Good Book Beginnings: Momentum

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Momentum in Beginnings: How to Keep Readers Turning the Page

Hi, friends! I’m Allison Spooner, author of The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story, The Things We Cannot Change (a story about the ghosts created by addiction), and a couple of collections of flash fiction. Welcome back to my series on writing Good Beginnings, where we break down what makes an opening chapter compelling enough to hook readers from the start.

So far, we’ve talked about key elements a great beginning needs:

  • Tension
  • Conflict
  • Interesting characters
  • Momentum

I’ve already shared examples of how tension, conflict, and captivating characters contribute to a strong opening, using excerpts from my own writing as well as popular books like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. (If you missed my video about creating interesting characters, check out the one where I dive deeper into Angela, the protagonist of The Lost Girl.)

Today, we’re focusing on momentum: how to keep your story moving forward right from the start, ensuring readers are hooked and eager to find out what comes next.

How Momentum Drives Your Opening

Momentum is what keeps your story moving. From the very first scene, your book should have a forward motion that compels the reader to turn the page. Momentum doesn’t always have to mean fast-paced action—though action is a great way to do it—but even slower beginnings need subtle hints that something is happening or about to happen.

Let’s use an excerpt from my book The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story as an example. Angela, the protagonist, has just arrived in Neverland:

“When Angela finally did open her eyes, it was not to the bright blue skies, lush green forests, or emerald and teal seas she’d grown up hearing about. No. It was to a thick, heavy fog that obscured her view of almost everything around her. This wasn’t the Neverland she knew.”

Even though this opening moment isn’t high-stakes action, there are already clues that something is off. Angela is in Neverland—a place kids are supposed to dream about—but this version of Neverland is unexpected, unsettling, and unwelcoming. The thick fog tells readers immediately that something here is wrong, while Angela’s feelings of frustration—she does not want to be in Neverland—add a layer of emotional tension.

Momentum comes from these little jolts of curiosity. While the narrative pace might not be racing forward, the reader is already asking questions:

  • What happened to Neverland?
  • Why doesn’t Angela want to be here?
  • What’s going to happen next?

Examples of Momentum in Other Great Openings

One trick I use in all my writing is to study how bestselling books start. A good opening doesn’t just set the stage—it immediately pulls the reader into the story. Here are a few examples of momentum in action:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The book opens on the day of the reaping, a pivotal moment in the story’s world. While the scene itself begins with Katniss’s morning routine, Collins uses small hints to show that something big is coming:

  • Katniss reflects on her family’s hunger and their reliance on her survival skills.
  • The looming day of the reaping adds a layer of tension and inevitability.

The story moves forward because readers feel the weight of the unknown: whose name will be called, and how will it change Katniss’s life?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

The first chapter introduces the seemingly ordinary Dursleys—except, they’re hiding a very big secret. Rowling pulls readers in by juxtaposing the normal with the strange, planting seeds of curiosity with details about the boy who lived. Even if the beginning is slower, it’s clear to readers that something extraordinary is about to happen.

The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story by Allison Spooner

Angela’s arrival in Neverland shows momentum in another way. By the second paragraph, the story makes it clear that all is not as it seems:

“This wasn’t the Neverland she knew.”

This single sentence invites curiosity (what’s wrong with Neverland?) and hints at two layers of the story: the mystery behind the setting and Angela’s reluctance to be there.

In all three of these examples, something is happening—even if it’s small, subtle, or slow. Readers are never left waiting for the story to begin because the first scene has them leaning forward, hungry for more.

Quick Tip: Openings Are More Than the First Line

While nailing your opening sentence is great, your beginning is more than just the first line—it’s the first scene. Think of your opening as a small package of key information that sets the stage for the rest of the story.

Here’s what this means in practice:

  • Your first scene should feel complete: It should hook the reader with clear stakes, introduce characters and setting, and offer tidbits that propel the story forward.
  • Include crucial details to set tone and context:
    • In Harry Potter, we learn the Dursleys are “perfectly normal,” but there’s also a boy with a mysterious past.
    • In The Hunger Games, Katniss’s routine is ordinary—until we learn it’s the day of the reaping.
    • In The Lost Girl, Angela doesn’t want to be in Neverland, a place that seems darker than we expected.

Your job is to connect these details into an emotional or narrative momentum that keeps the reader intrigued from sentence one to scene one.

What’s Next in the Series? What NOT to Do in a Beginning

Next up, we’ll be talking about what not to do in your book’s opening. This includes:

  • Avoiding info dumps (no monologues or pages of exposition).
  • Steering clear of clichés (don’t open with the character waking up in bed—or a dream sequence).
  • Knowing when (and when not) to overwhelm the reader with world-building.

I’ll share these insights in future posts, so stay tuned!

Have Questions? I’ve Got Answers!

If you have questions about creating good beginnings—or anything I’ve mentioned in past posts—drop them in the comments! I’ll do my best to help.

Also, I’m excited to roll out a new tool that will make finding resources much easier—stay tuned for updates, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss out.

Thanks for joining me, and happy writing!

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