Beginnings are hard, especially in fiction writing. You've
got to keep track of so many things. When I first started writing, I’d rework
and rework my story’s start until it was as flat and lifeless as highway road
kill.
Even then,
I’d fret and rewrite and fret some more.
Now, I just start. I jot down words, sentences and
paragraphs, figuring I’ll refine them later. I’m fortunate because I've had
awesome teachers, some super-talented critique partners, and I rewrite fairly
well.
Anyway,
after I've finished the first scene, chapter or rough draft, I step back, look
at the first page, its initial 13 lines (250 words or so), then consider these
questions:
- Did I begin in the right place? If I’ve included lots of explanation and background facts — stuff I felt the reader had to know to understand the scene, chances are my story is much too slow off the starting block.
- Is my opening picturesque? With lots of description and scene-setting details? If so, it may be a lovely still life, a word painting, but it’s not likely to interest a reader. To fix this, I try to view the setting through my main character’s personality or through his or her actions. I’ve heard a story should start with action so I’ll add movement -- my main character interacting with the scenery if necessary.
- Can the reader tell my story’s place and time? How can I give them that anchor? Maybe I need to add a date or a detail to nail down the story’s setting.
- The next point goes along with setting, but it’s more of daily life view. I ask: Is there a hint of where my protagonist is from? A glimpse of his/her everyday world so the reader can see the condition of my character’s life before the event that changes him or her and sets off the tale.
- Then I look to see if readers can easily determine the kind of tale I’m telling. Lots of readers are genre fans. They like mysteries or romances or thrillers, and they look for elements of their favorite genres in the novels they pick up. Usually a mystery has a crime at its heart while a romance revolves around the meeting of two interesting people. The genre elements help readers determine if the story is their kind of read. I ask myself: Have I included appropriate elements for my genre?
- The next point: Can readers identity the main character? Readers want to live the story with the hero or heroine, so it’s enticing if his or her personality stands front and center.
- These next aspects dovetail off the last: Does the main character have qualities and desires readers can imagine in themselves? If readers are going to experience the story's action along with my protagonist, they’ll have to understand and identify with him or her. How can I help them do this?
- Although my hero has admirable qualities, he/she can’t be flat. The main character also must have flaws to make him/her human and interesting. Complex characters intrigue readers. If I’ve only shown my character’s good qualities, a revision clearly is in order.
- Because readers can only view what I show them, I must ponder this question: Is the problem my character faces readily apparent? Can the reader readily identify with it? Conflict makes for a good story, so have I shown a conflict?
- Does the main character have an emotional feeling about what’s happening to him or her? Part of being human is that we react to events happening to us. My main character has to react as well. So ask myself: Can a reader sense what my character’s feeling? If not, how can I better convey that emotion?
- Is there a villain or an antagonist? Someone or something that opposes the protagonist in the opening passages? If not, I should add that opposition upfront.
- Does my opening contain an Unintended Surprise? Something that jars a reader out of the story? A part that’s confusing? How did this happen? It's not good. Perhaps I’ve left out significant details in my telling, important details stored in my head, but not yet shared with the reader? My fix: add those missing pieces ASAP. But don't get wordy.
- Lastly, I tackle this question: Do I like the opening? If I don’t, it heads back to revision. If I do, regardless of whether it answers each of my questions, it’s a Keeper.
Are you a
writer? Or a reader? What do you look for in beginnings? Have I left out
something I should have mentioned? Please let me know in the comments. I am,
and always will be, a writer who wants to learn something new about my craft
every day of my life.
Before I
ring down the curtain, here's an awesome opening that satisfies many of my
considerations. The opening motivates me not only to read the novel, but to
study it carefully in the hope of someday coming up with a beginning as well
crafted. http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/maidenlane/books/lordofdarkness.php#excerpt
Are you a writer? Or a reader? What do you look for in your
beginnings? Have I left something out I should have mentioned? Please let me
know in the comments. I am, and will always be, a writer, who wants to learn
just a little more craft.
Sources
Too many to name: critique partners’ advice,
RWA loop offerings, Waukesha
County Technical College writing classes, lots of books on the writer's craft, and many a helpful blog. In other words, all the learning I’m trying to retain.
County Technical College writing classes, lots of books on the writer's craft, and many a helpful blog. In other words, all the learning I’m trying to retain.