Where would you travel this Christmas break? Wherever you travel, one thing is sure when you return, brag about your experiences. Now, how do you choose where to start? For that, you could scan your memory to search for a story that stands out. Is there an experience that you can’t stop telling people about? Did you have a haunting, transformative or enlightening experience? Did something bad or unexpected happen? If so, it might be a good candidate to write about.
Now that you have chosen a starting point, are you wondering how to start a good piece of travelogue or any story for that matter? In this article, you will have tips on how to start with a Bang! And with a bang we mean the reader should raise eyebrows, draw an inch closer and feel their heart pounding in anticipation right from the opening sequence.
Here are four powerful ways you can start your narratives.
Begin with a stressful situation—A walk in a park on a cold wintery day
Beginning by placing the narrator in the midst of an impossible situation is something that readers love. Why? It is because it tugs at a basic need of the human heart to know how the other survived.
Example — The sound of my laboured quick breath and slogging footsteps crunching through the snow was the only sound that could be heard for miles.
Begin with an intriguing and curious observation
Everyone sees things differently, but what is that one thing that commands your attention?
Example – I have never seen anyone with such stamina. Two hours passed away with me eating peanuts, lazing away cuddled in the warm embrace of my coat and gazing while the children in front of me still howled and ran with the tip of their noses and cheeks visibly getting red from the cold. They kept heaving, trying to swallow as much as thin air as possible. Yet, they never wore out. Watching their carefree energy, I smiled.
Be forthcoming
All of us think, have ideas, and experience fear. What did you feel about your travel? Did your experience drag up old memories? Were you frightened? Did you embarrass yourself? Was there a misunderstanding? What did you discover?
Example — Being back at this place was odd; but why? It made the hairs on my arms stick to my long-sleeved plaid shirt; but why? Forgetting my age and the restrictions in place, I knew I shouldn’t have given in to my desire to try out a lone swing that creaked and swung alone; but why? It felt like I was being called to keep it company. I skipped over the fence to alight it and relive my childhood road to escapism. Though the feeling was nostalgic, no one allowed me to savour my memories; I really don’t know why.
Digression without losing the reader
Though an often-criticised technique, it can do wonders in delaying action and keeping the readers glued to your story. But how to use it appropriately? Check out an example first.
Example — I flew for half a second. After swaying my feet so hard and gaining momentum to be high up in the air, the bolts buckled under my weight and I was flung from the swing at a tandem. Was it the fight or the fall that knocked me out? I really don’t remember. It’s pretty hard to knock a guy out this dramatically, except in the movies.
So, the answer is, your digressions should bring more to your piece (through the way they enrich a reader’s understanding and delight their senses) than they take away through disruption. Sometimes, the most powerful digressions are the short ones — the ones you can fit right inside a sentence. There are three often-used ways for punctuating digressions within sentences: parentheses, commas and dashes.
In short, never try to simplify writing by following a clear-cut process. If we use simple structures, we will see simple writing. The magic lies in opening horizons and expectations that will entice the readers at once. Get rid of writer’s block once and for all.