I'm looking at the first chapter of a book I'm writing for the um-teenth time. I already knew it was a problem, but it's become nagging. I notice, I clumps lots of information into the first chapter. Like, I'll drop a huge explanation, then take a small break, then drop another chunk. Breaking it up with dialogue or activities helps, but I'm still afraid that it might be overwhelming. Do I need to rewrite the entire chapter, or is there an easier way to fix it?
Do you absolutely NEED to drop all that information in the first chapter, or could you slowly let it reveal itself as the adventure unfolds?
I could drop it and slowly let it reveal itself, but it's not huge things that give away important story. One clump is about one of the side characters, another is about the main characters past, and another is about the universe. I'm not sure where I'd add them back in if I took them out…
Hmm What i'd do is slowly reveal the mc past like you said, but if you're going to do it, do over a period of time. If you suddenly throw all these facts about the main character at the reader, what will be left for the reader to discover about the character in the end?
Maybe reveal facts about the side character, MC, and universe through actions, not the narrator. I mean, one way to do that is to have the characters themselves explain things, but that's kind of cheap.
Let's say a nation is governed by three separate branches of government. Instead of telling the readers that, have your character walk past a courthouse with the nation's three symbols on it, maybe declaring the mottoes of each. Now the reader is equipped with that information, and later on in the book when someone says "the three branches" the reader will remember the symbols and go "ohhh that's what it was."
I don't know if that was the best example, but if you can reveal the natures of those characters and the universe through scenes and action, that would be best.
@Celestial-B I might be able to introduce her past at a different time. There is another MC that my first MC gets close to. I am going to add a scene where he sort of explains his past, so she MIGHT be able to explain her then. Or, in just casual conversation at one point, since she's not too torn up about the past.
Thank you both!
@Masterkey Something like that might work for the universe chunk. And I could possibly hint towards the stuff about the side character through actions and comments. As I said before, none of its too important to the story.
If it's not important to the story, I would say cut it. If it's needed later, it will come up. Otherwise, make a note for yourself outside the story and let it bleed through or not as it will.