Lots of great opinions about the necessary ingredients for an enticing opening in tonight’s #ScribeChat, with input from treasured regulars and some new members drawn to the lively conversation. Thanks to all who joined the party, but if you missed it, never fear, the transcript is here!
| 12:04 am | SheviStories: | One hour to #ScribeChat! TOPIC: Into The Fray: The Best and Worst Ways to Start Your Novel. Should be fun! Retweet #scribechat |
| 12:16 am | teetate: | RT @SheviStories: One hour to #ScribeChat! TOPIC: Into The Fray: The Best and Worst Ways to Start Your Novel. Should be fun! Retweet #scribechat |
| 12:31 am | LiaKeyes: | I’ve been watching the tv show DEXTER on Netflix… O.M.G. My new drug of choice! #scribechat |
| 12:32 am | SheviStories: | Half an hour to #ScribeChat! TOPIC: Into The Fray: The Best and Worst Ways to Start Your Novel. Should be fun! Retweet #scribechat |
| 12:47 am | LiaKeyes: | Breaking News: Les Edgerton, author of “HOOKED” and “FINDING YOUR VOICE” will be doing a guest post on The ScribeChat Review. #scribechat |
| 12:49 am | LiaKeyes: | 12 Ways to Start a Novel, fascinating post by Darcy Pattison:http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/opening-lines/ #scribechat |
| 12:51 am | teetate: | Can you tell I love Thursday night chats? Am early. Hi Lia! #scribechat |
| 12:51 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @drydenbks: RT @LiaKeyes: This week’s #ScribeChat topic: Into The Fray: The Best and Worst Ways to Start Your Novel (Thurs, 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET) |
| 12:52 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: Breaking News: Les Edgerton, author of “HOOKED” and “FINDING YOUR VOICE” will be doing a guest post on The ScribeChat Review. #scribechat |
| 12:52 am | salamicat: | RT @LiaKeyes: 12 Ways to Start a Novel, fascinating post by Darcy Pattison:http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/opening-lines/ #scribechat |
| 12:54 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Hi, there! I’ve got Pimms, a boozy lemonade with ice and fresh fruit beside me… too hot for wine or choc this wk #scribechat |
| 12:56 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol I don’t blame. I’m regretting the chili I made for dinner.  #scribechat |
| 12:56 am | teetate: | that should have been ‘don’t blame you’ spice overload, I’m afraid #scribechat |
| 12:56 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate LOL! I’m ordering pizza – no cooking here… not on Thursdays, anyway. #scribechat |
| 12:57 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol that’s me usually, but tonight the hubby was home so he got things started for me. #scribechat |
| 12:57 am | SheviStories: | @teetate Cool, because I just bought “Hooked.” Really looking forward to reading it. #scribechat |
| 12:58 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories GREAT! I have my copy here beside me. I’ve had it for years, and every time I go back to it I find some new wisdom #scribechat |
| 12:58 am | teetate: | @SheviStories Lord, I know. It’s on my very long TBR list which I swore I wouldn’t start on until I finish ‘Forest’ #scribechat |
| 12:59 am | teetate: | The muse has been occupying my time so it’s taking me some time to finish Lerner. #scribechat |
| 12:59 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate I’m finding it hard to finish Lerner, too. #scribechat |
| 12:59 am | teetate: | BTW, thanks so much for all the RTs. I so appreciate it! #scribechat |
| 1:00 am | sharifwrites: | RT @SheviStories: #ScribeChat! TOPIC: Into The Fray: The Best and Worst Ways to Start Your Novel. Should be fun! Retweet #scribechat |
| 1:00 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Of course! If we don’t RT each other’s efforts no one knows about them! #scribechat |
| 1:01 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I really like what she says,but I get distracted easily for some reason lately. Stupid fairies w/ their wire wings! #scribechat |
| 1:01 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol true! I had so much fun guesting on Ebony’s blog & her post on mine was just amazing. #scribechat |
| 1:03 am | overdunne: | Hi there! *pours glass of chilled white, pulls up chair…* #scribechat |
| 1:03 am | LiaKeyes: | @overdunne Welcome to the chat! #scribechat |
| 1:04 am | Maria_Disidoro: | Hey guys! Looking forward to tonights topic. I’ll chime in as soon as I’m done cooking dinner. #scribechat |
| 1:04 am | overdunne: | @teetate @liaKeyes naw, kids are in bed…this is mumma’s time. (with wine…and chocolate of course) #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | LiaKeyes: | Q: In a book store, reading the first pages of novels you’re considering buying, what makes you choose one over another? #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | LiaKeyes: | @Maria_Disidoro Hey, Maria! We’ll be here…. #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | WriterRoss: | I am here to stay, g-d willing! Our internet is iffy, and e-mail has been down all day. Hope this sticks to the screen. #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | LiaKeyes: | And what makes you put a book back on the shelf without buying it? #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes Hands down, always, the first line. If it catches my attention, then I’ll buy. #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | DavidEMinorSr: | @LiaKeys A: if the book draws me into it quickly, if not, I’ll put it back. #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate That’s it? Just the first line? Do you read beyond the first line? #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | teetate: | If there is a load of exposition in the first few paragraphs, I’m uninterested. #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | sharifwrites: | @LiaKeyes Something on the first few pages has to interest me: dialogue, action, and/or voice. #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | overdunne: | pick up- probably a paragraph that makes me think, but doesn’t give me too much info yet #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes LOL well, it has to be a killer first line. No, I’ll read further, but it’s the first line that has to hook me. #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | WriterRoss: | I read the summary on the copyright page. From there, I read first few paragraphs. Do I make an emotional connection to story? #scribechat |
| 1:08 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes I’ll put it back if the first page doesn’t grab me. I should be more open, but I’m not! #scribechat |
| 1:08 am | sharifwrites: | @LiaKeyes I”ll give up if it doesn’t draw me in. I no longer wait 50 pages for a book to get good. Too many other books to read. #scribechat |
| 1:09 am | editorialdept: | *sneaking in and taking a chair in the back of the room* Sorry – technical issues. I’m here now #scribechat |
| 1:09 am | keelyinkster: | I just read a killer first line in The Red Pyramid – totally hoohed a group of ten year olds #scribechat |
| 1:09 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept Hey!!!! Nice to see you. #scribechat |
| 1:09 am | teetate: | @editorialdept hey hon! Glad you made it! #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | overdunne: | put down- either a topic I don’t like…or lately- too much reality…maybe bland writing slow movement #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | teetate: | TBH, I generally have an idea of what I’m going to buy when I get there, then I browse until I find something I like. #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | darrenpardee: | #scribechat If the language is rich, I stick around no matter what. |
