Discover in this post …

• how to connect readers to your protagonist from the start.

• how to ensure your protagonist’s choices drive the story.

• why being mean to your characters is actually a kindness to your readers.

Powerful First Impressions

What would you rather have readers say about your novel?

1. “That book was pretty decent. I’d probably read something from that author again.”

   or …

2. “I felt that story in my soul. I need to go out and tell all my friends about it—today!”

Easy answer, right?

If you’re like most writers, “decent” isn’t your goal. You want to write a story that reaches into your readers’ hearts. You want characters who make them laugh, cry, and remember the book for years to come.

But for that emotional connection to happen, it needs to start early—within the first 20% of your manuscript.

That’s what I’ll address in this post: four foundational items to check for in your novel’s opening. They’re not the only items that matter in your first few chapters, but they’re often-missed essentials that will play a major role in how readers engage with your story.

Let’s dive in.

1 - Include a Character Flaw on the Page.

Let’s start with something that seems small but can define your entire story: your protagonist’s flaw. Don't expect your readers to pick it up from what lives in your head—it should make an actual appearance in the first few chapters of your manuscript. 

A flaw isn’t the same as a quirky trait.

A character with an unusually loud voice? That’s a quirk.

A character who uses that loud voice to dominate conversations because they believe they’re always right? Now that’s a flaw.

Flaws are internal. They speak to how your character views the world—and how that view needs to shift by the end of the book. In other words, they lay the groundwork for transformation.

Readers love transformation. Not in real life, necessarily. But in fiction? We crave it. It gives us hope. It gives us meaning. It’s why we keep turning the pages.

That’s why it’s so important to show your character’s flaw on the page, not just keep it in your notes or outline. Readers need to see it in motion, whether you choose to express it through your character’s thoughts, actions, or other characters’ reactions.

And if your story doesn’t call for a major character arc—maybe it’s more episodic or action-driven like some of the early James Bond stories—that’s okay! But if your goal is to write something that resonates deeply with your target readers, a flaw is a powerful place to start.

2 - Move the Story Forward through Your Protagonist's Decisions.

Here’s a quick check-in: Is your character just being tossed around by events, or are they driving the story forward through their choices?

Stories that feel flat often have a passive protagonist—someone who reacts but rarely acts.

Think about a moment early in your story: Does your character face a clear decision? One with consequences? And do they make that decision based on who they are and what they want?

Let’s say the villain burns down their village. Will they run? Stay and fight? Rescue someone? Retreat and regroup?

A great example is Kaladin from The Way of Kings. He’s stuck in horrific circumstances. At one point, he debates whether to succumb to despair or keep fighting. His decisions—moment by moment—don’t just reveal his character; they shape the entire direction of the story.

What decision does your protagonist make that changes the course of events?

Your story shouldn’t feel like a string of “This happened, and then that happened.” Instead, aim for “This happened, and because of that, my character chose to .…”

That’s how you create momentum—and make your protagonist someone readers care about.

3 - Set Your Protagonist on a New Path with Your Inciting Incident.

By around the 10–12% mark in your story (a general guideline, not a rigid rule), your protagonist should undergo an event that disrupts their normal world and sets them on a new path.

This is your inciting incident.

It’s the moment something changes. They get rejected from the magic school. They receive a message from a long-lost sibling. They discover a buried truth that shifts their entire worldview.

And most important, the inciting incident changes what they want.

Let’s say your character begins the story wanting to be accepted into magic school. That’s their goal. But when they’re rejected—perhaps unfairly—it alters their trajectory. Maybe they sneak in anyway. Maybe they forge a new path that defies the system entirely.

Either way, the inciting incident pushes them into the story’s true journey. Without it, your story can feel like it’s stalling, or that events are happening without much emotional weight.

So ask yourself: What does my character want in the beginning—and how does the inciting incident reshape that desire?

This shift builds tension and keeps readers leaning in, wondering what’ll happen next.

4 - Be Mean to Your Protagonist.

This is one of my favorite things to say to clients—mostly because it makes them laugh:
“Be meaner to your protagonist.”

I get it. You love your character. You want to protect them. But readers don’t connect with characters who have it easy. We connect with those who struggle and still find a way forward.

Ask yourself: On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is your protagonist’s life right now? (1 is smooth sailing; 10 is constant life-or-death chaos.)

You don’t have to go full 10, but if you’re sitting around a 3 or 4, readers might not feel the stakes. Tension is the engine of story. If things are too easy or problems resolve too quickly, there’s no reason to keep reading.

I had a client who realized he was introducing a problem in one scene and solving it before the chapter ended. The result? His story lacked depth. Once he started letting problems linger—and compound—his characters had to grow more to overcome them.

And here’s the fun part: You don’t always have to know how they’ll overcome the problem right away. That uncertainty can fuel your creativity. Agatha Christie famously didn’t always know whodunit until partway through writing her mysteries. She trusted that her brain would figure it out.

You can too.

So take a look at your early chapters: Are you challenging your protagonist enough? Are the conflicts layered and meaningful? If not, it may be time to push your character out of their comfort zone.

Your Opening Is a Promise—Make It Count

The first chapters of your novel are your handshake with the reader. They’re your invitation: Here’s someone worth following. Here’s a story worth sticking with.

If readers don’t feel a spark—if the character seems too perfect, too passive, or too unaffected by what’s happening—they may not stick around.

But if your character has a flaw … if they make meaningful decisions … if their world is shaken and their struggles are real …

Readers will root for them. They’ll keep turning pages. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll finish your book and say:

“That story hit me right in the heart. I’m telling everyone I know about it.”

That’s the dream, right?

Recap: What to Look For in Your Opening

When the time comes for you to revise your opening chapters, keep the following four essentials in mind. They’ll lay the groundwork for emotional connection and narrative momentum!

1. Include a character flaw on the page.

2. Move the story forward through your protagonist’s decisions.

3. Set your protagonist on a new path with your inciting incident.

4. Be mean to your protagonist.

What’s your current strength—and what’s one area in which you’d like to grow? I’d love to hear what you’re applying to your WIP! Email me anytime at [email protected]. And most of all, enjoy writing your novel’s opening pages … and then keep going, deeper into the story only you can tell.

Do you want to learn how to write a story that makes your target readers stand up and cheer? If you’d like support from A to Z (from brainstorming to drafting to revising to publication), book a Discovery Call with me to see if you’re a good fit to join my book coaching program, Fantasy Footsteps: Road to Publication. And if you haven’t done so already, grab your Free Guide on how to hook readers from your story’s start!