tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post4150011407999857602..comments2023-12-08T13:21:54.131-08:00Comments on Dangerous With a Pen: In Which the Beginning Vexes MeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-87273023856727051092010-03-30T16:21:01.388-07:002010-03-30T16:21:01.388-07:00Oh, I have been there. And when I start my next n...Oh, I have been there. And when I start my next novel in a few months, I will be there again. I agree with Anne -- it might help to start from a point that you know you can write. You can always write the beginning later. (And often, the beginning is the part that changes the most, so no need to feel pressured to get it right the first time.) Best of luck!Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-62592456476546674872010-03-30T15:23:56.793-07:002010-03-30T15:23:56.793-07:00I always Taurantino my stuff, I write random actio...I always Taurantino my stuff, I write random action or fast-paced scene and then get into the story. Later, it will bring you back to the beginning...at least, that's what I do on my mind paper. I have yet to do it on actual paper.<br /><br />We are so much alike! I do my best work on paper too!!Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-92067873358464127232010-03-30T10:54:41.852-07:002010-03-30T10:54:41.852-07:00Could it be done in the form of your POV reading a...Could it be done in the form of your POV reading a journal? A page from a diary type of prologue.<br />Have fun working it out.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-57356910106593521102010-03-30T09:54:26.468-07:002010-03-30T09:54:26.468-07:00Hi,
I think you should just keep writing on your o...Hi,<br />I think you should just keep writing on your other parts. When the time is right, the beginning with click for you.<br /><br />When I started my novel, I debated on having my female MC narrate in first person. Then I decided not to because I wanted my male MC's POV to come across as well.<br /><br />Well, the author of the book that I'm currently reading has his MC narrating in first person. Then in some alternating chapters he switches to third person so the nemesis's POV is shown. I found this to be very interesting.<br /><br />Also, I have an award over at my blog for you! Come on over and pick it up!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188040527118428794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-75136549542463797492010-03-30T09:47:10.218-07:002010-03-30T09:47:10.218-07:00Errr ... I would say you have beginningitis, a mal...Errr ... I would say you have beginningitis, a malady which affects me quite a bit. I won't tell you how many times I have ripped apart the first three chapters of my current MS, and you don't have to tell me how many wads of paper you wind up with in your wastebasket. Deal? ;-)<br /><br />Good luck! You can do it!Cynthia Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128418037470085123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-69610005751345650562010-03-29T22:10:17.168-07:002010-03-29T22:10:17.168-07:00Blah. Beginnings. They stink to high heaven in mos...Blah. Beginnings. They stink to high heaven in most of my WIPs. I agree, though. Try coming back to it later. It might help if you've done more of the middle.<br /><br />@KM: Dekker! I love him! Well, his writing, but you know what I mean.Rebecca T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11994380364321336824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-64298635665269451182010-03-29T19:46:20.705-07:002010-03-29T19:46:20.705-07:00Try reasearching a few Jodi Picoult books. She is...Try reasearching a few Jodi Picoult books. She is really good at changing points of view with each chapter. She even gives each person their own type font as well as their own voice. The prologues are sometimes written and you aren't sure who is speaking until somewhere near the end of the book. Check out "My Sister's Keeper" to see that prologue. I've got great confidence in you and know you will get through this bump in the road.Lorraine Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07361738152237097290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-37734350165679921422010-03-29T17:16:42.494-07:002010-03-29T17:16:42.494-07:00I hear you!!!
I'd say just play around with d...I hear you!!!<br /><br />I'd say just play around with different things and the answer WILL come...eventually.<br /><br />Shelleystoryqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039684494823420722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-72779161608260720562010-03-29T14:41:28.525-07:002010-03-29T14:41:28.525-07:00You can do it! I often like to read some books I h...You can do it! I often like to read some books I have as favorites to see how they began when I am in that kind of a bind. Maybe that will help?Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-26961265952306339902010-03-29T14:09:48.868-07:002010-03-29T14:09:48.868-07:00I get a notebook with a pretty cover and some gel ...I get a notebook with a pretty cover and some gel pens and handwrite the first few chapters of a project. This makes my ideas flow, especially when I'm not sure how to begin. Then I transfer everything to the computer and finish on there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-47179205834350361292010-03-29T13:52:15.138-07:002010-03-29T13:52:15.138-07:00I am having the same issue. Or similar anyways. I ...I am having the same issue. Or similar anyways. I have written my whole book in third person and even as I write I think "Damn I should be doing this in first person!" But I keep doing it...I dont know why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-7824361814428935832010-03-29T13:22:41.798-07:002010-03-29T13:22:41.798-07:00I'll go with Anne on this one, too. Just keep ...I'll go with Anne on this one, too. Just keep writing and by the time you come back to the first part of the piece, or probably before, you'll have come up with how you want to handle it.sarahjayne smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589820347348973092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-11818358531314928222010-03-29T12:16:02.227-07:002010-03-29T12:16:02.227-07:00That's hard for me to work through too. Good l...That's hard for me to work through too. Good luck, I hope that spiral helps you out!Jackeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351019926958000627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-29309561529261397352010-03-29T11:11:48.523-07:002010-03-29T11:11:48.523-07:00Hm... Switching POV's are tricky. I hope you f...Hm... Switching POV's are tricky. I hope you figure it out so that your little black raincloud can skitter away. Or that your little black raincloud will skitter away so that you can figure it out? Either way.<br /><br />With my one wip I'm having difficulties with the opening, trying to figure out when to start it. Annoying.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09222233412304660376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-19622898961944665712010-03-29T11:10:33.132-07:002010-03-29T11:10:33.132-07:00I agree with Piedmont - i write my best beginnings...I agree with Piedmont - i write my best beginnings after the end is done.<br />Also i will recommend Hooked by Les Edgerton - a writing book that focuses purely on beginnings.Sarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-44686145813592059572010-03-29T11:00:19.661-07:002010-03-29T11:00:19.661-07:00How about if you just worked on the rest of the bo...How about if you just worked on the rest of the book, left the beginning until after it was finished? Sometimes working backwards helps.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-13141290800532818842010-03-29T10:53:59.236-07:002010-03-29T10:53:59.236-07:00Ted Dekker's KISS does a good job of POV switc...Ted Dekker's KISS does a good job of POV switching, I think. The prologue had a different POV than the rest of the book, but I felt like I did a great job of hooking the reader. Try looking at that and seeing if it helps. Dekker is awesome!!Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851403823244758904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-72518612942981040432010-03-29T10:50:44.147-07:002010-03-29T10:50:44.147-07:00I find I don't have problems with intros (alth...I find I don't have problems with intros (although a lot of the first draft will inevitably get cut), but with middles. I lose my mojo and have to find it again. <br /><br />Good luck!Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-16094255113321421332010-03-29T10:46:38.609-07:002010-03-29T10:46:38.609-07:00I am under that raincloud with you! :-)I am under that raincloud with you! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-80638073055726338512010-03-29T10:36:35.055-07:002010-03-29T10:36:35.055-07:00Ahh, your problem is similar to mine right now. I...Ahh, your problem is similar to mine right now. I'm torn about the POV in my book. All signs seem to be pointing to first...but I've got over 70k written in third. Revision will be fun!<br /><br />Also, I do my best work with a pen and paper, too :)<br /><br />Good luck with your prologue!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952125198101179121noreply@blogger.com