| 1:10 am | GeneDoucette: | hello all, just popping in #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes so true. I have like three or four books I have to get to in the next couple of weeks plus WIP #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | LiaKeyes: | “The single biggest reason mss get rejected: writer begins in the wrong place.” Les Egerton (“HOOKED”). Discuss! #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | ktubb: | RT @LiaKeyes: 12 Ways to Start a Novel, fascinating post by Darcy Pattison: http://bit.ly/9dqumG#scribechat |
| 1:10 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette Hey, Gene! #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | WriterRoss: | @LiaKeyes HOOKED is a great advice book. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | keelyinkster: | I always change where the start starts on my second or third rewrite! #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | editorialdept: | One of the things we see over and over in the office is writers who should start their books about 20 pages later than they do #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | keelyinkster: | @WriterRoss Who is hooked by? #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | GeneDoucette: | so we’re talking about what draws us into titles? I’m usually shopping non-fiction. #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | WriterRoss: | Starting too early makes me feel like I’m the first person to arrive at a party. #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | teetate: | @keelyinkster I do too. And starting in the wrong place can make a lot of readers turn away from reading the book. #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | LiaKeyes: | @keelyinkster Interesting! What makes you realize you need to change? #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | editorialdept: | It’s hard, especially when you’re a new writer, to ditch the mucking about parts and get right into the story. #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | LiaKeyes: | @keelyinkster HOOKED is by Les Edgerton #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | keelyinkster: | @editorialdept How do you feel about showing ‘normal’ first versus immediate action? #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | GeneDoucette: | I’ve found a good opening is one that creates a question immediately. #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | SheviStories: | Twitter and Tweetchat aren’t working for me. Moved to Twetdeck, and it’s working, but I don’t know how to use it. #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | PeterMcL: | I originally started my WIP with two chapters set in school. I was told that was boring, so one went. #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | GeneDoucette: | The first line for Immortal was originally “It all started when I woke up behind the futon.” #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | keelyinkster: | @LiaKeyes I think I need the extra stuff for me to start with – then realize it’s redundant! #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | shelleysouza: | Lia, why do you like Hooked? #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | teetate: | In grad school it was drilled into our heads, ‘give them a reason to stay and read.’ #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | goldenwordsmith: | …so we’re talking about what draws us into titles? I’m usually shopping non-fiction. #scribechat via @GeneDoucette |
| 1:14 am | editorialdept: | @keelyinkster you mean establishing a setting before diving in to action? #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | LiaKeyes: | @WriterRoss I gave Les a possible date, and topic. Waiting for confirmation. Will update you when I have it. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | WriterRoss: | @SheviStories I tried HootSuite tonight. Forgetaboutit. It was a debacle. Switched to TweetChat and knock on wood, I’m here #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | 400rejections: | @GeneDoucette I love zippy one-word titles for non-fiction, like Blink, and Bonk. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | DavidEMinorSr: | @editorialdept That’s the problem I have now, throwing out stuff that doesn’t really fit any more, but was fun to write. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | keelyinkster: | @editorialdept that, or establishing what normal life is for a character before it all goes pear shaped. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | PeterMcL: | It’s ironic/contradictory that Act I has to establish normalcy?while starting with an abnormal kick! #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | maryfranholm: | @ keelyinkster I just read a killer first line in The Red Pyramid – totally hoohed a group of ten year olds< I must check it out #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | overdunne: | Funny…my 10 yo son was told by his teacher this year to read 4 chapters before giving up on a book. I disagree. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | LiaKeyes: | @shelleysouza Hi, Shelley! I like that he says that “Great beginnings aren’t difficult to master” and clearly shows you how #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections hah, just replied with out the hashtag to your comment without a hashtag. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | SheviStories: | Okay, maybe TweetChat will work now… #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | editorialdept: | @keelyinkster my preference is to dive right in to the action. Let “normal” come out as the story unfolds #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | darrenpardee: | #scribechat Write a first chapter, not a Prologue |
| 1:16 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections I’m usually looking at histories or popularized science, especially when researching for the next novel. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | keelyinkster: | @maryfranholm It made me want to keep reading but I was teaching at the time! #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | inkgypsy: | RT @LiaKeyes: “The single biggest reason mss get rejected: writer begins in the wrong place.” Les Egerton (“HOOKED”). Discuss! #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | teetate: | RT @editorialdept: @keelyinkster my preference is to dive right in to the action. Let “normal” come out as the story unfolds #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | lisagailgreen: | The one I’m reading now hooked mew/the first few pages. Now I feel duped.Goes to show strong start doesn’t always = strong book. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | shelleysouza: | Hooked is now on my list, thanks, Lia. Loving Write Away. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | Maria_Disidoro: | Trying to follow #scribechat & cook dinner at the same time. Not working out so well. *puts fixings for dinner away* |
| 1:16 am | SheviStories: | I have to be hooked on the first page, but if the writing is okay, I might force myself to read the first chapter. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | goldenwordsmith: | 12 Ways to Start a Novel, fascinating post by Darcy Pattison: http://bit.ly/9dqumG #scribechat RT by @LiaKeyes and @ktubb |
