Questions tagged [introduction]

Questions regarding the beginning of a work, or regarding the meeting of characters for the first time.

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Is a self-introduction of the main character speaking to the reader appropriate to start a novel?

I'm authoring a horror/corruption/murder novel. The book starts off with the Main Character telling the reader about who he is and his physical appearance (now in his 60s), how he got to be ...
abluepelican's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
240 views

How to introduce my villain in the prologue?

I am currently doing a rewrite of my story, starting with the prologue. Now, my prologue exists mainly to introduce the main villain of the story, and I've been working on making some improvements, ...
Drack0Stack0's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
49 views

What is the musing in an argumentative essay? How is it different from other hooks?

In my composition class, I was told that an essay should start with a hook to catch the reader's attention and show them that the content is intriguing and worth reading. One of the many ways we ...
Ahmad Nourallah's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
136 views

Least confusing way to structure 2 plot lines merging when one starts several years before the other

My story has two POV characters, Delilah and Jack, who start separate and meet ~ 1/4 of the way though. Delilah's story starts several years before the Jack's and is the entire reason he even has a ...
aurorajack's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
125 views

When a new character speaks, do you describe them in the same paragraph, or in a new paragraph?

I'm making my own book, but I'm not sure what to do in the following situation: If you were to write a line of dialogue when introducing a new character, then describe the same character, do you ...
Breeze's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
213 views

How can I signal the promise of action, when the start of the novel does not contain action?

The story I am aiming to write has someone thrown into action. However, that is not how they start off at the beginning. I definitely want to show someone whose bitten off more than they can chew, but ...
ProseFerret's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
51 views

A intro of the story where the main character talking through a microphone

I plan to change my prologue into where the character is talking his story to another dimension's audience. The problem is, I don't know how to write the first step properly. Is it [Recording], [Mic ...
Artemis Silver's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
767 views

How do I write a strong hook for an argumentative essay?

The scenario is to write a hook for an argumentative essay. The topic is "Can tigers be kept in zoos?", as they have less space in zoos compared to nature, and for other reasons they should ...
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1 vote
2 answers
144 views

An effective beginning and end of a literary essay

I always struggle with making introductions and conclusions. How can I write a good hook that attracts my readers? How can I conclude effectively at the end of a literary essay?
Nour Fourti's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
133 views

Improving my story opening? [closed]

I'm writing a story about a woman driving cross-country in search of her childhood home. There, she discovers the small town has grown to a suburban sprawl, and she's surprised to find that she can no ...
10GeV's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Ways to write a biographical introduction without using "___ was an..."

I'm writing a short biography on a relatively obscure ancient Greek figure. Since so little is known about this individual's life, I'm finding a dearth of information to support the 2-3 pages I'm ...
10GeV's user avatar
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1 answer
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How do I know if I've introduced too many characters too quickly? [duplicate]

In my book, I start out by introducing the main character, her uncle, and her mother in one scene. The next scene involves her grandparents, and the next is about five more characters after that. The ...
AnnWriter19's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
96 views

How do I introduce concepts of a world in a way that makes sense and doesn't overload the reader

I recently started writing a story set in a fantasy world. However, I'm having trouble introducing certain concepts of the world. For example, the world this is set in runs on a different time system ...
Sgt Porkchops's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
187 views

How to write better introductory passages (usually the first paragraph in the chapter that introduces the setting)?

Each chapter of a novel usually has an opening paragraph, or an introductory passage, that lends a flavor to the setting essential for the action that will follow. How to make the descriptions more ...
undocumented sophistication's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
302 views

What's the difference between the abstract and the introduction in academic writing?

I'm really trying to understand the difference between the abstract and the introduction in academic writing. In my opinion, the abstract just talks about the aim of the article and the structure of ...
M_L_Sing_Jump_Rap's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
276 views

How do I introduce a large cast in an interesting way

I am currently writing a story about eleven college friends and a child. I don't want to just introduce them as "The Jock" or "The Delinquent," and I don't want to do a dry listing of "this is who ...
Mai Green's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
149 views

How to introduce a character properly

I'm working on a screenplay and I know the basics of formatting, however I still don't get why the first time a character speaks some line, it has to be written as He or Man instead of his actual ...
Santi Tinjacá Rivera's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
82 views

With an introduction by

This was originally a part of my question about partnering with a website, but I think it's separate enough to deserve its own post: Many books are published with an introduction by a better-known ...
Chris Sunami's user avatar
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3 votes
5 answers
265 views

Opening chapter foreshadowing or not?

In my story, a homicide takes place. I want to describe this homicide at the start of the story, through the eyes of the victim, to foreshadow what's about to come. But victim and suspect are both ...
psteeg's user avatar
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10 votes
4 answers
2k views

How can I introduce the names of fantasy creatures to the reader?

In the story, these fantasy creatures are everyday animals that most people in the story already know. How can I introduce them in an natural way that instantly makes readers remember their names? The ...
M Arif Rahman Winandar's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
134 views

How do I introduce this character?

I am writing a story these days and I want to introduce a character who is similar to a king. This character is introduced with heavy announcements by his minions who scream out words of admiration ...
TheMan's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
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How to introduce a foreign idea to readers

I'm writing a book with a world similar to ours but at the same time is very different. I don't know how to do it smoothly without overloading the reader with information but at the same time giving ...
booklover22's user avatar
22 votes
8 answers
6k views

How should a big universe be introduced without being boring?

