For many, the beginning of a novel is the hardest part. Getting the right opening scene, finding the right inciting event, even figuring out the perfect first sentence can keep you from getting anywhere at all. But don’t worry.  Beginnings aren’t as scary as they appear.

In many ways, they’re the easier part, since you probably already know the most critical aspects of your story–the protagonist, the goal, the conflict, and the setting.

If you’re not yet sure on what to put in your novel’s beginning, let’s take a closer peek at what goes into a beginning.