Writing That Next Chapter
Writer: Robert Babirad
“He looked around the writing room. Intimidation filled the air. There was no way to know what was coming next. The pen was picked up and then something happened.”
I wrote those few sentences above to illustrate a few examples of what I’ve learned for getting over the often-daunting hurdle of writing a new chapter for your book.
1. Start Amid the Action
Start writing your chapter amid something that one of your characters is already doing. Your character is already busy and involved with their own life when the reader picks up your book. Start there. Something has to be done or achieved by your character before the reader even knew about them or became involved. Consider the reader to be this curious kind of person who is suddenly eavesdropping or watching some key event or moment that is already in motion. Start the chapter by bringing the reader into that moment. Try asking, “What’s going on and why?” This has been a big help to me when I struggled with starting a new chapter.
2. Avoid Summarizing. Answer the Question, “What are my Characters Doing Right Now?”
Keep asking, “What exactly is my character doing right now?” Describe that in detail. Then ask that same question again throughout your writing of the chapter. This is a question that I personally have to ask myself repeatedly, especially in the middle of a chapter, in order to avoid the risk of summarizing.
This is also a great time to describe the specific and unique attributes of an individual character in the chapter. Mentioning what they were wearing, their beliefs about something, or physical characteristics, such as how they walk or speak can all be presented alongside the detail of the action.
You can describe them responding to a particular situation while giving the reader some more detailed insight into the habits, appearance, or personality of the character themselves. This is a chance to bring both the action of the story and the character themselves to life for the reader.
3. End the Chapter with Suspense or a Cliffhanger
Keep the reader motivated and turning pages. I try to end a new chapter with something that will keep the reader engaged and interested. Leave the reader hanging as the chapter ends and wanting to know more. Avoid wrapping up the chapter neatly or providing a conclusion to whatever action is taking place so that the reader will feel compelled to read on and to find out what eventually happens in the next chapter. I feel this makes the reading experience more enjoyable for the reader. I like books where the action keeps moving and keeps me engaged. So, I try to do the same with my writing. Each chapter is a scene that adds something to the plot. That’s actually another key that I try to keep in mind. Is this chapter moving the plot forward? If it isn’t, it’s a chapter that you might want to cut out of the book.
A successful chapter for me is often one that moves the plot forward and ends with suspense, an unanswered question, a lack of resolution to something important, or a cliffhanger. Keeping these questions in mind has helped me to continually improve my writing.
Conclusion
These are all strategies that have worked for me; and I hope will help you too with writing that next chapter of your book. If you don’t know how to start a new chapter, consider starting it in the middle of the action. Try not to summarize as you get further into that chapter. Keep asking yourself, “What are my characters doing now?” Then, write that down. You can add in details here at the same time, to flesh out your characters and make them more lifelike as well. If you’re unsure about how to end the chapter, conclude it with suspense, a cliffhanger, a lack of resolution, or an unanswered question. This will motivate your reader and motivates me too, as an author, to describe what happens in my next chapter. It’s also good to continually ask if the chapter your writing is actually moving the plot of your story forward. If so, that’s great. If not, you may want to cut that particular chapter out. All of these strategies have been helpful to me with each book that I’ve written; and I hope they help you as well!
About the Writer
Robert Babirad holds a Masters in European Union Law from King’s College London (awarded with Merit), a Juris Doctorate, and a Bachelor of Arts degree (magna cum laude) in English and Secondary English Education. He is the author of the nonfiction memoir “In-Transit Passenger: Making the Journey Matter,” “A Westhampton Beach Christmas,” and “Love in Budapest.” He is passionate about travel, history, culture, reading, languages, and the arts.
Website: facebook.com/robertbabiradauthor/