If I have a big universe that I need to set up, with lots of characters, lots of locations, magic rules, technology, government rules, is it okay to introduce and explain all of this at the beginning? ...
SomeBeginner's user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
981 views

Writing a song as the hook

I am at the free-writing stages of writing my high fantasy novel. I am looking at or experimenting with different methods for hooking the reader and driving their attention towards the rest of my ...
Alexander's user avatar
  • 315
2 votes
2 answers
127 views

How to explain leaving your body

I am trying to write a story where a character is shot and then gets up out of their body and stand up, but it is not their real body their actual body is dead on the floor. Basically, their spirit is ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 279
17 votes
9 answers
5k views

How do I get my readers through the early, "hardship" part of my fiction?

A reader of one of my works told me, "It was very interesting, the last two thirds of it anyway." Her fear was that I might lose my readers in the first one-third of the work. The above work was a ...
Tom Au's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
500 views

Guidance on pacing the introduction of new characters

I'm adding a qualifying question to the end of this question. So I have (let's say) two types of feedback in my beta critiques and real-life writing clubs. One is that I have floating heads syndrome,...
SFWriter's user avatar
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16 votes
6 answers
4k views

How should I introduce multiple characters without it being repetitive?

In my story, I have 8 characters I really want to focus on, which is already a pretty large cast to begin with. At the beginning of the book, something important happens to each of the 8 that kicks ...
Eucaa's user avatar
  • 163
1 vote
1 answer
87 views

To what extent is it necessary re-introduce characters at the beginning of each book in a series?

When a book series contains the same characters, to what extent is it necessary to re-introduce the main characters to the reader (in case, for example, they haven't read the previous books)? I've ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
60 views

How are people who write introductions and afterwords credited?

Sorry for the naive nature of this question. I'm writing a story with a deceased fictional author, and one of his living relatives writes an introduction and afterword explaining the context of the ...
user24990's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
6k views

Can I have both a prologue and an introduction in my book?

I have a prologue I'm working on right now, however, I want to add an introduction as well. What I mean is that I want to write about why and how I created the story (an introduction), but I want some ...
Typo's user avatar
  • 163
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

What word can I use for an introduction to a fiction book?

I want to talk about a fiction book I'm working on but can't find what to call the intro. A 'foreword' is generally written by someone other than the author, and I read that an 'introduction' is used ...
Typo's user avatar
  • 163
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

essay writing agree, disagree partially agree

In preparation for IELTS I want to write on "It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment is necessary to help them learn this distinction. ...
clarkson's user avatar
  • 111
2 votes
1 answer
93 views

Concepts for more interesting introductions in papers

What are the key concepts for writing introductory text more interesting to the reader? An example: The Deutsche Bahn AG is the company with the most energy consumption in Germany. It has ...
user3613886's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
310 views

Include both foreword and introduction in small report

I am writing a school report about a company, and the report must be 10 pages or less. My instructors want me to include who wrote which sections in the report, when we started the work, etc. Because ...
Jamgreen's user avatar
  • 121
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Foreword/introduction to the translation

I translated a book, and was thinking on writing a foreword to it. Not so much introducing the book (as there is a editor foreword from the original that does that), but as an introduction to the ...
Luiz Borges's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Essay Writing Introduction Paragraph

How do I write an introduction paragraph when it comes to writing a simple essay for those who have no idea what to write about and I don't have a creative mind? Please explain to me step by step.
Milagros Barrios's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
195 views

Opening of a cover letter [closed]

I am currently writing a cover letter (for a job application) and after a long 'struggle' with the opening paragraph, I've decided to start it by briefly presenting myself and then continuing with "...
newbie's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
0 answers
160 views

how do i differ my abstract from my introduction? [duplicate]

My topic is a causal argument. I choose what causes criminal behavior and am going to touch on the points of environment, personality disorders, education, genetics, and family controversy.
Dewel's user avatar
  • 1
6 votes
2 answers
469 views

Writing a PhD thesis. Question about (an informal) introduction

I am preparing scientific thesis for the degree of PhD. It is a mathematical thesis. It is usually very difficult to tell your colleagues and friends what are the things you exactly work on with ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 61
1 vote
1 answer
105 views

I was wondering what a good way to introduce a character [closed]

I am writing a small story and I have part of the introduction done but I do not know a way to introduce this character There I was looking at my future. If I went through that door my whole life ...
Carole's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
73 views

Alien checking, by making questions [closed]

I'm writing a story with a character from another planet, but also human. At the beginning, people will not believe he comes from another planet, so they will check it out, by asking questions or ...
greuze's user avatar
  • 103
8 votes
4 answers
148k views

Difference between an 'Abstract' and an 'Introduction' in a feature article?

I have to write a feature article for school. However, I'm confused how an abstract [a summary of my points] is different to an intro [Where you outline the points you're going to be elaborating in ...
user3289740's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is my writing 'disjointed', and if so how can I fix it?

First page of my fantasy novel. I'm told my writing is disjointed and jerky, but have no idea in what way! And it's driving me crazy that I don't know where the holes in my boat are so I can't really ...
Krystal's user avatar
  • 53
3 votes
3 answers
690 views

Is an Introduction and a Prologue good or bad, especially in middle grade fiction?

Is it bad to use an Introduction and/or a Prologue in Middle Grade Fiction? I have a lot of information that is useful, but the information in dialogue will sound fake and way too much info-dump like....
johnny's user avatar
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