While the majority of this blog is focused on the reading portion of my personal MFA project, I’ve also been pursuing the writing side. Last week I completed the first draft of my first full-length romance novel, a historical set in Gilded Age New York. I started working on it last October and had hoped to finish the draft in January, but things happen… In any case, I have 72,462 words ready to be revised and another 15,000 in the scraps bin. I’ve already started in on the second book of the series and I’ll be revising the book 1 draft, so when I come back I’ll be focusing on how stories begin. On that topic, I’ve got a few articles on beginnings to share.
From Elizabeth on Eight Ladies Writing: How Fast Is Too Fast?
The opening of a story is important but, after reading Jenny’s recent post over at Argh Ink about the round of vicious cuts she just did on her first chapter to get her current story off to a fast start, I’ve been thinking about just how fast that opening needs to be. While a lean, fast opening will get a reader into the story quicker, there is a trade-off in terms of the depth and breadth of detail that can be provided and the potential reader engagement.
From Sheila Patel, guest-writing on Jami Gold’s blog:
An interested reader will skim the back cover copy or the online description, and if they need a little something more to convince them to buy your book, they’ll read the first page. If your first page can’t convince a reader to plunk down their money, you’ve just ruined your first impression.
Susan King, writing with the Word Wenches:
A great book might have a deceptively simple opening line to a deep and wonderful story. It might tell you some small yet significant clue about character, situation, setting. Sometimes it is just the power or beauty of the author’s voice that brings you along. Simple or complex, hang on – you may discover an amazing world within.
And the folks at Now Novel have 8 Tips to Lure Readers In:
Knowing how to write a hook is one of the key skills separating published from unpublished authors. Publishers want to know (among other things) that your book will appeal to an audience within the relevant market. How do you write a hook that makes readers lose track of time in book stores and library aisles?
I’m sure I’ll have plenty of work to do to lure readers into my stories! But for now I’m going to go along with the feeling that school just got out for the summer and I can loll about and read whatever I want for a week.
