Not sure how to start your fantasy novel? We’ve been there. For many writers, the opening chapter feels like the most daunting part of the process. You need to introduce a brand new world, hook your reader, and establish the tone for a whole story – all in just a few pages. A strong opening in a fantasy novel does more than just begin the plot. It invites the reader into your world, offers a glimpse into what’s at stake, and establishes the voice and atmosphere. When done well, it has the potential to immediately hook your audience. If done poorly, you’ll lose them before things even get going. So, how do you start a fantasy book that captures attention from the off? Join us at What We Writing as we break it down. With our fantasy writing tips, you’ll learn what makes a great fantasy opening, the key elements to include, common mistakes to avoid, and examples from popular books that do it brilliantly.
Why The Opening Matters In Fantasy
The opening of a fantasy novel carries more weight than in most other genres. Whilst all stories benefit from a strong first chapter, fantasy has the added challenge – and opportunity – of opening the doors to an entirely new world. Unlike contemporary fiction, where the context and setting might already be familiar, a fantasy novel opening has to do double duty: it needs to hook the reader and begin to set up the rules, tone, and texture of a world they have never encountered before.
This is where many aspiring writers get into trouble. How much should you explain up front? How soon do you introduce magic, lore, or invented beings? The balance is delicate but essential. If the first chapter overwhelms readers with exposition, they’ll soon lose interest. However, if it is too vague or slow to get going, they may never connect with the story at all.
That’s why the importance of a fantasy novel’s first chapter really can’t be underestimated. It sets the stage for all that is to follow, introducing not just characters and conflict, but the very framework of your world. Get it right, and you’ll have the audience’s trust from page one.
Check Out The Best Fantasy Novel Openings
Elements Of A Strong Fantasy Novel Opening
Beginning your fantasy novel on the right foot isn’t just about a catchy first sentence. It’s about setting up trust with your audience and laying the groundwork for what’s to come. A powerful opening doesn’t need to explain everything, but it does need to intrigue, ground, and spark curiosity. Here are the four essential elements that can help you do just that.
A Strong Hook
If you want to hook readers in a fantasy novel, you need to grab their attention from the very first line. That doesn’t always mean beginning with a sword fight or an explosion (though it can!). A hook can be startling imagery, a mysterious or ironic statement, or an unusual scenario that just makes the reader ask: What’s going on here?
Examples:
- “It was night again. The Waystone Inn lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts.” – The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
- “The forest had claws and teeth.” – A type of evocative, ominous line common in modern fantasy.
Your goal in the opening paragraph is simple: make the reader want to read the next one.
Introduce the World Organically
One of the biggest challenges in fantasy openings is introducing your world without overwhelming readers with exposition. It’s tempting to explain your magic system, history, and politics right away, but readers do not need all of that in one burst.
Instead, peel away your world through contextual clues, character reactions, and grounded details. Let the reader infer how things work as the story develops.
Examples:
- In The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, the reader is thrown into a con job in a richly detailed city, learning about the world through the action and dialogue between the characters, rather than through a lecture.
- Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone introduces Grisha magic during a tense scene, blending worldbuilding with character and plot.
Think of it this way: your world should feel lived in, not explained.
Introduce a Compelling Character
Before readers care about the fate of your fantasy world, they need someone to care about. A compelling protagonist – flawed, curious, brave, or conflicted – can serve as the reader’s guide into the unknown.
You don’t need to share their entire backstory. Just show us something interesting about them right away: what they want, what they fear, how they view the world around them.
Whether it’s a thief mid-heist, a farm boy dreaming of escape, or a princess trapped in a tower, make sure there’s a point-of-view character with stakes and personality at the core of your opening.
Establish the Tone and Stakes
Your first few pages are where readers decide what kind of story this is. Is it whimsical and romantic, or dark and political? Is it a sprawling epic or an intimate coming-of-age tale? The tone you strike early on sets expectations for everything that follows.
Equally important are the stakes. They don’t need to be world-ending (yet), but your readers should still feel that something matters – whether it’s a broken rule, a looming threat, or a moment of emotional tension.
Example:
- The Hobbit begins with a light, fairytale tone, reflecting its whimsical, adventurous spirit.
- A Song of Ice and Fire opens with eerie tension north of the Wall, hinting at the darker, political, and brutal story to come.
