How to Write a Story that Sizzles

When you sit down to write a story take a moment. Think about the different ways that you could begin. Do you want to write paragraph upon paragraph describing the scenery or do you want to dive right into the action? Take those two scenarios and realistically answer the question," What would I personally want to read?"

Now go to your bookshelf and pick up three books that you actually picked up in the bookstore and flip open to the first page of each. What did these authors do? What was it about the first page of each of these stories that drew you in and made you shell out your hard earned cash? I am betting that it wasn't because you were fascinated by the giant elm tree in the character's front yard.

You must begin your story with something interesting. It could be some unusual action that your character is taking or it could be something that gives your reader a jolt of adrenaline right from the start or it could be something that your reader can immediately identify with from their own personal experience.

Here are some examples:

In Harry Potter, you have a boy living in a cubby hole in his aunts house. This is a bit unusual is it not. From the beginning you can tell that he does not have an ordinary home life and that there is something different about him. You can identify with and empathize with this boy and are immediately drawn in. The first page of the Sorcerer's Stone describes his relatives as being proud of being perfectly normal, the kind of people who would never be involved in anything strange or mysterious. Well, right there you know that something is bound to happen to disturb their safe little world. And of course you read on to find out what that is.

In the Twilight series, you have a narrative from the main character describing what she is personally going through. In the first book it is that she is leaving home to go live with her dad, in later books it is her fear for those that she loves and the need for self sacrifice. You get a glimpse into a teenagers mind with all of its natural and unnatural worries. Her narratives are dramatic and over the top, a typical teenager's angst and perfect for this target audience.

You must remember at all times who you are writing for. If you are writing for teens make sure that there is plenty of angst, drama and indecision. If you are writing for children, keep the story line simple and fun. And if you are writing for the intellectual give them little known facts that make them feel smarter, like Dan Brown does.

Once you know what your reader wants it is much easier to give it to them. Read the top books in that genre and you will have a much better clue of what will actually appeal to them and get your book from off the shelf to in their car headed home. And that is how to write a story that sizzles.