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This creative writing course with Laurel Cohn about creating memorable first chapters takes place at Writing NSW in Sydney.

Beginnings are crucial. If the beginning of a story is weak, chances are no one will ever get to the middle, let alone the end. In most cases, a publisher, editor or agent will be making an initial decision about whether to support your writing project based on your opening chapters. You don’t have to grab the reader by the throat to engage them (although that might work), you can gently seduce them with a beguiling voice, you can tease them with a curious premise, you can charm them with an interesting character. How do you go about crafting a beginning that will keep the reader wanting more? This workshop examines the importance of the opening sentence, opening paragraphs and opening chapters.

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ >

This course combines critical reading – looking at a range of beginnings across genres to help understand what works and why – with writing exercises, to explore the effects created by starting a story in different ways.

Expected learning outcomes

Participants will learn:

1. How to engage readers in the opening chapters of your work.
2. What to do and what not to do in your opening pages.
3. An appreciation for how beginnings set up the relationship between the reader and the story.

Participant requirements

• Pen and paper, and/or a fully charged device.
• Pre-reading: participants will receive a sample of readings the week prior to the workshop, to be read in advance.
• Participants should bring along the opening pages of a work-in-progress to workshop.

Please read our FAQ> before enrolling. If you have questions about this course, please contact us.

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