tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post9006743087976122328..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Open Up! Writing the Opening Scene Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37337863954325511602019-09-14T13:12:29.454-04:002019-09-14T13:12:29.454-04:00Hi, Janice, I must admit that it doesn’t get any s...Hi, Janice, I must admit that it doesn’t get any sweeter than this blog. You definitely pointed out some key things to focus on when writing a captivating story. Thank you for sharing your brilliant insight.Derrick Washingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12534414744648589340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63994575966853711772019-09-04T12:12:43.299-04:002019-09-04T12:12:43.299-04:00One of my favorite openings is from Secrets by Rob...One of my favorite openings is from Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn. The protagonist is driving in her new car to start a new life away from her father; and it's her 25th birthday. She rounds a curve and gets blinded by sunlight, dodges a truck and ends up in a wreck.<br />Consider me hooked.Abrigail Julianhttp://abrigailjulian.home.blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-54531101352351673622019-01-26T08:22:36.397-05:002019-01-26T08:22:36.397-05:00I didn't badmouth backstory or say never to us...I didn't badmouth backstory or say never to use it. The only time I believe I mentioned it was to caution against prologues that were just unnecessary backstory readers don't need t know first. I never even said not to use it. <br /><br />If it serves the story there's no issue with having it. <br /><br />It's also typically not an issue later in the story when readers want to know the history of a character. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-10429540801153502772019-01-25T18:44:48.709-05:002019-01-25T18:44:48.709-05:00Again with the badmouthing of backstory. We wouldn...Again with the badmouthing of backstory. We wouldn't have had The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo without huge amounts of backstory. And often, the reader DOES need to know much of the backstory. Done right, backstory lends drama and tension to the entire work. To use a movie analogy, think about it: Psycho is simply backstory to the moment Janet Leigh is slaughtered. bloggerjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280219040560653721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-89666395857704838502013-10-04T09:53:02.944-04:002013-10-04T09:53:02.944-04:00Thanks guys!
Rubianna, those panels are terrifyi...Thanks guys! <br /><br />Rubianna, those panels are terrifying, aren't they? But when you think about it, we do the same thing as readers (or at least I do). We read the first page of a novel and decide if we want to buy it or not. <br /><br />It's that sense of "intrigue" that draws people in I think. A curiosity of something interesting going on, whatever that may be. So if your argument makes readers wonder what they're arguing about or why, it could work. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18153112669805152362013-10-02T19:59:30.616-04:002013-10-02T19:59:30.616-04:00I struggle so much with openings. I just attended ...I struggle so much with openings. I just attended a writing conference where agents read an opening and indicated how far they would read. It was super short!<br /><br />I started with a small argument between a mother and daughter, but I don't want it to come off overly dramatic. I will probably change out a dozen more times. I've considered starting with sneaking out too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03683787289610071946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77825030521795391732013-09-24T23:42:50.116-04:002013-09-24T23:42:50.116-04:00Great post. I'm working on a novel and have re...Great post. I'm working on a novel and have recently opened with the antagonist in much the way you <br />suggest in the last paragraph. I'm hoping that gives it a kick in the pants!Eva Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855603175280772481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-35526465162280251102013-09-24T10:02:34.142-04:002013-09-24T10:02:34.142-04:00Excellent blog. LInked to it on my writing wiki an...Excellent blog. LInked to it on my writing wiki and saved for my own instruction! Thanks.Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87354851161378498352013-09-23T15:29:42.525-04:002013-09-23T15:29:42.525-04:00Rachel, aw, lol thanks! Rachel, aw, lol thanks! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-30347372438057902592013-09-23T08:05:28.413-04:002013-09-23T08:05:28.413-04:00There was this one book that opened with a girl tr...There was this one book that opened with a girl trying to steal eggs... :)<br /><br />"The Thief"--Gen in prison, long after he thought he'd be able to break out.<br /><br />"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit." Nice peaceful life, and BAM! A wizard shows up with the threat/lure of adventure!<br /><br />"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.com