How to Write Act One of Your Novel: 7 Essential Characteristics

Get your readers to act two by using these seven essential characteristics in act one of your novels.

Act one generally refers to the first 20% to 30% of your novel. Though the length of act one varies from one novel to the next, the central goal remains the same: persuade the reader to go to act two. A strong author accomplishes this by using several characteristics.

A Solid Opening Line

The opening line of your story needs to stand out. Many great novels are known and remembered for their first line. The structure of an opening line varies among great novels, but there are some commonalities that you can consider.

Some great novels begin with one-line paragraphs. The Great Gatsby  by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one such novel:

“In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.”

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is another great novel that also has a strong opening line:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

A strong opening line should give the impression that something is happening or about to happen. In Pride and Prejudice’s opening line, a man with a large fortune is about to have a wife.

Strong opening lines also contain the name of the main character, as is the case with Moby-Dick; or, The Whale written by Herman Melville:

“Call me Ishmael.”

This approach gives the illusion of reality from the start. Here is a real person, his name is Ishmael.

A Narrative Hook

The narrative hook is the point in the novel where the author captivates the reader’s attention and encourages them to continue reading. This narrative hook can take many forms, such as an intriguing statement, an engaging character introduction, a dramatic event, or a mysterious situation.

In The Great Gatsby, the narrative hook occurs when Nick Carraway introduces the enigmatic figure that is Jay Gatsby. Nick achieves this through the description of Gatsby’s lavish parties and the aura of mystery that surrounds him.

However, in Pride and Prejudice, the narrative hook occurs in its famous opening line. This line sets the tone for the novel and introduces one of its central themes: the pursuit of marriage and social status in Regency-era England.

The purpose of the narrative hook is to entice curiosity and compel the reader to keep turning the pages to uncover the rest of the story.

An Inciting Incident

Every novel must have an inciting incident. This is usually an unexpected or new event that sets the main plot of the story into motion. The inciting incident should occur within the first few pages of the story, preferably in the first chapter.

In The Hunger Games by Suzan Collins, the inciting incident occurs when Katniss Everdeen’s (the protagonist) sister is selected to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games.

In Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, the inciting incident occurs when the protagonist’s (Nick Dunne) wife goes missing on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary.

The inciting incident is a crucial aspect of act one, as it serves as a motivation for the protagonist to surge into motion and it also establishes the stakes of the novel. The stakes in both novels are remarkable high.

In Gone Girl, though Amy is only missing in act one, there is a real possibility that she could be dead or that she may never get to see her family again. In The Hunger Games, Prim as a tribute is a definite death sentence, while Katniss as a tribute is only a possible death sentence.

The stakes are high, and the goal is clear in each novel. Readers will keep reading to find out if they locate Amy or if Katniss wins the Hunger Games. Therefore, a strong inciting incident will help you to establish tension and suspense, which will in turn keep your readers invested in seeing the outcome and ultimately progressing to act two.

Complex Protagonist

The best way to create a bond between your protagonist and a reader is to create complex characters. Readers should be able to identify with your protagonist and that will bring the character to life. We identify with characters that are like us, humans. So, no one-dimensional characters.

Your protagonist should experience hardship, experience internal and external conflict, and be vulnerable.

In The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Lisbeth Salander (the protagonist) is a complex and compelling character. Lisbeth struggles with social interactions and relationships, she has trust issues stemming from past experiences, and she has violent tendencies. All these imperfections make her relatable and can encourage readers to empathize with her.

A Solid Story World

World-building is an important aspect of act one, as it frames your story and provides a solid background for the action. Good world-building plays a vital role in a story’s development. This is especially true in fantasy and science fiction novels, as your reader is being introduced to a new type of world.

If your story is set against a familiar background a reader might connect more deeply with it. However, if your story’s background is unfamiliar, it can create a new adventure for the reader. Some people say they travel the world through books.

Introduction of the Opposition or Antagonist

If a story has no source of conflict, it will be boring. Conflict drives the plot forward. The main source of conflict in the protagonist’s life can be another character in the form of an antagonist, or nature in the form of an impending hurricane.

Act one should introduce a source of conflict for your protagonist and give the reader a taste of the trouble that lies ahead. This will compel the reader to continue so they can see what happens next.

In Gone Girl act one, the opposition is whoever is responsible for Amy’s disappearance. In The Hunger Games, the opposition is the Capitol.

A Clear First-Act Break

This is the event that concludes act one of your novels and leads your readers into act two. The first act break closely follows the inciting incident. It is significant as it represents a turning point in the narrative, where the protagonist must make a crucial decision or undergo a significant change.

The first act break in Gone Girl occurs when the investigation into Amy’s disappearance intensifies, and suspicion begins to fall heavily on Nick. At this point Nick can’t go back to a time before Amy disappeared, the only option he has now is to try to prove his innocence by uncovering the truth about what happened to his wife.

In The Hunger Games, the first act break occurs when Katniss arrives in the Capitol. The only option that is available to her at this point is to participate in the Hunger Games. In some instances, the first act break is represented by a change in location, this is one such instance.

Final Thoughts

The first act of your novel should be riveting so that it compels your readers to progress to act two. Though creating a solid act one is a difficult task, it is possible and by utilizing these seven characteristics you will be well on your way to creating a strong act one.