tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post3771734232228075183..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: #WeWriteBooks, Post 14: Where To StartStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-6791514712104636522016-05-05T10:04:09.209-05:002016-05-05T10:04:09.209-05:00I *may* have begun my book with a little too much ...I *may* have begun my book with a little too much normal. I'll have to look into that . . .Rosie McCannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756806467175885197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-16909262731466846222016-05-05T09:15:21.002-05:002016-05-05T09:15:21.002-05:00Thanks!! This is really helpful!! I'm pretty s...Thanks!! This is really helpful!! I'm pretty sure my story started out well. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-67180518659505428782016-05-05T09:12:48.990-05:002016-05-05T09:12:48.990-05:00Sounds SO exciting!!Sounds SO exciting!!Giselanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13394420616689880772016-05-04T19:27:28.250-05:002016-05-04T19:27:28.250-05:00I, uh ... started my novella with a backstory/info...I, uh ... started my novella with a backstory/info-dump. *facepalm* YEAH it needs work, but for some reason I can't figure out any other way to start. Perhaps I just haven't tried hard enough yet :). I'll keep working on it!Savannah Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16668452024211579085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-51341070235449680902016-05-04T19:13:05.566-05:002016-05-04T19:13:05.566-05:00I LOVED THE START WARS VIDEO!!!
and my book opens...I LOVED THE START WARS VIDEO!!!<br /><br />and my book opens with my protag, Raven, getting into a fight at work and thus getting fired. but it's a lot more serious since her family is super poor and living by the day. so that's pretty much a death sentence for them.<br /><br />~K.A.C.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17431543441334581991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82871810412880008512016-05-04T19:09:35.019-05:002016-05-04T19:09:35.019-05:00Together they sat, father and son, out on the thre... Together they sat, father and son, out on the threshold of the world—where the land rolled and fell for miles upon miles, wild and lonely with the scattered sheep, the heath, and the herds of bison and camox, til it met the mountains rising up terrible and blue out of the earth. <br /> A great shaggy dog, a turmacain, lay crouched by the father’s feet, her great solemn eyes fixed on the sheep grazing in the little valley below. <br /> “They don’t believe in the prophecy, Father,” Darro said, twisting up handfuls of the windblown grass as he spoke, “and they keep it from him.” <br /><br /> That is my opening, and though it begins a little slowly with description and a long sentence, etc., I believe it works because it shows what kind of story the following pages will tell, as well as showing the hero's last day of normal life. Also, foreshadowing is thick in the following scene. <br />Savannahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28930381147139970642016-05-04T16:15:50.435-05:002016-05-04T16:15:50.435-05:00Thanks for the ideas! :)
<3Thanks for the ideas! :)<br /><3Giselanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64786399476402008342016-05-04T15:57:32.744-05:002016-05-04T15:57:32.744-05:00Revenge of the Fifth is tomorrow, by the way. And ...Revenge of the Fifth is tomorrow, by the way. And Saturday is The Phantom Seventh.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652485434796760077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-43640073139571970302016-05-04T15:56:35.325-05:002016-05-04T15:56:35.325-05:00My story starts in the middle of suspense/tension....My story starts in the middle of suspense/tension. So far it seems to be suspenseful but not confusing to readers. It begins with Rosamond and her companions sneaking away into the night and being chased by fairies. The confusing part is that why they are being chased is not at all obvious, but the reader will learn why later on.<br />I've written a prologue for the story told from the villain's point of view, but I'm not sure I'll include it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652485434796760077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1459700178382046672016-05-04T15:33:41.999-05:002016-05-04T15:33:41.999-05:00LOL! Crushing dreams and characters doing stupid t...LOL! Crushing dreams and characters doing stupid things make pretty interesting hooks. <br />My WIP has five POVs, so I feel like I have five different beginnings. However, I started with the character with the second most screen time because events from his POV and his situation are the beginning to everything which happen to my other POVs. <br />So starting with someone either than the main character is alright depending.<br />Starting with a non POV character who doesn't get another chapter is usually bad, and the screen time/importance of your characters should be taken into account when choosing who you start with first. I am just pointing out it's not terrible to start with a non MC character if your story calls for it, even if there is unequal screen time. James Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-69125476055481682942016-05-04T15:21:50.264-05:002016-05-04T15:21:50.264-05:00I agree as well, life changing events are very pro...I agree as well, life changing events are very promising for readers, and as long as there is some good follow up (showing why her life is changing, or just giving teasers to how until you reveal her situation), it's a strong opening. Reid Xhinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39065055764089074102016-05-04T15:18:20.275-05:002016-05-04T15:18:20.275-05:00Actually, I think the big thing with opening with ...Actually, I think the big thing with opening with a funeral is not so much that it's sad, but ... <br />a. it has been done a lot.<br />b. The particular scenario does not provide any hope for the characters involved. With your character, Chris is dying, but he's not dead, which means potential future conflict, stakes, and etc. <br />c. Your character has limited emotions they can show at the funeral, and so it isn't a particularly interesting scene to open with in terms of characterization. <br />There are potential twists on this over-used trope, but it has been used to the point the scene itself won't pick up much interest. <br />However, starting a book with a 'sad' scene isn't a sin. There are lots of questions for the reader regarding Chris and the relation to the main character and plot, so your beginning is a actually a rather effective hook.James Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9082486284974560972016-05-04T15:08:53.915-05:002016-05-04T15:08:53.915-05:00Thanks everyone!
