on Writers Helping Writers:

When we sit down to write a book, it’s typically because we feel called to share a story. That passion can fuel us as we draft those first daunting chapters and maybe even as we plot a detailed outline.

We often start off excited about the opening, perfecting it to intrigue and connect with readers. But I’ve learned (the hard way) that starting with the end in mind may be the smarter way to go.

When I say “the end,” I’m not talking about the actual dénouement. I’m referring to the end goal for your book. Knowing how you’ll pitch it to agents and editors, who the audience is, understanding your book’s genre, and where it will sit on a shelf can serve as a guiding light as you work on your story. I say this having written a manuscript I was proud of only to later hear that it straddled multiple genres (women’s fiction, romance, romcom, chick-lit) making it very tough to sell as publishers were unclear how to market it.