How to Write the Beginning

Beginnings can be brutal, both in life and on the page.

Have you ever read a story that took FOREVER to get to the turning point for the protagonist, dragging you through murky prose and making you wonder how a story could be any more boring?

I certainly have (and I may or may not have written a few!).

Good editing sets the tone for an enjoyable read, and that is why it's important to effectively edit the beginning of your testimony. It's also important to keep in mind that the beginning is the perfect opportunity to foreshadow, giving your readers a taste of what's to come and keeping them engaged.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• The first sentence can either make or break your story.

As easy as it would be to break out "It was a dark and stormy night," God has given us a whole myriad of words to use to set the stage for the beginning of our stories. How you share your journey should reflect the person He's made you to be. Are you often humorous? Serious? Reflective? Be sure to use language you'd typically use. After all, this story is yours and nobody else's.

• When in doubt, say more with less.

I, for one, can often get carried away with trying to say "all the things." This is where good editing comes in. I've found that getting to the point in fewer words (while still keeping my reader engaged and entertained) is always the best option. Unfortunately, nowadays, attention spans are short, so inviting your reader in from the get-go is key. Think about Scripture here. Genesis 1 begins with, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth." Talk about attention-grabbing! Think about how you can start your story in a similar fashion.

• On that note, remember the words of William Faulkner.

To help with the "say more with less" aspect of writing your introduction, remembering William Faulkner's famous quote might come in handy here. He's reported to have said, "Kill your darlings," meaning we, as writers, should be willing to remove any aspect of our writing that impedes the flow and readability of our work, no matter how precious those words are to us. It's a bit of a sacrifice, but one that's well worth it when we end up with a testimony that people truly connect with.

Move on to the next lesson to hear some of my thoughts on writing the beginning of your story.