Abbie Emmons | First Chapter MISTAKES New Writers Make ❌ Avoid These Cliches!! @AbbieEmmons | Uploaded December 2022 | Updated October 2024, 6 hours ago.
Writing chapter one is easier said than done. If you’re a writer embarking on a new story, you know how terrifying it can be to stare at that first blank page. You know this is a critical moment — this first chapter is going to make or break your entire book. It's a lot of pressure! That's why, in this video, we're discussing the DO’s and DON’Ts of chapter one — the worst cliches and beginner mistakes to avoid if you want to capture your reader’s curiosity and pull them into your story.
Get instant access to the live training replay here: 👉 learnfromabbie.com/p/live-trainings-signup
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✨T I M E S T A M P S ✨
00:00 Introduction
02:30 DON’T start with exposition
03:15 DON’T save the good stuff
03:54 DON’T start with a character we’ll never see again
04:55 DON’T overwhelm the reader with names
05:56 DON’T start with a boring day-in-the-life
07:03 DO start with internal conflict
07:35 DO reveal enough for us to care
08:38 DO use the first 5 minutes to introduce your MC
09:45 DO start with your MC waking up to something NEW
10:48 Watch my live training on writing CHAPTER ONE
11:48 Subscribe for weekly writing vids! :)
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Subscribe for weekly episodes of #WritersLifeWednesdays! Make Your Story Matter™ and make your author dreams come true… new videos every Wednesday.
✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨
❤️GET BONUS CONTENT + SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL: patreon.com/abbieemmons
📚READ MY DEBUT NOVEL, 100 DAYS OF SUNLIGHT: amzn.to/2Et7fhS
🖥️TAKE MY SCRIVENER MASTERCLASS: makeyourstorymatter.teachable.com/p/teachmescrivener
✏️TAKE MY MASTERCLASS ON EDITING: learnfromabbie.com/p/edit-your-book-like-a-pro
💬TAKE MY BOOK BLURB MASTERCLASS: learnfromabbie.com/p/how-to-craft-a-bestseller-book-blurb
📓GET MY FREE WRITING TEMPLATES: https://abbieemmons.ck.page/make-your-story-matter
💵GET 20% OFF SCRIVENER - USE CODE "ABBIE" → literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=abbie26
🎤LISTEN TO MY PODCAST WITH MY SISTER: https://anchor.fm/kate-and-abbie-show
🎥 MY GEAR + WRITING TOOLS: abbieemmonsauthor.com/my-gear
🎵 I GET ALL MY MUSIC FROM EPIDEMIC SOUND… CLAIM YOUR 60-DAY FREE TRIAL HERE: epidemicsound.com/referral/v02bl3
💛 GET CANVA FOR EASY GRAPHIC DESIGN: partner.canva.com/7mN1Z5
MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:
→ THE SIMPLEST WAY TO OUTLINE YOUR NOVEL
youtube.com/watch?v=iB1MOvZYW1s
→ THE ULTIMATE CHARACTER PROFILE
youtube.com/watch?v=k1W5DSOlPrw&t=198s
→ MY SCRIVENER SETUP
youtube.com/watch?v=AJyGox2ldHo
→ 10 WEAK WORDS TO CUT FROM YOUR NOVEL
youtube.com/watch?v=q-fTxypPFRU
✨F O L L O W ✨
blog: bit.ly/2Kl21m8
facebook: bit.ly/2FS2Ikh
instagram: bit.ly/2Xr5hUI
patreon: patreon.com/abbieemmons
Business inquiries: abbie@abbieemmonsauthor.com
✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!
Writing chapter one is easier said than done. If you’re a writer embarking on a new story, you know how terrifying it can be to stare at that first blank page. You know this is a critical moment — this first chapter is going to make or break your entire book. It's a lot of pressure! That's why, in this video, we're discussing the DO’s and DON’Ts of chapter one — the worst cliches and beginner mistakes to avoid if you want to capture your reader’s curiosity and pull them into your story.
Get instant access to the live training replay here: 👉 learnfromabbie.com/p/live-trainings-signup
________________________________
✨T I M E S T A M P S ✨
00:00 Introduction
02:30 DON’T start with exposition
03:15 DON’T save the good stuff
03:54 DON’T start with a character we’ll never see again
04:55 DON’T overwhelm the reader with names
05:56 DON’T start with a boring day-in-the-life
07:03 DO start with internal conflict
07:35 DO reveal enough for us to care
08:38 DO use the first 5 minutes to introduce your MC
09:45 DO start with your MC waking up to something NEW
10:48 Watch my live training on writing CHAPTER ONE
11:48 Subscribe for weekly writing vids! :)
________________________________
Subscribe for weekly episodes of #WritersLifeWednesdays! Make Your Story Matter™ and make your author dreams come true… new videos every Wednesday.
✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨
❤️GET BONUS CONTENT + SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL: patreon.com/abbieemmons
📚READ MY DEBUT NOVEL, 100 DAYS OF SUNLIGHT: amzn.to/2Et7fhS
🖥️TAKE MY SCRIVENER MASTERCLASS: makeyourstorymatter.teachable.com/p/teachmescrivener
✏️TAKE MY MASTERCLASS ON EDITING: learnfromabbie.com/p/edit-your-book-like-a-pro
💬TAKE MY BOOK BLURB MASTERCLASS: learnfromabbie.com/p/how-to-craft-a-bestseller-book-blurb
📓GET MY FREE WRITING TEMPLATES: https://abbieemmons.ck.page/make-your-story-matter
💵GET 20% OFF SCRIVENER - USE CODE "ABBIE" → literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=abbie26
🎤LISTEN TO MY PODCAST WITH MY SISTER: https://anchor.fm/kate-and-abbie-show
🎥 MY GEAR + WRITING TOOLS: abbieemmonsauthor.com/my-gear
🎵 I GET ALL MY MUSIC FROM EPIDEMIC SOUND… CLAIM YOUR 60-DAY FREE TRIAL HERE: epidemicsound.com/referral/v02bl3
💛 GET CANVA FOR EASY GRAPHIC DESIGN: partner.canva.com/7mN1Z5
MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:
→ THE SIMPLEST WAY TO OUTLINE YOUR NOVEL
youtube.com/watch?v=iB1MOvZYW1s
→ THE ULTIMATE CHARACTER PROFILE
youtube.com/watch?v=k1W5DSOlPrw&t=198s
→ MY SCRIVENER SETUP
youtube.com/watch?v=AJyGox2ldHo
→ 10 WEAK WORDS TO CUT FROM YOUR NOVEL
youtube.com/watch?v=q-fTxypPFRU
✨F O L L O W ✨
blog: bit.ly/2Kl21m8
facebook: bit.ly/2FS2Ikh
instagram: bit.ly/2Xr5hUI
patreon: patreon.com/abbieemmons
Business inquiries: abbie@abbieemmonsauthor.com
✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!
