Good Book Beginnings: Conflict

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How to Write a Good Beginning: Using Conflict to Hook Your Readers

Hi, friends! I’m Allison Spooner, self-published author of The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story, The Things We Cannot Change (a story about the ghosts created by addiction), and two collections of flash fiction. Welcome to my ongoing series on Good Beginnings—breaking down what makes an opening scene compelling and how you can craft one that hooks readers from the very first sentence.

So far, we’ve discussed the four key elements of a good beginning:

  1. Tension
  2. Conflict
  3. Interesting characters
  4. Momentum

In my last post, we explored tension, using Suzanne Collins’ opening sentences in The Hunger Games as an example of how to immediately pull readers into your story. Today, we’re diving into conflict and looking at an iconic example from Harry Potter. (Whatever your thoughts or feelings about the author, there’s no denying this book has a memorable and well-crafted beginning.)

Let’s dive in!

What Does Conflict in the Beginning Look Like?

Conflict is what drives every story, and introducing it early is one of the quickest ways to hook your readers. The opening of your book doesn’t need to feature explosions or dramatic fights (though it can!), but it should hint at the underlying forces of opposition that your characters will face.

The goal is to plant a seed of curiosity: What’s causing the conflict? How will it affect the characters? Readers should feel compelled to turn the page and find out more.

To illustrate this, let’s look at the opening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Conflict in the Opening of Harry Potter

Here’s the first sentence of the book:

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

This opening line is simple, but it’s also packed with subtle tension and conflict. Let’s break it down:

  1. The Dursleys’ Desire for Normalcy
    The first sentence tells us that the Dursleys value their “perfectly normal” lives above all else. But the fact that they emphasize their normalness—“thank you very much”—suggests that this normalcy is threatened. Readers are immediately intrigued: Why are they so concerned with appearing normal?

  2. Foreshadowing with “Strange and Mysterious”
    The very next line hints at the story’s central conflict:

    “They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.”

    By explicitly calling out “strange or mysterious,” the narrative is setting up a direct contradiction. We know the Dursleys’ lives will be anything but normal by the time this story gets going.

  3. The Secret That Creates Conflict
    Just one paragraph later, we learn the Dursleys are hiding something big:

    “The Dursleys had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it.”

    Their greatest fear? That’s a pretty bold statement! Secrets create compelling conflict, and readers immediately want to know: What’s the secret? Why are they so desperate to keep it hidden?

  4. The Potters Introduced
    As it turns out, the Dursley’s deep dark secret is their connection to the Potters—Harry’s family. By mentioning the book’s namesake so early, the story adds another layer of conflict: the tension between the perfectly normal Dursleys and the “good-for-nothing” Potters.

Why This Works

By the time you finish the first few paragraphs of Harry Potter, you already have:

  • A sense of conflict between the Dursleys and the strange, magical world they’re desperate to avoid.
  • A mystery around the Potters and the secret connection between the two families.
  • The promise of clashing normality and magic, setting the stage for deeper conflicts once Harry arrives.

And here’s the kicker: We haven’t even met the protagonist yet!

This is conflict done right. The tension and stakes are bubbling beneath the surface, keeping readers invested, and all of this happens before page two.

How to Include Conflict in Your Own Beginning

So, how can you add similar conflict to the opening of your book? Here are a few tips:

  1. Introduce a Secret
    One of the most compelling ways to create conflict early is by revealing that a character is hiding something. Whether it’s a literal secret (like the Dursleys hiding their connection to the Potters) or an emotional one, readers will want to know what’s being concealed—and why.

  2. Hint at the Larger Conflict to Come
    While your opening scene doesn’t need to spell out the main plot, it should plant seeds that hint at the larger story. For example, the Dursleys’ fear of magic mirrors the conflicts Harry will face as he learns about his place in the magical world.

  3. Contradictions = Intrigue
    Highlighting contradictions in your characters or story creates immediate interest. The Dursleys claim to be normal, but their obsessive aversion to magic suggests otherwise. Think about how you can use opposing forces—normality vs. chaos, light vs. dark, etc.—to create tension in your opening.

What’s Next? Avoiding Common Beginning Mistakes

We’ve talked about what makes a good beginning, but what about the mistakes you should avoid? In upcoming posts, I’ll dive into topics like:

  • Why info-dumps can derail your opening.
  • The problems with overloading readers with world-building.
  • Common clichés to steer clear of.

Good beginnings are about balance—you want to engage your reader without overwhelming them. Stay tuned for more tips in this series!

Have Questions About Writing Beginnings?

If you have questions about creating strong openings—or anything else I’ve talked about—drop them in the comments! I’m also working on rolling out a new tool to make finding my tips, insights, and videos even easier, so make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter.

Thanks for reading, and happy writing!

This rewrite sequences your thoughts into clearly defined sections, wraps everything around actionable advice, and incorporates examples in a natural, compelling way. Let me know if you’d like tweaks or additions!

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