Comments on: Beginnings http://writerunboxed.com/2006/01/31/beginnings/ about the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:11:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: thea mcginnis http://writerunboxed.com/2006/01/31/beginnings/comment-page-1/#comment-440 thea mcginnis Wed, 01 Feb 2006 17:21:00 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/01/31/beginnings/#comment-440 it's hard to have wisdom when you are in the middle of your storytelling. but the first chapter has got to grab the reader or its just not going to get past the first round, the first editor or the first agent. listen to your critique partners and find the wisdom not to be defensive about your work. it’s hard to have wisdom when you are in the middle of your storytelling. but the first chapter has got to grab the reader or its just not going to get past the first round, the first editor or the first agent. listen to your critique partners and find the wisdom not to be defensive about your work.

]]> By: Elena Greene http://writerunboxed.com/2006/01/31/beginnings/comment-page-1/#comment-439 Elena Greene Wed, 01 Feb 2006 14:21:00 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/01/31/beginnings/#comment-439 I've judged some of these chapter-and-synopsis contests too, and I always sympathize with those brave enough to enter. First chapters are tricky. Some writers are tempted to do too much with them, which results in many of the problems you mentioned, from too-frenetic pacing to backstory dumps. Another one I've seen (since I write and judge romance) is rushed sexual tension. A made-up example: hero/heroine meet at the site of an accident, where they're working together to save lives. Still in the middle of the crisis, they pause to flirt and check each other out. I always want to fling the scene at that point. But my guess is the writer is afraid some judge will say "can't see the chemistry" or something like that. And there are some clueless judges out there. My advice: don't write for the judges. Having said that, I'll add that my biggest issue with contest entries is murky motivation. Advancing the plot is not sufficient. Characters do not care about the plot the writer had in mind. At least, mine never have, and I hate and love them for it. Elena :) I’ve judged some of these chapter-and-synopsis contests too, and I always sympathize with those brave enough to enter.

First chapters are tricky. Some writers are tempted to do too much with them, which results in many of the problems you mentioned, from too-frenetic pacing to backstory dumps.

Another one I’ve seen (since I write and judge romance) is rushed sexual tension. A made-up example: hero/heroine meet at the site of an accident, where they’re working together to save lives. Still in the middle of the crisis, they pause to flirt and check each other out. I always want to fling the scene at that point. But my guess is the writer is afraid some judge will say “can’t see the chemistry” or something like that.

And there are some clueless judges out there. My advice: don’t write for the judges.

Having said that, I’ll add that my biggest issue with contest entries is murky motivation. Advancing the plot is not sufficient. Characters do not care about the plot the writer had in mind. At least, mine never have, and I hate and love them for it.

Elena :)

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