tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276579347111537743.post3564052639532202640..comments2023-07-01T21:33:14.754-07:00Comments on Behind the Mystery: Taming the First ChapterLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222330734484913128noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276579347111537743.post-43501720926151949112010-06-13T11:36:21.674-07:002010-06-13T11:36:21.674-07:00Jan- Great points there! Sorry about your loss of ...Jan- Great points there! Sorry about your loss of your first comment. :( When I write magazine articles a lot of times I end up going back and making the second or third paragraph the first one, realizing only then that the first graf was, in a sense, a warm up. <br /><br />I think it is the same sometimes with first chapters. And you are right, I think it is okay to tell sometimes. I get so many rules in my head that, if I'm not careful, I edit the voice right out of the character. It's a delicate balance, for sure. Thanks for your thoughts!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00222330734484913128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276579347111537743.post-91012542932144015952010-06-13T07:25:27.265-07:002010-06-13T07:25:27.265-07:00oh man, in my impatience I killed my comment. So t...oh man, in my impatience I killed my comment. So this is just like re-writing my first chapter. Do it without looking at what you already have!<br />I know your pain. I just revised my first chapter. I'd started like I always seem to by having my protagonist in bed, ruminating. Arggh! So I pulled some action from the 2nd chapter and started there. It was fun.<br />By the way - I think it is OK to sometimes - sometimes - tell not show. We are story tellers not story showers (you know what I mean!). Look at your favourite classic and you will undoubtedly see that they do tell some of their story. just saying...Jan Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771180344305042855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276579347111537743.post-7875382598020951552010-06-10T14:01:33.127-07:002010-06-10T14:01:33.127-07:00Jules-
I love that analogy of courtship and marria...Jules-<br />I love that analogy of courtship and marriage! I totally appreciate your comment because you read a ton and KNOW good characters and engrossing stories. I get so bogged down in mechanics at times that I edit the heart (or voice) right off the page. I need to concentrate more on setting up all those what-ifs with a character that you want to stick with. Hmmm. *off to ponder*Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00222330734484913128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276579347111537743.post-16609763525761993952010-06-10T13:08:15.395-07:002010-06-10T13:08:15.395-07:00I am SURE there will be nothing I say here you don...I am SURE there will be nothing I say here you don't already know in spades above me. But I wanted to comment at least, cause you know I can't keep my mouth shut.:)lol<br /><br />From one uber novice to one advanced expert---I think it's like flirting. Maybe not our particular style, think more like Real Housewives of Orange County. Tease the reader. Set up characters to where we're dying to know more about each one. There are too many questions left up in the air for the reader to stop after chapter one.<br /> And tease with a million and one plot points that COULD happen--doesn't mean they all will. Make the reader ache to know more about the book. Have them keep thinking in their head about the plot long after they put it down. They have to go back, have to keep reading, have to know more! *sigh* <br />Thus ends the courtship and begins the marriage between the reader and your wonderfully, engrossing story.:)Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03252680671308952959noreply@blogger.com