tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post3334276359317465271..comments2024-01-02T06:39:28.476-06:00Comments on erica and christy-two moms. two teachers. two writers. one blog.: getting started. over and over and over and over a...erica and christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-51696359818770245702012-03-14T09:27:12.349-05:002012-03-14T09:27:12.349-05:00Ok, so I'm now (inevitably) looking at my own ...Ok, so I'm now (inevitably) looking at my own first sentence and seeing whether it matches the "formula" you're trying! <br /><br /><i>My assignment tonight is cuter than most.</i><br /><br />Simple sentence ✔<br />Shows what is "ordinary" for the protag (a night-time assignment), while also showing that it's different from the reader's world (well, unless my readers also go out on assignments at night!) ✔<br />Doesn't wait more than a few paragraphs to initiate conflict ✔ (Conflict arrives in paragraph 5 or 6)<br /><br />So, it looks like one of my works, at least, follows the same pattern you're aiming for!<br /><br />xx <a href="http://www.rachel-morgan.com" rel="nofollow">Rachel</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-2716642818724602752012-03-12T22:50:43.561-05:002012-03-12T22:50:43.561-05:00These are excellent examples of great first senten...These are excellent examples of great first sentences (some of my favs!). The key is to have it create suspense, mystery, or raise a reader's curiosity. Hook them and then real them in. You can do it!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-51924795867900544522012-03-12T16:36:22.591-05:002012-03-12T16:36:22.591-05:00Wow, that's a lot to take in. Honestly? I ju...Wow, that's a lot to take in. Honestly? I just go with my gut. I go with how my story wants to start out, you know? Sometimes I think you can look into it TOO much- analyze it too much. Not every book should start with conflict, and not every book should start with more background info. It has to feel right with YOUR book. I hear conflicting opinions from agents and editors all the time- some like it to immediately start with conflict/action. Other's want to be set up more, with the inciting incident a little father down. My first book I"m querying, has a little more introduction- it's a traditional fantasy and I feel those need to build up to the inciting incident, especially my book. (it's only a few pages in though, not too far along.)(look at Graceling- she has a bunch of intro in the beginning that actually almost made me set it down, but it's a best seller) But with my second one I'm working on, the very first pages starts out with action- BOOM. Hits you in the face. Because that's how it was supposed to start. Anyway, it just has to make sense with the rest of the story. You can't force it to start with action if it's not supposed to, you know? Yes, it can be tweaked and maybe someone else will see potential for starting it another way. So when you feel conflicted and people are telling you different ways to start it, just sit back and really look at your story. How SHOULD it start? The beginning needs to work with the book, not against it. You don't want someone thinking you just shoved that in there because some people said you were supposed to, you know? (remember how subjective this business is?) Good luck! I know you can do it!Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-34505086888808044132012-03-12T08:31:27.591-05:002012-03-12T08:31:27.591-05:00I'm still struggling with my opening. I had on...I'm still struggling with my opening. I had one. Someone felt I needed to start sooner in the story and with more suspense. Did that. It failed. I needed to start with normal, which in my mc's case, normal is struggling with her brother's death from two weeks ago, but the inciting incident is her going back to school and being in the one class they shared together. Hopefully that works. :)<br /><br />Great post!!!!Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-78681951196819230852012-03-12T07:25:35.978-05:002012-03-12T07:25:35.978-05:00Ugh...beginnings. For some writers, that's the...Ugh...beginnings. For some writers, that's their favorite part. Not for me. I've literally rewritten the beginning of my YA novel eight times. (I'm really picking that number out of a hat. I've lost count at my new beginnings.) I think the most important thing to do is just write. If you have a story worth telling, start writing anywhere within the story. The true beginning may come to you.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com