This is a problem I've recently run in to. And I'm sure it's a problem for many writers, too.
The opening of your novel.
So, you know what's going to happen. You know what the complication is, you know who the bad guy is, and you know how the whole thing is gonna be resolved. And then your mind turns to the opening. And the anvil drops right on your head.
Do you introduce your characters? Do you jump right into the whole thing starting?
I decided to start by introducing the three main characters, one in each chapter, as they go about the beginning of a normal day of their lives. I'll make this interesting by adding an amusing comedy scene, and once all this is out of the way I can jump to the part where the day takes a turn for the worst.
And the best part, even if the opening comes out terrible, I can forget about it and worry about the rest of the novel. I'll worry about the opening again when I start to rewrite.
And that's probably true for most authors. So don't fret. Hm. Fret. That's a funny word.
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Yes, it is definitely a major conflict for me as well. I decided to introduce my main character first, talking about the other main character. Then, she backs up a bit and talks in the past tense. For right now, it seems this is very fitting with the rest of the novel.
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