| 1:17 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes If it fails to be interesting, intense or mysterious enough. It needs to hold your attention & make it a curious read #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | editorialdept: | @DavidEMinorSr &, thanks to computers, you can always save your “trashed” bits. Sometimes they can be the start of something new #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections and then I’m starting with the subject, and looking for the book I think will be most accessible. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | teetate: | @darrenpardee I agree. Prologues aren’t usually necessary. If it’s good enough, then it should be in the book. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | 400rejections: | @GeneDoucette So tell me you’ve read Mary Roach. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | tadbo: | @overdunne Stephen King says twenty pages. I find that more than enough. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | GeneDoucette: | @teetate don’t be dissing prologues. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | SheviStories: | With so many great books out there that do hook you on the first page, why stick with a book that doesn’t? #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | keelyinkster: | @teetate I’ve heard that form editors at conferences too – maybe an exception for fantasy? #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | papertyger: | RT @editorialdept: One of the things we see over and over in the office is writers who should start their books about 20 pages later than they do #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections I have. One of her books; the one on the death industry. #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | editorialdept: | @teetate So often, a prologue sounds like the author’s way of figuring out their setting. doesn’t serve the story – just ego #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | papertyger: | RT @editorialdept: It’s hard, especially when you’re a new writer, to ditch the mucking about parts and get right into the story. #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | overdunne: | @SheviStories I agree! So much to read, so little time… #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | lisagailgreen: | Why is it prologues are a no-no but there are SO many of them? #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | teetate: | @keelyinkster yeah, I agree w/ that. and sorry, Gene. #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @editorialdept: One of the things we see over and over in the office is writers who should start their books about 20 pages later than they do #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | Maria_Disidoro: | More & more I’m noticing trends to open a book with an infodump. Personally, I think that’s a terrible idea. #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | keelyinkster: | @teetate I guess it depends on the story -I’ve done both but do enjoy jumping straight in! #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections but my research is like school work sometimes. I’m reading a small book now called “when Asia was the world” #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | teetate: | @editorialdept exactly. if it’s good enough for you to write, then put it in the story, not before it. IMHO anyway. #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | LiaKeyes: | @lisagailgreen So many prologues aren’t necessary, don’t help the story. But some are BRILLIANT?like mine! #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | goldenwordsmith: | Also sneaking in and taking a back chair, sorry. Great topic, as usual. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | SheviStories: | @lisagailgreen Some prologues are very effective. One I remember (though I wouldn’t recommend the book) is from Logan’s Run. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes I don’t doubt it!  #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | phoebeeating: | @Maria_Disidoro Hate info dumps generally . . . high fantasy novels are bad about this. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | Maria_Disidoro: | I like the mystery of the characters – who they are & how they got where they are – to unfurl w/the story. It keeps me reading #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | WriterRoss: | Problem 4 me re: diving right in: I don’t want to be overwhelmed by the character’s problem. Need to know WHY I’m here 1st. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen that’s another reason they bother me. They are everywhere. I feel like I should stand out not follow others. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | GeneDoucette: | @teetate prologues are excellent ways to shade the story without interrupting the story. I write my prologues last. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | keelyinkster: | @Maria_Disidoro I agree infodumps are a big turn off! #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | DavidEMinorSr: | RT @editorialdept: It’s hard, especially when you’re a new writer, to ditch the mucking about parts and get right into the story. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | LiaKeyes: | “Tucker Case awoke to find himself hanging from a breadfruit tree by a coconut fiber rope.” (would you read on?) #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol you and Gene are the exceptions to the rule, love. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | inkgypsy: | @theworldamongus ? Confused. Would I have read it somewhere? (Was a general question – they’re discussing on #scribechat right now) |
| 1:20 am | GeneDoucette: | I may have to start a chat called #indefenseoftheprologue #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | lisagailgreen: | @SheviStories yet another example of good opening, not necessarily carried through, huh? #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | SheviStories: | Logan’s Run starts with a prologue about a non-character being hunted down and killed. So exciting. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | editorialdept: | I can think of one prologue that worked for me – Meredith Ann Pierce’s Birth of the Firebringer. Not keen on prologues, though. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @LiaKeyes: @lisagailgreen So many prologues aren’t necessary, don’t help the story. But some are BRILLIANT?like mine! #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | shelleysouza: | LOL but true RT @LiaKeyes: So many prologues arent necessary, dont help the story. But some are BRILLIANT?like mine! #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | maryfranholm: | RT @keelyinkster It made me want to keep reading but I was teaching at the time! // life always gets in the way of reading #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | keelyinkster: | @LiaKeyes well it is intriguing that he ‘woke’ despite the hanging! #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | PeterMcL: | I find a prologue defers the plot, which puts me off. Give me narrative tension! #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | lisagailgreen: | @teetate Yes, write what works for you and your story that’s what I say #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | SheviStories: | I think prologues can work if they have their own hook, like a mini-story without an end. