on Helping Writers become Authors:
One of the most significant challenges for writers is crafting a beginning chapter that immediately grabs readers. Most commonly, writers are advised to accomplish this via two different methods: the hook and the technique of beginning in medias res, or “in the middle of things.” But are these really two different techniques? And if not, how exactly do they work, either in tandem or separately?
Most readers have limited time and are notinterested in reading just anything. These days, many readers make their purchasing decisions based as much on first chapter previews as on book descriptions. This means your first chapter needs to convince potential readers of two things:
1. This is exactly the type of story they’re personally looking for.
2. Your writing is solid enough to promise a good tale throughout.
wordrefiner 