  It’s honestly been so long since I’ve written a blog post that I had to remind myself how. How do I begin?! Like all writing, it simply requires starting (or re-starting). May this blog post about beginnings also be the beginning of more regularly posted tidbits of writing inspiration to you, dear writer. Thank you for hanging in there with me. I’m happy to reconnect with you! But this blog post is not just about starting again. (cue Taylor Swift’s “Begin Again,” and feel free to listen to it as an added muse to this blog post!) It’s about beginnings that beg us to read more. Ones that start strong, and force us to flip that page. Ones that compel us to keep going, even though it’s way past bedtime, or we’re in the middle of another book, or we had something else really important to do…but too bad for that (and yay for this book with the brilliant beginning!). How do we begin like that? I spent a good chunk of this year revising a middle grade project into a chapter book series. To do so successfully, I dug back into my chapter book notes that I collected while writing the Teeny Houdini chapter books. I found the notes reviving – reminding me of things I “knew” but wanted to refocus on. And, then, I found myself adding to my notes, and doing a few more studies on recent chapter books that fit the bill of beginning in a really strong way, and begging me to read them through to completion. My studies focused on chapter books, and that’s what I’ll share below. But, these insights can be applied to middle grade writing, and older novel writing, as well as picture books. For picture books, you’ll want to do the following in the first one to two spreads, as opposed to the first chapter. And you’d also be wise to Dig Deep into Revision, too! To start strong, and give the reader a sense of what’s to come, I found that each of the first chapters in these un-put-downable books included two very clear things: 1. We know who the main character is, and we feel connected to them! 2. We know the plot! A clear problem is presented, and we are now invested in it being solved. If you’ve been around the blog, or attended my writing workshops, or gotten a critique from me, you’ll know that I like to ask questions to get you thinking! So here are the questions we want answered in the beginning (first chapter, or first two spreads for picture book): Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Here are the answers revealed in the first chapters of the mentor texts I used during my latest chapter book revision for my current work-in-progress. (Yes, I also referred back to Teeny Houdini: The Disappearing Act, because aren’t we always learning from ourselves and improving, too?! Also…how’d I do it?...remind me!) DORY FANTASMAGORY by Abby Hanlon  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them?* Dory, aka Rascal. She’s the baby. She’s always annoying her family, and spends most of her time living and playing inside her own head. *If that’s not the most true-to-childhood experience ever, I don’t know what is. I immediately feel for her and totally relate! What is their problem/goal? Her older siblings, Luke and Violet, try to scare her, and it backfires on them. *This ignites Dory’s imagination and it’s so funny and joyful. We must keep reading to see how it continues! SKUNK AND BADGER by Amy Timberlake, with pictures by Jon Klassen  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Badger! He loves rocks and privacy and not being bothered. He takes his work very seriously. Skunk! He’s carefree and impulsive. And he’s Badger’s new roommate. *Oh, how can we not relate to these two, and also feel the tension of these opposite in temperament characters now being stuck together as roommates?! Whether you’re more Badger or more Skunk, we feel for each of the characters, and also connect with them! What is their problem/goal? How is Badger going to live with Skunk? How is Skunk moving in going to disrupt Badger’s way of life? *And, as I needed to know…is Badger going to be nice to him?! THE STORY OF GUMLUCK THE WIZARD by Adam Rex  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Gumluck! He is a little wizard with the biggest heart! He cares deeply about others, and especially about pleasing others. He’s hardworking, and well meaning, but not great at reading others, or the seeing things from their perspective. *I immediately wanted to hug him! I felt his big heart right away, and that reeled me in. And then his lack of awareness of what’s actually going on – I felt for him, and was invested in his growth and his journey! We also meet another character in chapter one who makes us laugh (you’ll have to check out the book to find out!), and we feel connected to because *they get it! Are they a little bitter? A little curmudgeonly? You bet…that makes them all the more relatable. And, what a great way to build tension from the start when these two characters meet each other in this first chapter. What is their problem/goal? It is revealed that Gumluck’s secret is that he wants “to be crowned Harvest Hero at the Harvest Dance”. *But this seems unlikely given that no one in his town seems to actually like him or appreciate him (not even his new “friend”). I needed to read on because I was so invested in him achieving his dream, and also so aware of how far of a goal that was from where he stood. How was it going to happen?!  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Bessie Lee – she’s not “Teeny Houdini” yet, but she is the teeniest in her first grade class, the teeniest in her family, full of zippy energy, and eager to make a BIG impression! *We’ve all felt tiny at one point or another—whether physically, or simply not important enough, or visible enough to be noticed. Her energy is fun, and we want to see how that is contained, or NOT in the pages to come! What is their problem/goal? She’s determined to win the school talent show so that she can finally feel big! * I’ve heard from so many readers who connect to Bessie’s feeling, and it’s not at all to do with their small stature. So we feel for her, and we want her to succeed! Now that I’ve given you some examples, I’m putting you to work! Go grab any two character driven picture books, chapter books, or novels. If you have them handy, or can easily check them out form the library (they are very popular and have many books in the series!), I’d suggest trying this out on MAGIC TREEHOUSE #1 DINOUSAURS BEFORE DARK by Mary Pope Osborne, or THE NEVER GIRLS: in a blink by Kiki Thorpe. Only read the first chapter (or first two spreads if it’s a picture book). What are the answers to the questions: Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Finally, it’s your turn! Go back to your Work-In-Progress. Only read the first chapter (or first intended spreads of your picture book). Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Does your beginning reveal this important information? Does it beg us to read on? If not, you can also restart. The magic, I believe, is always in revision. Bring us a beginning that we never want to end. Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨  Katrina Moore writes in Georgia. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and taught elementary school for thirteen years in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, HOPE IS A HOP, illustrated by Melissa Iwai (Penguin/Dial, March 2023), SOMETIMES LOVE, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022), ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan, and its companion, GRUMPY NEW YEAR (Little Bee Books, Dec, 2022), and the forthcoming CHANG;E ON THE MOON (HarperCollins, September '24), and THE STAR IN YOU (Macmillan/Roaring Brook, October '24). Her humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. TEENY HOUDINI: THE DISAPPEARING ACT, TEENY HOUDINI: THE SUPER SECRET VALENTINE, and TEENY HOUDINI: THE GIANT PANDA PLAN are all available now (HarperCollins/Tegen Books).
When she is not writing, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, adventuring, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com. Katrina enjoys traveling near and far to visit schools and students, as well as teachers, librarians, and aspiring writers. For inquiries about speaking, presentations, workshops, panel participation, or school visits, please see the author visit page and contact her to schedule a visit!
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AuthorKatrina Moore is an author and former elementary educator. She writes in Georgia. where her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She's the author of ONE HUG, GRANDPA GRUMPS, SOMETIMES LOVE, GRUMPY NEW YEAR, HOPE IS A HOP, and the forthcoming CHANG'E ON THE MOON (HarperCollins, 2024), and THE STAR IN YOU. (RBP/Macmillan, 2024), as well as the humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, starring the magic-loving, mischief-making Bessie Lee, and more. Connect with her on twitter! Freelance EditorKatrina has professionally critiqued over hundreds of picture book manuscripts at writing conferences she has presented at, through her work as a council member, mentor, and presenter for the Rutgers One-on-One-Plus conference, as a Critique Ninja, and through her freelance editing services. Her editorial work and services, attention to detail, and ability to bring manuscripts to the “next level” have been highly praised by editors, agents, published authors, and those receiving critiques. For more details, and to inquire about rates, contact Katrina.
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