starting position: what your character believes, fears or lacks when the story opens. Second, the external goal: the concrete thing they want in the world. Keep them apart. A character who believes she is unlovable (internal) and wants to win back the family bakery (external) gives you two engines, not one.
On paper, two labelled lines do the same job, and the kit’s one-page plan gives you somewhere to put them. If the idea of an arc is new, read what a character arc is before moving on.
Check: you have two lines, one about the inside and one about the outside, and neither repeats the other.
2. Pick the moment things first change
Find the first moment pressure lands on the external goal. The letter arrives. The bakery goes up for sale. A stranger knocks. That moment is your opening, not the years before it. Many novelists find this point by sketching rough structure; see novel story structure for planning your first book if you want a frame for it.
Check: you can finish the sentence “My story opens when…” with a single event.
3. Choose an opening strategy
Pick one way in. Thoughtful Learning lists simple beginning strategies such as starting with action, dialogue or a question. Add a fourth: a vivid image. Writer’s Digest offers 25 ways to start a story, including an unmarked package left on a porch and a loud noise that startles someone awake, which shows how much a single concrete situation can carry.
| Strategy | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Drops the reader into movement | She was already running when the gate slammed. |
| Dialogue | Creates voice and conflict at once | “You sold it? Without asking me?” |
| Question | Plants curiosity | Why had nobody touched the bakery key in ten years? |
| Image | Fixes place and mood | Flour still lay on the counter like snow. |
Check: you have written the name of one strategy next to your opening event.
4. Write three versions of the first line
Do not hunt for the perfect line. Write three, fast, using your chosen strategy or a mix. Then pick the one that sits closest to the pressure moment. The other two are not wasted; one may become your second paragraph.
Check: three lines are on the page and one has a tick next to it.
5. Ground the reader in the first page
In the next few paragraphs, answer three questions without lectures: who is here, where are they, and what do they want right now. Use small physical details. Hold backstory back; a line or two at most. Some writers plant a detail early that pays off much later, which is a good reason to choose details on purpose. For scene-level planning, our guide to story writing structure for beginners helps.
Check: a friend reading only page one could name the character, the place and the want.
6. Check the opening against your character’s arc
Go back to the two lines from step 1. Does the first page show the internal starting position, even in a gesture? Does it put pressure on the external goal? If either is missing, add one concrete moment that shows it. This is the logic behind ClearARC‘s arc tracker, which plots a character’s internal shift alongside external plot points. On paper, draw two rows across a page and mark where your opening sits on each. For a reusable version, see how to build a character arc template.
Check: you can point to one sentence for the internal position and one for the external pressure.
7. Keep going and fix it later
Stop polishing. Write the next page. Writers & Artists advises stepping away if too many how-tos kill your enjoyment, then putting on your critical hat in the rewrites and edits. Openings are often rewritten once the ending is known, so a rough one is fine today. Our list of first novel tips to finish your book keeps that momentum going.
Check: page two exists, however rough.
Troubleshooting
Starting is a common sticking point; writers regularly ask forums such as Reddit’s r/writing for tips on beginning a story. Here are the usual problems.
- Symptom: the page stays blank. Cause: no clear event to start on. Fix: return to step 2 and name one moment of change. Writers & Artists also suggests starting at the end or the climax and working back. Our guide to overcoming writer’s block has more.
- Symptom: the first page is all history. Cause: you are explaining the world before anything happens. Fix: cut to the first line of action and keep only two lines of backstory.
- Symptom: the opening has nothing to do with the plot. Cause: it was written before the goal was clear. Fix: redo step 1, then rewrite the scene so it pressures the goal. Some writers deliberately plant an early detail that pays off chapters later; that works only when you mean it.
- Symptom: you cannot write the first line. Cause: you want it perfect. Fix: write three bad lines in two minutes and keep the least bad.
- Symptom: enthusiasm drains after a page. Cause: too many rules at once. Fix: step away, then come back and read how to finish your novel when you feel like quitting.
Next step: pick the symptom closest to yours and apply its fix today.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the key to good storytelling?
A character who wants something, and pressure that gets in the way. Most strong stories rest on that. Show it through concrete action and detail rather than explanation, and let the reader work some things out.
How long should a short story be?
As long as the story needs and no longer. Short fiction relies on concision, so every detail should earn its place. Competitions and magazines set their own word limits, so check each one’s guidelines before submitting.
How do I edit my own work?
Finish the draft first, then rest it. Read it aloud, cut what repeats, and check each scene serves the character’s goal. Edit in separate passes: structure first, then scenes, then sentences. Feedback from a writing group helps.
What is the 90/10 rule for authors?
It is an informal saying, used differently by different writers, rather than a fixed rule. A common reading is that most of the work is drafting and revising, with polish a small final share. Treat it loosely.
Should I write the first line first?
Not necessarily. Many writers draft a rough opening, finish the story, then rewrite the first line once they know the ending. Write a placeholder line in the spirit of your strategy and move on.
Should I plan before I start?
Plan just enough to keep moving: your character’s starting position, their goal and the opening event. That fits on one page. Some writers plan far more, others far less; see which suits you and adjust.
Conclusion
The sequence is simple. Write the character’s internal starting position and external goal, pick the moment of change, choose a strategy, draft three first lines, ground the reader, check the opening against the arc, and keep going. Pen and paper are enough. If you want those steps in one place, ClearARC is a no AI app to plan, plot, write and publish a book. It is a tool, not a writing teacher. It costs £8 a month, with a 30-day trial set up through PayPal that you can cancel directly with PayPal. Either way, write page two today.