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @Maria_Disidoro: More & more I’m noticing trends to open a book with an infodump. Personally, I think that’s a terrible idea. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | WriterRoss: | RT @keelyinkster: @Maria_Disidoro I agree infodumps are a big turn off! #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | LiaKeyes: | @shelleysouza Hey, I was so just KIDDING, guys! lol #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | phoebeeating: | Am I the only one confused about “prologue” vs “preface” in fiction? #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | shelleysouza: | RT @SheviStories: I think prologues can work if they have their own hook, like a mini-story without an end. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @GeneDoucette: @400rejections but my research is like school work sometimes. I’m reading a small book now called “when Asia was the world” #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | LiaKeyes: | YES! RT @SheviStories: I think prologues can work if they have their own hook, like a mini-story without an end. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen exactly. Not all ‘rules’ and styles work for every writer. You have to find your own way 2 get the story out. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | keelyinkster: | @shelleysouza LOL!! Mine too. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | Maria_Disidoro: | Personally, I like prefaces, but not every book needs them & many new books that have them shouldn’t. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | GeneDoucette: | 400rejections RT @400rejections @GeneDoucette Ah, so you’re looking to learn from science, not be amused by it. #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | Maria_Disidoro: | RT @LiaKeyes: YES! RT @SheviStories: I think prologues can work if they have their own hook, like a mini-story without an end. #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | happybluejess: | RT @ktubb: RT @LiaKeyes: 12 Ways to Start a Novel, fascinating post by Darcy Pattison:http://bit.ly/9dqumG #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | tricksmeme: | Anyone in #scribechat writing a non-fiction book? |
| 1:23 am | editorialdept: | Clive Cussler’s prologues set the scene by showing the reader a past event that’s relevant to present. That’s a good use of one #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | lisagailgreen: | @teetate if you try to keep all the rules straight you might go insane and never finish #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @editorialdept: @DavidEMinorSr &, thanks to computers, you can always save your “trashed” bits. Sometimes they can be the start of something new #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @jflamingo2: @LiaKeyes If it fails to be interesting, intense or mysterious enough. It needs to hold your attention & make it a curious read #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | shelleysouza: | As I understand, prologue is part of the story, a teaser, if you like. Preface is usually author saying why story was written. #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | LiaKeyes: | @tricksmeme @GeneDoucette is a non-fiction fan – are you a writer of non-fiction, too, Gene? #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections Both. I have to be amused to keep reading. But now, for instance, I’m looking for a bit of science to explain… #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | teetate: | @SheviStories I’ve seen them done in dialog as well & I feel like that’s a bit of ‘telling’ not ‘showing’ #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | keelyinkster: | @SheviStories Agree the worst is when it sounds like an episode from Scooby Doo! #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections something that needs explaining. #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes What is happening to the character? What will? I’m interested in how it is being introduced as storyline. #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | Hey all…. #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen I think I’m learning that if you know the rules then you can break them as you please. It’s all subjective. #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | PeterMcL: | If a prologue is just exposition and/or description, there isn’t much incentive to persevere. #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | maryfranholm: | What if you write a prologue and then call it the first chapter? #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | tschmoot: | RT @SheviStories: The secret to hooking the reading is by thinking like a reader. What do you want when you read? Give readers exactly that. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | keelyinkster: | @GeneDoucette I love reading non-fiction especially with a strong narrative voice. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes only short humor. I’m published as a humorist: collections of humor columns and a parody. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @jflamingo2: @LiaKeyes What is happening to the character? What will? I’m interested in how it is being introduced as storyline. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | editorialdept: | Anyone have any favorite first lines? (esp. from your own work!). Sometimes a line is all it takes to hook a reader #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | LiaKeyes: | @EllenHopkinsYA Hey, Ellen! We’re talking about how and where to begin a novel. Any thoughts? #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | SheviStories: | @teetate They aren’t really rules at all. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | lisagailgreen: | @keelyinkster I would have gotten away with it too if it weren’t for you meddling kids! #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | Knowing the rules is important. breaking them okay… but NOT “as you please.” #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | overdunne: | @lisagailgreen thanks for that…every day more rules come up. Reassess ms, then change if I think it needs it. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | keelyinkster: | @maryfranholm I guess it could work as long as it flowed into the story well. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections I usually need someone to make it interesting for me #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | I usually see novels (from newbies) starting too far in… too into the action. Many need a better setup. #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | shelleysouza: | Elizabeth George’s Write Away starts with character as story. Makes complete sense to me (now that I know what my story will be) #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes keep in mind, I read constantly, but only maybe one or two novels a year. #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | LiaKeyes: | Open with a cliche like dreams, alarm clocks, & you’ve lost the advantage from the get-go… the chance to surprise/intrigue #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | SheviStories: | @EllenHopkinsYA Good point. Rules should be broken with purpose. Everything you do should be for a reason. #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | PeterMcL: | “?Idiot!? said Jason. He made his hand into a pistol shape and fired an imaginary bullet into the car?s radio.” #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | keelyinkster: | @EllenHopkinsYA I think you gave that advice to me at Big Sur a few years back -saved my ms – thanks! #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | Starting a book is the hardest for me. I usually rewrite that scene several times before moving on. