tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post6270630678011955759..comments2024-02-21T05:25:03.233-05:00Comments on Adventures in YA Publishing: Inspired Openings: The Truth about Opening a Novel with Life or DeathMartina Boonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-64257778925963685252013-01-14T12:57:59.910-05:002013-01-14T12:57:59.910-05:00My favorite opening paragraph is from Dick Francis...My favorite opening paragraph is from Dick Francis' Straight: "I inherited my brother's life. Inherited his desk, his business, his gadgets, his enemies, his horses and his mistress. I inherited my brother's life, and it nearly killed me."<br /><br />It is such an odd combination of things to inherit--I had to read more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-8671515739714924362012-12-10T23:14:44.576-05:002012-12-10T23:14:44.576-05:00Yes, exactly. It's an opening I see used and a...Yes, exactly. It's an opening I see used and abused far too often. Not to mention that with our desensitized culture, if we all open with violence everyone is going to have to up the ante and pretty soon... well, pretty soon it's just chaos and anarchy.BBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750774359232145507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-28495909822276795422012-12-10T23:13:14.639-05:002012-12-10T23:13:14.639-05:00Karen - guts, and my editor :) I told my editor th...Karen - guts, and my editor :) I told my editor that in the past I've always felt like I know my story best, and that when I read authors thanking their editors for making their story "stronger," I would kind of smirk to myself. But I have an *excellent* editor, and she did a fantastic job of guiding me through the "sculpting" process.<br /><br />But I also have an Apple Time Machine, so highlighting large chunks and hitting Delete wasn't as frightening with that piece of equipment behind me :)BBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750774359232145507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-58812556206844946792012-12-10T23:10:48.059-05:002012-12-10T23:10:48.059-05:00Stina - in the end, if you can sell it to your CP,...Stina - in the end, if you can sell it to your CP, it might be working. Try cold-reading it to some people that you don't usually use as CP's and see if it flies.BBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750774359232145507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-72734517844584269462012-12-10T19:57:12.525-05:002012-12-10T19:57:12.525-05:00This is so very true. Until the reader has gained ...This is so very true. Until the reader has gained some kind of care or concern for the character, a violent opening is just violent. The care unformed so what happens doesn't resonate with the reader.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-38541059860530107672012-12-10T18:10:01.128-05:002012-12-10T18:10:01.128-05:00I guess it does take a lot of guts to chop-suey yo...I guess it does take a lot of guts to chop-suey your novel. If I've saved what ever I take out, I don't mind being relentless with the "sculpting" of my work. Um, so far. Saving this post. thanks.K. L. Hallamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-5509858960200486052012-12-10T15:18:24.952-05:002012-12-10T15:18:24.952-05:00This is something I'm struggling with for my n...This is something I'm struggling with for my new WIP. There's a reason I wrote the opening the way I did, and my CP said it worked. But I made sure I added something right away so you'd feel sympathetic toward the mc. Without it, the opening fell flat, since you didn't care if she survived or not. There was no emotional connection to her. <br /><br />Great post, Mindy. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-43047079257673578252012-12-10T14:40:58.955-05:002012-12-10T14:40:58.955-05:00Kessie, I LOVE that line. It not only opens up act...Kessie, I LOVE that line. It not only opens up action, but it speaks so much to character. That's what so utterly brilliant about it.<br /><br />Good for you for cutting those pages. That takes a ton of guts. Good luck with the WIP!<br /><br />MartinaMartina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-87470575065371689682012-12-10T14:32:15.786-05:002012-12-10T14:32:15.786-05:00Oh yes Kessie, that's a beautiful one! Thanks ...Oh yes Kessie, that's a beautiful one! Thanks for commenting!BBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750774359232145507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-12059276176883557172012-12-10T14:22:50.857-05:002012-12-10T14:22:50.857-05:00I had to cut a chapter and a half out of my WIP to...I had to cut a chapter and a half out of my WIP to find the opening line. But the book is so much better for it. I may wind up cutting even more by the final draft, but we shall see. <br /><br />I like those opening lines you listed. A line doesn't have to open with life and death, exactly, in order to catch a reader's interest. Although my favorite is still the first line from one of the Dresden books: "The hotel was on fire, and it wasn't my fault."Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019626781634777336noreply@blogger.com