In a previous post, The Breakdown of the Chapter, I discussed how to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of writing an entire novel by approaching it one chapter at a time.

Below is one example of using the Breakdown Method for a chapter. Each Chapter utilizes the same elements as the entire book. Not every chapter in your novel will use all the components listed below. However, if you using a Chapter Breakdown mindset, it will make the process less daunting.

The Meet Cute Opening Chapter Breakdown ~ Rough Draft Chapter example.

• Opening
• Set-up
• Conflict
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Hook

Opening:

The sun had just risen over the sleepy town of Pine Grove, casting a golden glow over the quiet streets. As she made her way to the small café on Main Street, Ava couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. Today was the day she would finally meet the man behind the letters.

• Scene setting: The chapter opens with a description of the town of Pine Grove, which sets the scene and establishes the mood.
• Character introduction: The protagonist, Ava, is introduced in the opening paragraph as she makes her way to the café.
• Hook: The hook is the line “Today was the day she would finally meet the man behind the letters,” which creates a sense of anticipation and intrigue for the reader.

Set-up:

As Ava pushed open the door to the café, the smell of fresh coffee and pastries filled her nostrils. She scanned the room, looking for a man with kind eyes and a warm smile. She’d been corresponding with him for months, ever since she responded to an ad in the local newspaper. They’d exchanged letters every week, sharing their hopes, dreams, and fears. She knew everything about him, but they’d never met in person.

• Dialogue: There is no dialogue in this section.
• Description: The setting of the café is described in detail, as well as Ava’s physical appearance and emotional state.
• Internal thoughts: Ava’s thoughts and feelings are revealed as she reflects on her correspondence with the man she’s about to meet.
• Backstory: The backstory of Ava and the man she’s meeting is revealed through their letters, which are alluded to in this section.

Conflict:

As Ava approached the counter to order her coffee, she saw a man sitting alone at a table by the window. He was reading a book, his face obscured by the pages. Her heart skipped a beat. Was that him? She hesitated, unsure if she should approach him or wait for him to make the first move. What if he wasn’t who she thought he was?

• Inciting incident: The inciting incident is Ava’s decision to meet the man behind the letters in person.
• External obstacle: The external obstacle is Ava’s uncertainty about whether the man she’s meeting is who she thinks he is.
• Internal obstacle: The internal obstacle is Ava’s nervousness and fear about the meeting.
• Antagonist: There is no clear antagonist in this section.

Rising Action:

Ava ordered her coffee and walked slowly toward the man’s table. She could feel her palms sweating with nervousness. As she got closer, she saw that he was even more attractive than she’d imagined. His curly hair was tousled, and his blue eyes sparkled as he looked up from his book. He smiled at her, and she felt her heart race.

• Complications: The complication is Ava’s hesitation and nervousness as she approaches the man’s table.
• Tension: The tension is created by Ava’s uncertainty about the man’s identity and her own feelings.
• Foreshadowing: There is no foreshadowing in this section.

Climax:

“Hi,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m Ava.”

“Hi, Ava,” he said, standing up and extending his hand. “I’m Jake.”

As they shook hands, Ava felt a surge of electricity pass between them. She knew, in that moment, that she was in love with him.

• Turning point: The turning point is when Ava meets Jake and feels a surge of electricity pass between them.
• High stakes: The stakes are high because Ava is putting herself out there emotionally and risking rejection.
• Emotion: The emotion is Ava’s realization that she is in love with Jake.

Falling Action:

They spent the next hour talking and laughing over their coffee. Ava learned that Jake was a teacher at the local high school, and that he loved to read and hike in his free time. He asked her about her job as a librarian and her passion for writing. They shared stories and secrets, and Ava felt like she’d known him forever.

• Consequences: The consequences are the development of Ava and Jake’s relationship and the possibility of future challenges.
• Reflection: The reflection is Ava’s contemplation of her feelings and the new possibilities that have opened up for her.
• Set-up: The set-up is the exchange of phone numbers and the implication that Ava and Jake will see each other again.

Hook:

As they said goodbye and exchanged phone numbers, Ava felt a sense of hope and excitement that she hadn’t felt in years. She couldn’t wait to see Jake again, to learn more about him and share her own life with him. But as she stepped out of the café and into the bright sunlight, she knew that there were challenges and obstacles ahead. Would they be able to overcome them? Would their love survive the tests of time and distance? Only time would tell.

• Suspense: The suspense is created by the question of whether Ava and Jake’s relationship will survive the challenges to come.
• Intrigue: The intrigue is created by the potential for conflict and drama in their relationship.
• Question: The question is whether Ava and Jake’s love will stand the test of time and distance.

Rough Draft: CHAPTER 1, based on the breakdown.

The sun was setting over the small town of Pine Grove, casting a warm orange glow over the trees and buildings. Sophie walked down Main Street, her hands shoved deep in her pockets and her head down. She’d just moved here from the city, and she didn’t know anyone in town. She was lonely, homesick, and unsure of what the future held.

As she passed the local café, Sophie saw a group of people sitting outside, laughing and chatting. She paused, drawn to their camaraderie and the sound of their voices. She’d always been shy, but something about their easy friendship made her want to join in. She took a deep breath and walked over to their table.

As Sophie approached the table, she saw a man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He was looking right at her, and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She tried to introduce herself, but her voice caught in her throat. What if he didn’t like her? What if she said something stupid?

The man smiled at her, and Sophie felt a jolt of electricity pass through her body. He introduced himself as Jack and invited her to join the group. As she sat down and started to talk, she felt herself relax and open up. Jack was charming, funny, and easy to talk to, and she felt like she’d known him for years.

As the evening wore on, Sophie and Jack found themselves alone at the table. They talked and laughed, and Sophie felt herself falling for him. She’d never felt a connection like this before, and she knew, in that moment, that she was in love with him.

As they said goodbye and exchanged phone numbers, Sophie felt a sense of hope and happiness that she hadn’t felt in weeks. She knew that Jack was someone special, someone who could make her feel at home in this new town.

As Sophie walked home, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there were challenges and obstacles ahead. She knew that her feelings for Jack were strong, but she also knew that she was new in town and that he had his own life and friends. Would they be able to overcome these obstacles and build a life together? Only time would tell.

More on AI:

• Writing a Novel with ChatGPT AI

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Please note that the above article was created with the assistance of an AI language model called ChatGPT. AI technology can be a valuable resource for writers to incorporate into their creative process.