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | rayelizabeth: | @EllenHopkinsYA how is the sequel to “burned” coming? i am super excited! loved burned, is my favorite book. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | cinnie2: | Lurking here. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | lisagailgreen: | @EllenHopkinsYA That’s really interesting – I think a lot of people are afraid they don’t jump in fast enough then rush it #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | teetate: | @editorialdept “the body was stiffening” and “a weirdo sat on her front stoop” #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | GeneDoucette: | @keelyinkster I’ll go a long way to find a good non-fic writer, and I’ll follow them forever. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | suzannehpatton: | @editorialdept Fav 1st lines: Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. – but I love the whole first paragraph, to be honest. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | WriterRoss: | @tricksmeme Just read Patti Smith’s memoir of her time with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. Her voice is unbelievably mesmerizing. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | shelleysouza: | I should say, character as story makes complete sense, now that I know the character(s) I’m writing about. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | Maria_Disidoro: | @editorialdept ?Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow, she goes to Baltimore!? #firstlines#scribechat |
| 1:28 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @rayelizabeth Just started it a day or so ago, so that is the opening scene I was talking about. Hugely important to have right #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes I think the “dream” thing just disappoints because it’s such a letdown. The easy way out #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | 400rejections: | @GeneDoucette Sorry i keep forgetting to #hashtag #scribechat! |
| 1:28 am | teetate: | I mentioned this earlier but “124 was spiteful” #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @lisagailgreen A lot of editors are saying the same thing. CW for a time was “jump right into the action.” #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | LiaKeyes: | What’s better… a long or short opening scene? #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | cmdrsue: | RT @LiaKeyes: “The single biggest reason mss get rejected: writer begins in the wrong place.” Les Egerton (“HOOKED”). Discuss! #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | keelyinkster: | @shelleysouza I always write character led stories but I do get in a knot with plot! #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | SheviStories: | I like to start with an MC who needs something he can’t get. It makes you need to know how that conflict will be resolved. #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | phoebeeating: | I kind of hate when books open in battle/LITERALLY in the middle of the action. In media res doesn’t mean “mid-punch” #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | WriterRoss: | @EllenHopkinsYA Good to know that it’s not easy to begin a novel, even when you know what you’re doing. <g> #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | _MarybethSmith_: | @EllenHopkinsYA OMG a seuqal to Burned!!! That just made my day! #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | cinnie2: | @EllenHopkinsYA I think I need that book #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | editorialdept: | Hate to be generic, but whatever best serves the story. RT @LiaKeyes: Whats better… a long or short opening scene? #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | You do want to start with an active scene… #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | MsTracyNicole: | How do you get the story out of your mind and onto the paper? #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | suzannehpatton: | When is the standard time for scribe chat? I always seem to forget it’s going on, and come in late! #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | teetate: | “They shoot the white girl first.” #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | but not throw readers into the midst of something crazy when you don’t care about the MC yet. What’s at stake for that person? #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | GeneDoucette: | and my next new chat will be #indefenseofopeningabookwithadream #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | LiaKeyes: | @lisagailgreen Yes, if reader’s let down in the first pages re originality/uniqueness what faith do they have you’ll improve? #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | PeterMcL: | I’ve heard it said that you should start a story as you intend to end it, so can work out the start from the end. #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | lisagailgreen: | @EllenHopkinsYA it really is a delicate balance. You don’t want the reader to be confused, but you also don’t want to info dump #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | teetate: | @GeneDoucette LOLOLOL awww #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette HA!!! #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | editorialdept: | My fave opening line (of mine) so far – “In a heartbeat Laura Perkins ceased to exist.” #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | tricksmeme: | @LiaKeyes I like a short and dramatic opening scene. Something that hooks but leaves the explaining to the next scenes. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @lisagailgreen Even harder when writing a sequel! #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | 400rejections: | @PeterMcL If only I knew the ending when I started . #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | WriterRoss: | RT @EllenHopkinsYA: but not throw readers into the midst of something crazy when you dont care about the MC yet. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | GeneDoucette: | Or better #indefenseofbeginningabookwithadreamthatisalsoaprologue #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | maryfranholm: | RT @phoebeeating Agree, you have to know who’s fighting before you care about the fight. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | phoebeeating: | Only time that kind of opening worked for me was ‘Fight Club’ #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | suzannehpatton: | @editorialdept that’s a beautiful line. Heartbeat is connected to life and yet there is death in the same sentence. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | teetate: | @GeneDoucette LOL that’s even better. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | editorialdept: | I vote for #Gene‘scontrarianchat. It’ll cover all the bases #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | PeterMcL: | @400rejections I wrote the end first! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | cinnie2: | What about a philosophical statement? #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | overdunne: | @GeneDoucette Love it! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | 400rejections: | I always add a prologue during revisions. Then delete it in later revisions. It’s a game I like to play. #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | LiaKeyes: | A short opening scene doesn’t mean the first chapter needs to be short, too. Just the opening. #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | phoebeeating: | “Tyler gets me a job as a waiter, after that Tyler’s pushing a gun in my mouth . . .” #scribechat#firstlines |
