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Post by Valhalla Erikson on Aug 14, 2023 19:23:30 GMT -6
In my YA fantasy story, I am stuck on how to start a story. What advice would you give when you find yourself in the situation?
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Post by Sundrinker on Aug 15, 2023 18:07:30 GMT -6
Alright, so I'll be interpreting your question as "I don't know what to write" as opposed to "I know what to write but don't know how to present it". The best two advices I received are the following: - Start by writing the scenes you want to write, or basically, don't force yourself to write in order. This is the technique I used to write my first serious short story and I wouldn't have been able without it. There's no hard and fast rule telling you to start from beginning except maybe that little voice in your head. What are the scenes you see in your head when thinking about your story? Start with those. It's kind of like a puzzle whose pieces you're discovering bit by bit. Inspiration might struck as you're writing down those pieces. When you feel like you'll have a fair amount down then take a step back, see what's missing or how your story wants to unfold and start filling the blanks. Again, piece by piece if needed.
- Just force yourself to write anyway. I don't like this one as much as the previous but it does have its merits. Sometime you just have to power through by writing something that kind of sucks and then revisit it later. Like in the previous point, inspiration might strike. At least you'll have something and then you can ask for some feedback from some of your beta readers.
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Post by RAVENEYE on Aug 16, 2023 9:30:35 GMT -6
Hehe, yeah. Don't worry about getting it right the first draft. Openings are the hardest to nail down and generally suck, and even if you think you choose the right place to start, it's highly likely you'd need to shift that a bit. Also, if something isn't gelling in later chapters, chances are it's because there's something missing or wrong in the opening chapters. So! Toss the "get it right" urge out the window and just start slapping some shit down. Seriously. Rough drafts = ugly. The plastic surgery can come later as you get to know the plot and characters better.
But playing with possible openings is good. Some helpful advice I've read and worked with is: Start as close to the catalyst event or change event as possible. Readers can safely assume your character leads a "normal," routine life on page 0. But on page 1, something comes along to shake that up. What is it?
Whatever you do, DON'T start with a character waking up or starting an adventure from a tavern. Both cliches to be avoided.
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Post by Alatariel on Aug 16, 2023 11:08:46 GMT -6
From what I've heard from big name authors, the beginning they write first is never the beginning that makes it into the final draft. So it doesn't super matter, just start and go from there. I'd choose a beginning that gives the readers 1) a sense of you main character, who they are, what they want, what matters to them at the beginning of the story and 2) a sense of the setting.
I recommend not starting with action because contrary to the popular advice, it doesn't hook the readers. It tends to confuse, more than anything. Why should we care about this character running from someone else? Or whatever the action may be. Start with the character. Not every book starts this way, of course, but if I get an interesting character voice in the first page it'll draw me in further than some big action sequence.
I had this issue recently with my current project. I had the characters and plot, but didn't know where to start. I desperately wanted to just start writing so I picked a moment in time and just started. It's not perfect, or good, but now I can actually get the story on paper (or word doc) which is priceless and the ultimate goal. Can't edit something that doesn't exist!
But-- just start. It'll probably be changed in later drafts anyways.
EDIT: And piggybacking off Raveneye's advice, also don't start with a dream sequence. Please. I'm begging you.
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Post by saintofm on Aug 17, 2023 2:37:40 GMT -6
Simple sometimes works. In hole in a ground once lived a hobbit changed modern fantasy forever, and it was Tolken writing a random thought he had as he picked up a blank paper a student handed in.
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Post by RAVENEYE on Aug 17, 2023 9:52:07 GMT -6
Simple sometimes works. In hole in a ground once lived a hobbit changed modern fantasy forever, and it was Tolken writing a random thought he had as he picked up a blank paper a student handed in. Fascinating to learn how great works begin humbly. |
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HeRoCoMpLeX
Smoke
"If one drinks much from a bottle marked poison, its bound to catch up with one sooner or later."
Posts: 7
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
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Post by HeRoCoMpLeX on Sept 9, 2023 23:00:05 GMT -6
When you sit down to write your story you generally have some aspect of that story in your mind. Write about that aspect and, in my experience, the rest will come. A couple of personal examples: I read a writing prompt somewhere on the web and the ending to a short story flashed in my mind. I sat down and wrote the ending while it was fresh in my head and fleshed the rest of the story out basically backwards. I had to write a piece of flash fiction in college and all I could think of was a really cool character I'd been toying with. I wrote a back story for the character and that gave me the idea for the actual piece of flash. Whatever solid ideas you have about your story, write them and hopefully, that will lead you to where you want to begin. It usually works for me anyway. Good Luck  |
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