Comments on: Let’s Start at the Very Beginning http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:08:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128500 Steve Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:42:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128500 Could you have written the right opening paragraph without having first written the preceding 98 pages? The backstory might be unnecessary for the reader, but was it necessary for you, the writer? Could you have written the right opening paragraph without having first written the preceding 98 pages? The backstory might be unnecessary for the reader, but was it necessary for you, the writer?

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]]> By: Catherine Lee http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128475 Catherine Lee Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:46:44 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128475 I really needed to read this! I just started my first novel and in all honesty, I have been patting myself on the back for completing the first chapter. That was until I lost my junk drive. Yes, I lost the only copy of my first chapter of my first novel. But I have to admit, it was a bad first chapter. It didn't do anything or go anywhere - basic expositional fluff. I've decided to let it stay lost. :) I know exactly where I want the story to go and it excites me every time I think about it, but the starting point has been challenging. I need to bottle up that energy and pour it onto the pages of my opening. Thanks again for the good advice. .-= Catherine Lee´s last blog ..<a href="http://oneinchtall.com/?p=26" rel="nofollow">One Inch Tall</a> =-. I really needed to read this! I just started my first novel and in all honesty, I have been patting myself on the back for completing the first chapter. That was until I lost my junk drive. Yes, I lost the only copy of my first chapter of my first novel. But I have to admit, it was a bad first chapter. It didn’t do anything or go anywhere – basic expositional fluff.

I’ve decided to let it stay lost. :) I know exactly where I want the story to go and it excites me every time I think about it, but the starting point has been challenging. I need to bottle up that energy and pour it onto the pages of my opening. Thanks again for the good advice.
.-= Catherine Lee´s last blog ..One Inch Tall =-.

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]]> By: Allison Winn Scotch http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128389 Allison Winn Scotch Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:15:43 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128389 Michaele - sorry to get back to you so late! For some reason, my email notification didn't go off for comments, so I didn't realize there were all these comments here! To answer your question, if you can believe it, other than a few graphs here and there, they were almost all axed. (Gulp.) They were backstory that I just didn't need, and other than those few paragraphs in which all of that backstory was consolidated, the rest was all fluff. That's an entire different post, I think, but equally as important: cut the backstory and throw the readers into the action - they're smarter than you give them credit for and can pick up on the clues of what has already happened! Michaele – sorry to get back to you so late! For some reason, my email notification didn’t go off for comments, so I didn’t realize there were all these comments here! To answer your question, if you can believe it, other than a few graphs here and there, they were almost all axed. (Gulp.) They were backstory that I just didn’t need, and other than those few paragraphs in which all of that backstory was consolidated, the rest was all fluff. That’s an entire different post, I think, but equally as important: cut the backstory and throw the readers into the action – they’re smarter than you give them credit for and can pick up on the clues of what has already happened!

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]]> By: Marisa Birns http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128377 Marisa Birns Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:32:51 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128377 Very good post. I am the type of book buyer who reads the book jacket, but then reads the first page to see if it's what I want to take home. Those first sentences always reel me in! They're important to me in my writing as well. I hope that I get it right. .-= Marisa Birns´s last blog ..<a href="http://oooalice.blogspot.com/2009/11/mojo-mama.html" rel="nofollow">Mojo Mama</a> =-. Very good post. I am the type of book buyer who reads the book jacket, but then reads the first page to see if it’s what I want to take home.

Those first sentences always reel me in!

They’re important to me in my writing as well. I hope that I get it right.
.-= Marisa Birns´s last blog ..Mojo Mama =-.

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]]> By: June http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128370 June Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:39:20 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128370 Beginning pages/paragraphs must be the order of the day. Over the last several days, I've been deconstructing my entire first chapter, trying out different ways to capture just the right nuance of what I'm trying to say. I guess your post is an omen that I'm on the right track! .-= June´s last blog ..<a href="http://writingisablessing.blogspot.com/2009/11/backspace-agent-author-conference.html" rel="nofollow">Backspace Agent-Author Conference</a> =-. Beginning pages/paragraphs must be the order of the day. Over the last several days, I’ve been deconstructing my entire first chapter, trying out different ways to capture just the right nuance of what I’m trying to say. I guess your post is an omen that I’m on the right track!
.-= June´s last blog ..Backspace Agent-Author Conference =-.

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]]> By: Jonathan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128366 Jonathan Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:10:12 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128366 Thanks for the insight. It kind of reinforces that whole idea that writing is revising (and revising and revising). The hard part for me, a beginning writer, is knowing when to stop. .-= Jonathan´s last blog ..<a href="http://jonathandanz.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/writer-identity-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-process/" rel="nofollow">Writer Identity, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Process</a> =-. Thanks for the insight. It kind of reinforces that whole idea that writing is revising (and revising and revising). The hard part for me, a beginning writer, is knowing when to stop.
.-= Jonathan´s last blog ..Writer Identity, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Process =-.

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]]> By: Michaele Stoughton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128362 Michaele Stoughton Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:33:41 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128362 More great advice! You are one of my fav's to follow. I'm curious about the 99 pages, were they trashed altogether, or reworked into the story? More great advice! You are one of my fav’s to follow. I’m curious about the 99 pages, were they trashed altogether, or reworked into the story?

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]]> By: Kat http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128361 Kat Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:55:27 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128361 This is so true! I admit I can be quite fickle when picking out a book. I'll usually read the book jacket (even though I often find that to be marketing spin, not what the book is really about) and I'll take in what the cover tells me, but if I start the first paragraph and I'm not immediately interested in the tone and the starting point, there's not much reason to carry on. Of the short stories I've written, some I knew exactly where to start, but sometimes I've had to get there circuitously. This is so true! I admit I can be quite fickle when picking out a book. I’ll usually read the book jacket (even though I often find that to be marketing spin, not what the book is really about) and I’ll take in what the cover tells me, but if I start the first paragraph and I’m not immediately interested in the tone and the starting point, there’s not much reason to carry on.
Of the short stories I’ve written, some I knew exactly where to start, but sometimes I’ve had to get there circuitously.

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]]> By: Debra Schubert http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128360 Debra Schubert Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:36:36 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128360 As always, brilliant well-written advice. Thank you so much, Allison, for reiterating this important point. I'm editing my YA novel right now, and am happy with the beginning. I hope others will be, too. ;-) .-= Debra Schubert´s last blog ..<a href="http://debralschubert.blogspot.com/2009/11/when-you.html" rel="nofollow">When You're NOT in the Driver's Seat or as Tom Petty Says, "The Waiting is the Hardest Part"</a> =-. As always, brilliant well-written advice. Thank you so much, Allison, for reiterating this important point. I’m editing my YA novel right now, and am happy with the beginning. I hope others will be, too. ;-)
.-= Debra Schubert´s last blog ..When You’re NOT in the Driver’s Seat or as Tom Petty Says, "The Waiting is the Hardest Part" =-.

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]]> By: Melanie http://writerunboxed.com/2009/11/12/let%e2%80%99s-start-at-the-very-beginning/#comment-128359 Melanie Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:10:14 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2015#comment-128359 I don't think I spent enough time with the opening of my first novel, so I'm trying hard to not make that same mistake with #2. .-= Melanie´s last blog ..<a href="http://melanieavila.blogspot.com/2009/11/flash-fiction-thursday.html" rel="nofollow">Flash Fiction Thursday</a> =-. I don’t think I spent enough time with the opening of my first novel, so I’m trying hard to not make that same mistake with #2.
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..Flash Fiction Thursday =-.

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