| 1:32 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @400rejections I usually KIND OF know where I want a book to end, so I have something to write toward. It changes, of course. #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | lisagailgreen: | @EllenHopkinsYA I can only hope I’ll ever have that problem (sorry I pressed return to soon) #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | keelyinkster: | @PeterMcL I’ve also heard that it’s good to return full cycle to the initial thoughts/themes at the end. #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | GeneDoucette: | anything else in the start of my novel y’all want to pick on? #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | SheviStories: | Right. The hook isn’t the fight; it’s wanting to know what will happen to the MC. The reader has to care about that first. #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | 400rejections: | @PeterMcL I always have a hard time knowing what the book is “really” about till I’m done and revising. Weird, huh? #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I like quick and to the point. There is plenty of time to get all we need in the story itself. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | phoebeeating: | @keelyinkster Mmm, love cyclical stories. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | suzannehpatton: | what about starting with lines of dialogue? I seem to do that a lot in my own writing but I’m never sure if it’s good or bad. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | WriterRoss: | Just finished a YA everyone raved about. Kept going. But I never once cared about the characters. It was troubling. Too distant. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | teetate: | @GeneDoucette um, God forbid, no subways on the cover. LOLOL only teasing. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | LiaKeyes: | @cinnie2 Philosophical statement can work, but have to be careful not to slip into a ‘telling’ mode. #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | GeneDoucette: | @teetate “I really hate books that begin in first person.” #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @WriterRoss I have that problem with many popular books. #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | phoebeeating: | @WriterRoss So problematic. Identifying with characters is key–especially in YA! #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | teetate: | @WriterRoss that is the worst. I have to like the MC if I’m going to like the book. #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | editorialdept: | @suzannehpatton I think a dialogue opening can be very engaging. It gets the reader right into a conversation, and thus involved #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | GeneDoucette: | RT @NomadicQuill: @GeneDoucette followed by #danbrowndidittoo #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | teetate: | @GeneDoucette depends on the book, but generally, I agree. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | LiaKeyes: | Don’t put yourself in a position where you’re forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | Either I don’t care about the characters or I keep saying, “That wouldn’t happen.” Even within the parameters the author set up #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | WriterRoss: | @EllenHopkinsYA I felt bad I didn’t like it more. Guilty. Everyone else seemed to like it. I could not connect at all. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where youre forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | WriterRoss: | RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where youre forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | SheviStories: | Some things I like to know from the get go: what world are we in? Who’s the MC? What does he want? Why should I care? #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | keelyinkster: | @LiaKeyes I agree-cringe! #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | DEATH RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where youre forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | suzannehpatton: | @LiaKeyes I agree you shouldn’t say “it gets better later on” it should be good from the 1st page. #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | maryfranholm: | Also loved opening of Forest of Hands and Teeth. (Although haven’t read it or Hunger Games yet. Still waiting in queue.) #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | GeneDoucette: | @teetate which, I should add is a real bitch when it comes to story-telling. #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | keelyinkster: | @GeneDoucette I keep coming across second person MG right now – strange! #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | editorialdept: | Yes! RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where you’re forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | tschmoot: | RT @SheviStories: Some things I like to know from the get go: what world are we in? Who’s the MC? What does he want? Why should I care? #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | teetate: | @GeneDoucette lol God, I’m just gonna shut up now. In my defense, I was referring to a lot of YA I’ve read #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | WriterRoss: | @GeneDoucette Whewsh. You had me there. <g> #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | suzannehpatton: | RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where you’re forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @LiaKeyes: A short opening scene doesn’t mean the first chapter needs to be short, too. Just the opening. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @GeneDoucette Love first person, and for most YA, it’s the way to go. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | 400rejections: | @tricksmeme Re. philosophical statements… Yeah, but not if they’re too spelled out. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | LiaKeyes: | If you use an opening hook, it had better have something to do with the story that follows! #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | lisagailgreen: | @GeneDoucette I hope you were kidding because I favor 1st person too! #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | teetate: | @GeneDoucette oh, I am aware. I’ve done first. Did a 400 page novel in first that I haven’t had the heart to rewrite. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | @keelyinkster Second person is hard for adults. For MG? Yikes! #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes This is amazing! I hadn’t realized until now that this what someone at a writing group was trying to tell me I did. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | SheviStories: | Ditto RT @EllenHopkinsYA: @GeneDoucette Love first person, and for most YA, its the way to go. