How Much to Reveal

[Banana]

Okay, I’m sure we can all agree that the first chapter is one of the most important chapters in a book. It also happens to be the one I’m struggling with the most.
In my novel, my heroine is friend-less. Not because she’s socially inept, but because she chooses not to have friends. There’s a good reason, but she doesn’t come out and directly say what it is at first. She just refers to it occasionally.

In my book, the main part to the first chapter is showing my character’s unenviable life. Should I just come out and say the reason behind her misfortune? Or is it okay to just drop hints about it for a chapter or two before I say what it is exactly?
Is not being straight forward frustrating or gripping? :confused:

[Andy]

Should I just come out and say the reason behind her misfortune? Or is it okay to just drop hints about it for a chapter or two before I say what it is exactly?
Is not being straight forward frustrating or gripping?It depends. It really depends.

If the reason for her misfortune isn't important (if the reader will understand what's going on without knowing it), then it's probably okay to wait a little while before revealing it. You can drop hints now and then too keep them curious, but if you aren't revealing something when it would be reasonable to your characters and helpful to the reader, it becomes frustrating.

Normally, you want to wait until a certain piece of information is important before revealing it. Such as a point where that information will determine what the characters do next. That way, your character revelations will be spread out through the story, and not be dumped on the reader all at once.

[thecollector]

I agree with Andy. If it doesn't really affect the novel that much, you may want to wait to introduce an explaination.

[Banana]

Thank you :) This has been preventing me from finnishing it for ages, and I'm looking foward to being able to put this chapter behind me.