The first chapter of your novel is the most important. It’s the first impression you’ll make on your readers, and it’s what will make them decide whether or not to keep reading. So how do you write a compelling first chapter?

1. Start with a bang. The first sentence of your first chapter should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more. You can do this by starting with a mystery, a cliffhanger, or a shocking event.
2. Introduce your characters quickly and effectively. Readers need to know who your main characters are and what they want. You can do this by giving a brief overview of their personalities and goals, or by showing them in action.
3. Set the scene. The reader needs to know where and when the story takes place. You can do this by describing the setting in detail, or by showing the characters interacting with it.
4. Create conflict. Conflict is what drives a story forward. It can be internal (such as a character’s struggle with their own emotions), external (such as a character’s conflict with another character or with the environment), or both.
5. End with a cliffhanger. The first chapter should end on a note that will make the reader want to read more. This could be a mystery that needs to be solved, a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wondering what will happen next, or a question that needs to be answered.