Why is it always the hardest part?
The truth is, the first chapter carries the weight of the entire book. It sets the tone. Introduces your world. Hooks your reader. That pressure can paralyze even seasoned writers.
Here’s the secret: your first chapter doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be good. It just has to exist.
Write the version that gets your characters walking and talking. Let the scene unfold, even if it’s clunky or awkward or full of placeholders. That polished, gripping opening you’re dreaming of? It will come later. Probably on the third or tenth rewrite. That’s normal.
Your job right now isn’t to impress—it’s to begin.
Give yourself permission to write the messy version. The rough draft. The human draft. Because that’s where all great stories start.
And when in doubt, just write the second chapter first.
