I don’t think that someone created a thread about this before…
So what’s the worst way to start a story?
What would make you stop reading after one chapter, scene, sentence or maybe even one word?
“Once upon a time”
An author introduction/apology their first episode or grammar isn’t that good, sorry but then I’m out. Haha, besides that I think a lot of things can work, it just really depends on the further story.
Also it has to catch my attention or I’ll lose focus
Author walks on screen with a black background…
Author: Hi! My name is _______, and this is my first story. I hope you like it. The first chapters are a little bit slow, but it gets better after the third chapter…
-or-
Hi, my name is bella and i’m 18 years old. i live with my mom. this is my mom. she’s nice sometimes but she can be really strict. i’ve never met my dad. he walked out on us when i was a baby. i have a sister named emma, and she’s a spoiled brat.
And if it’s a traditional novel, I seriously can’t stand it when the author takes ten pages just to describe some building. Who cares about that?
With lengthy author introduction, explaining that first chapters are horrible, and grammar sucks but give my story a chance.
I did something similar to this in my story… Thankfully I never published it
Same
When author walks and apologises for bad grammar, I mean I understand that English isn’t your native language, neither is mine, but you can always have a proofreader or ask someone to check your grammar.
Or when at the begging author says how the 1st episode isn’t that good and how it’s gonna be short but other episodes will be better.
I hate the one where it’s a 15 minute introduction of everyone who’s going to be in the story!
I prefer to get to know the characters as I go along the story, since it’s usually more interesting that way =)
Describing the MC in full detail
Exposition
Too much description in general
Author enters screen center
Author (talking_animation)
Hi, my name is insert author name here and I’m the author of this story. This is my first ever story so I hope you enjoy. Author continues to give a biography of their life.
*MC enters screen right
MC (talking_animation)
Oh my God, just get on with it
Author (talking_animation)
Don’t tell me what to do!
Author and MC argue for 150 years.
Author makes MC vanish.
Author ( talking_animation)
Sorry about that. Anyway I hope you enjoy my first ever story that I’ve ever written because my name is insert name here and I’m the author of this story.
Author exits screen left
.
So true
Honestly I kind of hate it when characters introduce themselves like “ Hey, I’m Bobra. I’m 16, blonde, got a great family, and I’m dating a mafia leader “ etc.
Something I like to call a Peppa Pig opening
When they bring all their family on and then their friends.
Just get on with it and let us meet them through the story.
cough
MC: Hi you’re playing me
MC: And this is my mum and this is my dad that is actually a mafia leader but we’ll talk about that later
MC: And this is my sister, and this my other sister and her abusive boyfriend.
MC: And this is the guy who runs the corner shop down the road who you’ll never meet by the way but he’s important.
MC: And this is cousin No.57 who’s going to kidnap me later on and this is cousin No.43 who’s going to call my parents about it.
MC: And this is my uber driver who isn’t actually my uber driver but a top secret agent from the Ligma Organisation.
ME: Oh thank god now I can finally get on with the story.
MC: Oh I forgot, you need to customize us all.
So,
A few things I hate in there.
1.
When they introduce every freakin character like it’s a meet 'n greet.
2.
When explaining every character, they end up ruining the plot and by the time they’re finished I already know how it’s going to end.
3.
When they make you customize pointless characters. Like for the parents are understandable but no one really needs to customize a character you’ll only see once.
I once tried to read an episode story because the plot seemed interesting but I couldn’t even finish the first episode because you had to customise everyone including the MC’s neighbor’s uncle and when I finally tapped through all of that, the story started with MC introducing herself and then showing the reader around her house by showing every zone of different basic episode backgrounds… After 3 minutes and 7 bedrooms later I tapped on the exit button and never tried to read the story again
I hate when that happens what a waste of time and coding
“Once Apon a Time,” so cliche
Was he even important to the story?
I never found out