Sorry about that mistake, Jill.
...Thanks everyone!<br />Sorry about that mistake, Jill. <br />So, if I make it really obvious my character has had something bad happen ( not saying what happens until the end) in the past, and then introduce the story, which is all what happened that day in the past? Does this make sense?Corgi Writernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-25644224449964779462016-05-04T15:02:57.958-05:002016-05-04T15:02:57.958-05:00I open one of my WIPs by crushing the heroine'...I open one of my WIPs by crushing the heroine's dreams and another by having my heroine do something pretty stupid that gets her in trouble.<br /><br />Writing that just made me realize that I start most of my WIPs from the POV of the heroine even though they are the only female POVs in their books that have 2-3 male POVs. And one of them isn't necessarily the main character.Bookishqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04815467506294547118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79646847093184905862016-05-04T14:58:24.829-05:002016-05-04T14:58:24.829-05:00I agree. It sucks you in. Good job, Gisela! And th...I agree. It sucks you in. Good job, Gisela! And thanks for sharing.<br /><br />You might flip those two sentences, though. Ex: Today was the day Anne's life would change forever. She nervously clasped her hands. (Or maybe "wrung" her hands, to get one word out of two.) But that way you get your strongest sentence first, then her reacting to the thought. Humans tend to think first, then react.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79811229077535586922016-05-04T14:55:11.625-05:002016-05-04T14:55:11.625-05:00Sounds like you've worked hard at it, Hannah. ...Sounds like you've worked hard at it, Hannah. If the opening fits the genre, then you'll find your readers. Trust your gut!Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7136817607262728592016-05-04T14:53:27.316-05:002016-05-04T14:53:27.316-05:00It's hard to have a really evil antagonist fro...It's hard to have a really evil antagonist from page one. Oftentimes, readers need to see that grow.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-70214736160614777672016-05-04T14:52:45.220-05:002016-05-04T14:52:45.220-05:00That depends how you want to read them: ebooks or ...That depends how you want to read them: ebooks or print. Here is a link to the Kinsman Chronicles on my website that shows each print book and the ebooks that have the same content:<br />http://jillwilliamson.com/books/kinsman-chronicles/Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-44335500894385032642016-05-04T14:48:14.093-05:002016-05-04T14:48:14.093-05:00I like your opening, Elizabeth. :-)I like your opening, Elizabeth. :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-3930076243005171752016-05-04T14:19:19.619-05:002016-05-04T14:19:19.619-05:00Thank you both! I had a lot of fun writing that be...Thank you both! I had a lot of fun writing that beginning. :)Linea Marshallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-59643045809309982042016-05-04T14:06:37.523-05:002016-05-04T14:06:37.523-05:00I would say that's a good place to start. The...I would say that's a good place to start. There's certainly plenty of tension--I mean, "Today was the day her life would change forever" is pretty high-stakes, don't you think? If my life is about to change forever, I want to know about it. And if Anne's life is about to change forever, I want to know about THAT, too. So yeah, I think it's a good, interesting opening. :-) Katie Hannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818413749107653398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-6457523405076037142016-05-04T13:48:28.554-05:002016-05-04T13:48:28.554-05:00Ooh!! Keep going on that!! :)
<3Ooh!! Keep going on that!! :)<br /><3Giselanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-67438199067334483742016-05-04T13:47:04.098-05:002016-05-04T13:47:04.098-05:00Sounds exciting!! Keep going!! :)
<3Sounds exciting!! Keep going!! :)<br /><3Giselanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-61627045908385933952016-05-04T13:42:00.601-05:002016-05-04T13:42:00.601-05:00Thanks for the input!! I'm always nervous abou...Thanks for the input!! I'm always nervous about beginning my book. This WILL help!! <br />MayaMayanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48508721307325211082016-05-04T13:39:57.283-05:002016-05-04T13:39:57.283-05:00Oh the ... means the story continues. It's not...Oh the ... means the story continues. It's not part of the story. Giselanoreply@blogger.com