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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/31010
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I am about to start my first novel set in a fantasy world I am designing, and am struggling deeply with my first scene. I have read in books on fantasy writing that the opening is the hook. I am contemplating starting with a religious initiation ritual that the young protagonist is going through.

My other thought was to start the character in a spiritual vision that I intend for them to have at some point. Otherwise, I thought of a very cliche way of starting the novel such as the character hunting with their father in the woods or lost in the woods at night.

The scene could be compelling as the character will be blindfolded, will not know what to expect, and will be outside.

I worry the problem with a religious initiation ritual is that it may be very obscure or too abstract for a reader who is just starting a story in a new fantasy world. The format of the ritual will be very obviously a religious ritual, and there will be an altar in the room. The overall aspects should not be too obscure or foreign for the reader to understand.

I have not seen many books open in this way, but I think it may be effective.

The other problem with this as the initial scene is that it is not as profound for the reader in their understanding of the character as it is the entry point in the world. That is, the character is undergoing this perhaps pivotal ritual in the character's development before the reader is introduced to the character.

It is not going to be culturally a coming of age ritual within the theme but essentially may begin the coming of age experience for the character. It also begins the character awakening to the fact that they have magical powers or starting them on that path.

Original score: 6