When in doubt, ask: Does this opening reflect the kind of journey I’m promising the reader?
Check Out This Guide To Writing Compelling First Chapters
Mistakes To Avoid
Even the most imaginative fantasy worlds can fall flat if the first chapter isn’t carefully crafted. Many beginner writers fall into similar traps when trying to intrigue or set the stage for their tales. Here are four of the most common mistakes to avoid when starting a fantasy novel
1. Info-Dumping
It’s tempting to explain everything up front – your world’s history, the rules of magic, the names of long-dead kings. But pages of exposition early on can overwhelm readers and stall your narrative. Instead, aim to drip-feed information organically through dialogue, setting, and action.
Tip: If a paragraph sounds like it belongs in a guidebook or encyclopedia, it probably doesn’t have a place in your opening chapter.
2. Starting Too Slow
While quiet openings can work, some writers wait too long to introduce tension, stakes, or curiosity. If your first few pages only show a character waking up, walking through a village, or thinking about their feelings, with no hint of conflict or direction, readers may tune out.
Ask yourself: Is there something driving the story forward in the first five pages? Even a subtle mystery or internal conflict can be enough to create momentum.
3. Overexplaining Magic Systems
Magic is one of the joys of fantasy, but it doesn’t need to be spelt out right away. A thorough breakdown of rules, costs, and terminology can feel more like a textbook than a story. Instead, let readers experience magic in action, learning how it works by seeing it used in context.
Remember: Your readers don’t need to know everything your protagonist doesn’t yet know.
4. The Cliche Prologue
Not all prologues are bad, but fantasy has a history of using them for info dumps, ancient prophecies, or vague, disconnected events. Unless your prologue is gripping, relevant, and truly necessary, consider opening with your MC’s journey instead.
Better approach: If you love your prologue material, see if it can be woven into the main story or revealed gradually through flashbacks or legends.
Tips For Drafting Your First Chapter
So you’ve got your fantasy world mapped out and your characters ready to go – but how do you actually start writing that all-important first chapter?
Here are some practical, actionable tips to help you get going on the right foot:
1. Start in media res – but stay grounded
Jump into the story with action or tension already unfolding. It doesn’t have to be a magical duel, but it should feel like something already in motion.
Tip: Don’t confuse readers. Give them just enough context to orient them, whilst keeping the momentum high.
2. Write your “real beginning” – then cut it
Many writers only find their true opening after a page or two of warm-up writing. Don’t be scared to delete your first paragraph – or even your first scene – if the real story starts later.
Think of it this way: Your first draft’s opening is for you. Your revised opening is for the audience.
3. Anchor readers with concrete details
Even in fantastical settings, rooting readers with familiar sensory details (a creaky floorboard, the smell of firewood, the chill of morning air) helps them feel present and immersed from the off.
4. Introduce questions, not answers
Create intrigue by raising small, compelling questions early on: Why is the city under curfew? Why does the protagonist keep their powers hidden? Questions keep readers turning pages – the answers can come later.
5. Don’t stress about perfection on draft one
Your first chapter will almost certainly change. It’s okay if it’s messy. Focus on getting it down, not getting it right. You can refine tone, pacing, and clarity later on.
6. Revisit your beginning after you’ve finished your draft
Once you know how the story ends, you’ll have a clearer sense of how it should begin. Rewriting your opening with the full arc in mind makes it stronger, more cohesive, and often more emotionally resonant.
These tips can help you stop overthinking and start writing. The key is to move forward – you can always shape your first chapter into something unforgettable during revision.
Wrap Up
Starting a fantasy novel is no easy task, but it is also one of the most exciting parts of the writing journey. A great first chapter doesn’t just begin your story – it promises readers something worth following. By crafting a strong hook, grounding them in your world, and introducing compelling characters and stakes, you’re laying the foundation for a novel that readers won’t want to put down.
Remember, you don’t have to get it perfect on the first try. Many of the best fantasy novels went through multiple drafts before finding the right opening. So, be patient, keep writing, and come back to your beginning once you truly know your story.
Whether you’re outlining your plot or polishing your first paragraph, we hope these tips – and the examples shared – help you start your fantasy novel with clarity and confidence.
Check Out This Guide To Writing First Lines
