Comments on: The Real Beginning http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/ How to Write and Publish Children's Books Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:11:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Kim http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-196737 Kim Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:17:49 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-196737 I love this post, because it's so true. I used to lock myself into a start and never reconsider whether or not that's the right start. But now I know I don't really have to worry too much over how the book starts when I'm first writing it. In my experience, I can never find the right start until I'm done with the book and maybe not even until I'm done with the first revision. It's usually somewhere near the end of it that I realize how I should actually start it. I love this post, because it’s so true. I used to lock myself into a start and never reconsider whether or not that’s the right start. But now I know I don’t really have to worry too much over how the book starts when I’m first writing it. In my experience, I can never find the right start until I’m done with the book and maybe not even until I’m done with the first revision. It’s usually somewhere near the end of it that I realize how I should actually start it.

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-76575 Mary Mon, 07 May 2012 14:12:41 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-76575 Katrina -- Great question! I'll try to address this one on the blog soon. Katrina — Great question! I’ll try to address this one on the blog soon.

]]> By: Katrina S. Forest http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-75891 Katrina S. Forest Sat, 05 May 2012 02:55:05 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-75891 Hmm... now you've got me wondering, where's the line between a character who's simply remembering a tidbit of information from the past in the opening pages and one who's jumping into an all-out flashback? I feel like I've seen the former done quite well before, though unfortunately, no exact titles come to mind. Hmm… now you’ve got me wondering, where’s the line between a character who’s simply remembering a tidbit of information from the past in the opening pages and one who’s jumping into an all-out flashback? I feel like I’ve seen the former done quite well before, though unfortunately, no exact titles come to mind.

]]> By: PK Hrezo http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-75677 PK Hrezo Fri, 04 May 2012 08:31:35 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-75677 Yep, I still have my notes from your last webinar in September. It's a good one! And reading Hooked helped me a lot ... although I think it's not only important to remember to start close to the inciting incident, but to also show the MC in their regular world before it changes, so the reader can connect with them better. I'm learning that during my revision process. Can't wait for your book to come out ... right about the time I'll be revising a new story. Perfect. :) Yep, I still have my notes from your last webinar in September. It’s a good one! And reading Hooked helped me a lot … although I think it’s not only important to remember to start close to the inciting incident, but to also show the MC in their regular world before it changes, so the reader can connect with them better. I’m learning that during my revision process.
Can’t wait for your book to come out … right about the time I’ll be revising a new story. Perfect. :)

]]> By: Elan Cross http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-75616 Elan Cross Fri, 04 May 2012 04:44:30 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-75616 Wow, first chapters are hard! As I was reading this, I thought to myself, "Nope. I don't have a flashback in the first 500 words. My beginning must suck for some other reason." Then I read my first chapter. Two flashbacks. In the first 500 words. Damn. Mary, thank you again for nailing it. I think the first half of my first chapter needs to go. But the good news is that the second half of my first chapter is, I think, pretty good. And no flashbacks! Maybe that's the real beginning? Wow, first chapters are hard! As I was reading this, I thought to myself, “Nope. I don’t have a flashback in the first 500 words. My beginning must suck for some other reason.” Then I read my first chapter. Two flashbacks. In the first 500 words. Damn.

Mary, thank you again for nailing it. I think the first half of my first chapter needs to go. But the good news is that the second half of my first chapter is, I think, pretty good. And no flashbacks! Maybe that’s the real beginning?

]]> By: Top Picks Thursday 05-03-2012 « The Author Chronicles http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-75458 Top Picks Thursday 05-03-2012 « The Author Chronicles Thu, 03 May 2012 17:01:24 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-75458 [...] Kole tells us how to know when you’ve started your novel in the right spot, and Roni Loren returns with 5 steps to testing your opening [...] [...] Kole tells us how to know when you’ve started your novel in the right spot, and Roni Loren returns with 5 steps to testing your opening [...]

]]> By: Julie Daines http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-74821 Julie Daines Tue, 01 May 2012 14:09:39 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-74821 Getting the beginning spot on is such a tricky and fine line to walk. On the flip side of too much backstory or flashbacks, I've seen first chapters that drop the reader right into a huge action scene where life or death is on the line. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. But is has to be done right. If we don't have any idea about what's going on, who or what the main character is, and why we should care about them, it only results in confusion and frustration. Agh! Why do first chapters have to be so hard? You've already given the best advice--finish the whole novel and THEN rework the first chapter. Getting the beginning spot on is such a tricky and fine line to walk. On the flip side of too much backstory or flashbacks, I’ve seen first chapters that drop the reader right into a huge action scene where life or death is on the line.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. But is has to be done right. If we don’t have any idea about what’s going on, who or what the main character is, and why we should care about them, it only results in confusion and frustration.

Agh! Why do first chapters have to be so hard?

You’ve already given the best advice–finish the whole novel and THEN rework the first chapter.

]]> By: Cara M. http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-74796 Cara M. Tue, 01 May 2012 12:26:34 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-74796 Oh. :( Totally!!! That's what's wrong with my frigging opening! I've been playing with it for months, cutting the narration, adding in the narration, grafting scenes onto the front, softpedaling the flashbacks, hardpedaling the flashbacks. It all felt wrong, but I didn't realize that, of course, this isn't a short story, it's not a tv show with a teaser, the first scene needs to be a scene, and it should be a scene long enough to actually get you into the story! I still have no idea what my beginning needs to be, but at least I know why the one I have now is wrong. Thanks! Oh. :(

Totally!!! That’s what’s wrong with my frigging opening!
I’ve been playing with it for months, cutting the narration, adding in the narration, grafting scenes onto the front, softpedaling the flashbacks, hardpedaling the flashbacks. It all felt wrong, but I didn’t realize that, of course, this isn’t a short story, it’s not a tv show with a teaser, the first scene needs to be a scene, and it should be a scene long enough to actually get you into the story!
I still have no idea what my beginning needs to be, but at least I know why the one I have now is wrong.

Thanks!

]]> By: Janelle http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-74675 Janelle Tue, 01 May 2012 01:47:06 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-74675 Just gonna call you The Clicker from now on. 'Cuz when you say stuff, it clicks. Just gonna call you The Clicker from now on. ‘Cuz when you say stuff, it clicks.

]]> By: Jesse http://kidlit.com/2012/04/30/the-real-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-74672 Jesse Tue, 01 May 2012 01:25:04 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=2922#comment-74672 Excellent advice! I think a lot of beginners incorporate flashbacks without realizing it's detrimental to their beginning. Your beginning should be one of the best parts of the book, and a flashback will destroy any momentum you may have created. Excellent advice! I think a lot of beginners incorporate flashbacks without realizing it’s detrimental to their beginning. Your beginning should be one of the best parts of the book, and a flashback will destroy any momentum you may have created.

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