tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post1242393109401692433..comments2024-02-21T05:25:03.233-05:00Comments on Adventures in YA Publishing: Five Thoughts on Inspired Openings and Five Brilliant Recent Opening PagesMartina Boonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-79248384920536841292013-01-05T20:49:17.271-05:002013-01-05T20:49:17.271-05:00Thanks for posting this. Loved the opening you pos...Thanks for posting this. Loved the opening you posted of Days of Blood and Starlight so much I went to Amazon to check it out. Bought the first book in the series instead. Will buy this one after I've read book one.Cindy Carrollhttp://www.cindycarroll.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-74151431160358693832012-11-30T05:59:20.678-05:002012-11-30T05:59:20.678-05:00Sorry I'm a bit late weighing in here. (I'...Sorry I'm a bit late weighing in here. (I'm late checking my email.)<br /><br />I haven't read any of the book whose openings you've given but now I'm anxious to add them to my TBR pile. I'm also re-thinking the first few line of my story. Not the whole opening, mind you, it's what I need to Introduce the reader to my MC's ability, but I see that those important first lines could use a little tweeking. Thanks. :-)Suzanne Luceronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-79150663777497247632012-11-21T00:56:56.208-05:002012-11-21T00:56:56.208-05:00I am right there with you, Christina. I think most...I am right there with you, Christina. I think most of us are. Part of it is that we begin at the beginning, before we know our characters. And then it is hard to see what's not on the page when we go back. If you figure out how to warm up faster, would you let me know? :)Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-77007042007442902982012-11-20T15:26:26.748-05:002012-11-20T15:26:26.748-05:00Excellent post. I love your examples. I really do ...Excellent post. I love your examples. I really do hate openers. It takes me about 50 pages to warm up. Sigh.Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-10676592996289140332012-11-19T21:39:08.368-05:002012-11-19T21:39:08.368-05:00You just made my day, Maureen! Love that you saw t...You just made my day, Maureen! Love that you saw this, and loved the book!Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-71753675425890762392012-11-19T21:38:46.004-05:002012-11-19T21:38:46.004-05:00There's a lot to be said for that, and I know ...There's a lot to be said for that, and I know my writing always smooths out once I get rolling. I wonder if I could actually replicate that feeling by writing deliberate "prequels" to the main beginning that I could lop off?<br /><br />:)Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-79356318732690240602012-11-19T21:37:21.908-05:002012-11-19T21:37:21.908-05:00Oh, I was hoping someone would bring that up, beca...Oh, I was hoping someone would bring that up, because I was curious to see if anyone would hear the character in that opening if they didn't know what was coming next. The POV is Zuzana's, and she and Mik are staring down at Kaz who is in mid-interview with a reporter about his "girlfriend" who is "on the bad side" of the angels. Zuzana wants Mik to pee on him. You have to love that! I actually did assume it was a character POV from the get go, because there is so much attitude in there. What do you think?Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-18700749193337927632012-11-19T21:31:11.694-05:002012-11-19T21:31:11.694-05:00Always happy to help make someone else's TBR p...Always happy to help make someone else's TBR pile as long and ready to topple as mine! Thanks for stopping by, Jess!Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-15166760838319520672012-11-19T21:30:26.419-05:002012-11-19T21:30:26.419-05:00I know, right? I want one too. If you find one, le...I know, right? I want one too. If you find one, let me know, would you? :)<br /><br />Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-56792050978483028172012-11-19T20:14:40.836-05:002012-11-19T20:14:40.836-05:00Oh! Thank you for the compliment about my opening....Oh! Thank you for the compliment about my opening. :) <br /><br />Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-35619388543857693282012-11-19T14:37:00.089-05:002012-11-19T14:37:00.089-05:00With every book I've written so far, I've ...With every book I've written so far, I've ended up trashing the first chapters and starting in chapter three. All the stress over the perfect opener, then I realize I didn't start the story where the story started. The more organic, less contrived beginning of chapter three has always ended up having much more impact.Erin Kane Spockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05376851676240606472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-52168468307390636312012-11-19T14:04:21.611-05:002012-11-19T14:04:21.611-05:00I find it interesting that in Days of Blood and St...I find it interesting that in Days of Blood and Starlight, there's no character introduced in the hook. Only a situation. It's the only one that doesn't give me some inkling of the main character. And you know, that's okay! I wish I could post up the first page of Mary Stewart's Madam, Will You Talk? It's a long, slow hook that lampoons every thriller trope. At the same time, it leaves you breathless for more.Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019626781634777336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-87795799181503680922012-11-19T13:59:03.097-05:002012-11-19T13:59:03.097-05:00Thanks for sharing your excellent thoughts about o...Thanks for sharing your excellent thoughts about openings! The examples all left me intrigued (and gave me a few new books to add to my TBR list!).Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-67276204662947057832012-11-19T12:55:00.753-05:002012-11-19T12:55:00.753-05:00All your points about a good opening are so true. ...All your points about a good opening are so true. And I love the examples. But darn it, I want a formula for openings and everything else. Ha! Happy Thanksgiving!Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com