Thursday, July 14, 2011

Beginning

Don't keel over from shock.
I've been writing again.

It started with a commitment to write for ten minutes a day. I blew that off for two days in a row then sat down and wrote until that draft was done. Yeah, I don't know how to ease into things at all.

I'm at the point where I need to input all of the notes, edits and maps into the computer. I've re-read all of the comments from my beta readers and contemplated their suggestions. Only one thought that the book should really have started at page three. The other four readers felt the context was important so that the significance of that starting point was stronger.

I'm torn. I tend to agree with the one lonely reader. Your book starts with the first step of the journey. However, an argument could be made that the first step occurred when my mom fell as opposed to when Casey arrived. A strong argument, because if all of our living conditions hadn't changed so radically we wouldn't have been capable, let alone receptive to Mom's desire for another dog. In this instance, I think context is vital.

On the other hand, that backstory can be told throughout the first chapter.

I'm great at playing devil's advocate for both sides. Making a decision about which is the better choice is a lot harder for me.

Do I start with the hypothesis - Healing takes many forms
or
the action - His calm steady gaze looked through the monitor's screen and straight into my mother's heart

Which grabs you more? Yeah, I thought so. That's a lot more editing.

Next week's blog - how editing makes a much stronger story.

4 comments:

  1. I take it that was a rhetorical question. lol Go forth and edit!

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  2. My first thought is that it's supposed to be Casey's story, so it should start with Casey.

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  3. Well, it's Casey's story but how he healed everyone not just himself. But yeah, I think I'm going to start there. A stronger opening sentence is necessary though.

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  4. I always think that the story starts when they find the body in the library... oh wait. Wrong type of story.
    I can see both sides of this. Most writing advice that I've read says you should always try to start a story as late as you possibly can. Maybe start with Casey's dilemma, then flash back to how everyone got situated?

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