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | keelyinkster: | @GeneDoucette LOL! #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | phoebeeating: | @maryfranholm Mmm, loved the opening of Hands & Teeth. Liked the rest, but not quite as much as that KILLER OPENING #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | PeterMcL: | My novel gets worse later on, so it must be good. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | teetate: | @maryfranholm So. Did. I. GOD that book was genius. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | GeneDoucette: | First person is a serious pain. I can’t tell you how many times I had to back up and go “wait, how does he know that.” #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | 400rejections: | @PeterMcL #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | phoebeeating: | @GeneDoucette A choose your own adventure novel, maybe? #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | dianagill: | RT @editorialdept: Yes! RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where you’re forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | keelyinkster: | @EllenHopkinsYA I find it hard to even explain what second person is to most kids! #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | LiaKeyes: | How can you put movement into your opening? Many manuscripts start with static scenes #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | tricksmeme: | @LiaKeyes True, but nothing wrong with a short first chapter either IMO. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | EllenHopkinsYA: | Sorry… playing chef right now. Hubby broke his arm last week. Must cook! #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes Stories that start with one hook and then switch horses–another thing I hate! #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | PeterMcL: | I wrote a short story in 1st person, but since the MC was a river, I guess it was actually in 1st river. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | GeneDoucette: | I’m going to try my next novel in fifth person, see how that goes. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: If you use an opening hook, it had better have something to do with the story that follows! #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | LiaKeyes: | @EllenHopkinsYA Give him my love! #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | GeneDoucette: | RT @PeterMcL: I wrote a short story in 1st person, but since the MC was a river, I guess it was actually in 1st river. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | 400rejections: | Regarding the start. I get irritated when novels start too “excitable” than become lame later. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | suzannehpatton: | RT @PeterMcL: I wrote a short story in 1st person, but since the MC was a river, I guess it was actually in 1st river. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes isn’t that were action comes from? Those books that immediately put in the middle of action. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | phoebeeating: | @petermcl Ha! Have heard problems of writers polishing their first 10-50 to a shine for queries, but failing to follow thru, tho #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | diannesalerni: | RT @GeneDoucette: I’m going to try my next novel in fifth person, see how that goes. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @LiaKeyes: How can you put movement into your opening? Many manuscripts start with static scenes #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | SheviStories: | Me too. RT @400rejections: Regarding the start. I get irritated when novels start too “excitable” than become lame later. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes @teetate I tend to read the first 2 lines, first paragraph or even 1st pg. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | WriterRoss: | @LiaKeyes I like feeling and smelling and hearing the opening of a book. That is movement. That is music for me. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | LiaKeyes: | Inject atmosphere and sense of place and time woven into the action of the opening scene, not in chunks. Agree? Disagree? #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | thomasfloyd82: | RT @PeterMcL: I wrote a short story in 1st person, but since the MC was a river, I guess it was actually in 1st river. — lol #ScribeChat |
| 1:40 am | goldenwordsmith: | RT @editorialdept: Yes! RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where you’re forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | keelyinkster: | @PeterMcL maybe you could do a sequel in second person hill. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | lisagailgreen: | UGH must go for a bit – I’ll check in later #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | teetate: | @400rejections oh, I agree with you. It has to be consistent. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | tricksmeme: | Well, it’s past my bedtime. Lame I know. G’night all at #scribechat. Thanks for the thoughts and advice. You all ROCK! |
| 1:41 am | melissaburon: | @GeneDoucette too funny! #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | phoebeeating: | Wrote my last book in second-person plural. “Ya’ll wake up to the sound of ya’ll’s alarm clock.” #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @LiaKeyes I like to start with the inciting incident or something that will lead right to it. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | 400rejections: | My preference… a series… where I know the author has like 5 more books I can sink my teeth into. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Some editors don’t like action and events to come before the chance to like the character problems happen to. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes agree. I learned from ‘southern writers’ who made setting & place as impt as some characters. Puts you ‘there.’ #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | SheviStories: | How important is it to like the MC at the start? #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections that sounds like the Indiana Jones problem. Good movie, not as exciting as the opening scene. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | PeterMcL: | @keelyinkster lol! Touche #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | phoebeeating: | RT @WriterRoss: @LiaKeyes I like feeling and smelling and hearing the opening of a book. That is movement. That is music for me. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | keelyinkster: | @phoebeeating now that just sounds cool! #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | editorialdept: | I’m still trying to wrap my brain around “fifth person”. It’s a brilliant challenge and insane at the same time #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | maryfranholm: | I think an opening should make you feel something for the character. Opening from the Hunger Games so had me. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | suzannehpatton: | @phoebeeating second person is fun but challenging, then throw in the dialect of “ya’ll” and I think you lost all readers, haha. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | giggleangel: | RT @EllenHopkinsYA: DEATH RT @LiaKeyes: Dont put yourself in a position where youre forced to defend your novel by saying “It gets better later on.” #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | SheviStories: | Me too. RT @HeatherMcCorkle: @LiaKeyes I like to start with the inciting incident or something that will lead right to it. #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | phoebeeating: | @keelyinkster Ha! Now only if I wasn’t kidding . . . #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | GeneDoucette: | @editorialdept I have been too, as soon as I wrote it. #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @maryfranholm: I think an opening should make you feel something for the character. Opening from the Hunger Games so had me. #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I can see that, but sometimes, if done right, it’s those events that defines or explains the character how they react #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | 400rejections: | @GeneDoucette Hey! Do NOT dis Indiana Jones. There were Nazi’s! #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | phoebeeating: | @suzannehpatton Plural narration is hard! I think I’ve only seen Jeff Eugenides make that one work . . . #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | PeterMcL: | The MC has to be known and likeable before being thrown into serious jeopardy. #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | SheviStories: | But does the MC have to be likeable? #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | happybluejess: | @LiaKeyes Sounds good. Just wish I could do it better… “Weaving” really is such a good comparison for writing. Sorry, forgot #scribechat! |
| 1:43 am | overdunne: | @maryfranholm “Entrails. No hissing. That is the closest thing we will ever have to love.” What a great way to intrigue you #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | WriterRoss: | @teetate Interesting re: southern writers and place. I often wonder why I feel adrift and place-less as a northeast writer. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | phoebeeating: | RT @SheviStories: But does the MC have to be likeable? #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | GeneDoucette: | @400rejections that’s my playwriting professor’s favorite example. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | vleemahoney: | RT @LiaKeyes: 12 Ways to Start a Novel by Darcy Pattison: http://bit.ly/9dqumG #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | GeneDoucette: | @SheviStories no, but an MC does have to be interesting #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | teetate: | @editorialdept I’ve said it before @GeneDoucette is not human & I mean that in the best possible way. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @LiaKeyes Absolutely agree! I think the opening should have as many of the what, when, who,why, & where as possible. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories I think the character DEXTER (tv) is brilliant. He’s a serial killer, yet we care about him. Why? #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | 400rejections: | @GeneDoucette No time for love, Dr. Jones! #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | PeterMcL: | @SheviStories Good point. Maybe we should distinguish between MC and protagonist?they ain’t necessarily the same. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | suzannehpatton: | RT @vleemahoney: RT @LiaKeyes: 12 Ways to Start a Novel by Darcy Pattison:http://bit.ly/9dqumG #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | lynsouth: | Yes! RT @maryfranholm: I think an opening should make you feel something 4 the character. The Hunger Games opening so had me. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | keelyinkster: | @PeterMcL or how about an intriguing MG who is pretty nasty but redeems herself? #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | teetate: | @WriterRoss lol no, I don’t mean offense. I mean the writers I learned from are generally writing ‘southern’ stories. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | suzannehpatton: | Time for me to eat dinner. Had a great chat with you all, good luck on beginnings! #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @petermcl Right! The reader needs to be invested to care about the troubles the MC faces. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes because Dexter cheats. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | phoebeeating: | @suzannehpatton Oh yes! Loved it. Tho I think Dolores Claiborne worked well too (completely different novels, of course) #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | Shelltex: | @LiaKeyes Agree. I don’t want the layout of the whole house. Inject details relevant to what’s happening in the room. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | darrenpardee: | #scribechat My novel is in 1st person mode from 11 different characters; WIP is bringing back epistolary style (partially) |
| 1:45 am | keelyinkster: | @LiaKeyes OH YEAH! Massive Dexter love in this house! #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes We want to know what Dexter will do next and whether he’ll get away with it (and how). Great hook, in my opinion. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | LiaKeyes: | @keelyinkster What makes your nasty MC intriguing? #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | PeterMcL: | If the protagonist is not likeable, reader won’t care about success or failure, so hard to engage them emotionally. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes bc he’s a serial killer ‘with a heart of gold?’ #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | GeneDoucette: | I’m a big fan of the antihero. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | 400rejections: | @keelyinkster Re. Nasty Heros. I love my heros to start out mean. (I write romance). Who in their right mind like a nice guy? #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | editorialdept: | Our office mgr is a big Dexter fan, and the boss wrote a piece on the book for our blog recently. I need to check it out… #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | LiaKeyes: | @Shelltex In describing environment, imbue it with POV character’s attitude towards it. What do they notice? What annoys them? #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | PeterMcL: | @keelyinkster Flaws are fine?even mandatory! #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | keelyinkster: | @LiaKeyes I was thinking of characters like Artemis Fowl and Alcatraz from Al versus the Evil Librarians. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | 400rejections: | @GeneDoucette Antihero. Word. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | overdunne: | @GeneDoucette an antihero that dreams in a prologue? #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | Maria_Disidoro: | Agree RT @LiaKeyes: Inject atmosphere & sense of place & time woven into the action of the opening scene, not in chunks. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @400rejections Yes (I write romance too) but he has to be a bit likeable. I don’t like a plain ‘ol bully. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | EbonyMcKenna: | lurking in #scribechat. Loving it. |
| 1:47 am | teetate: | @PeterMcL true. there’s nothing worse than a ‘perfectly perfect’ character. You have to give them flaws. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | Shelltex: | @keelyinkster I think a MC can be nasty & still work as long as her flaws and/or vulnerabilities are shown to the reader. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | editorialdept: | Don’t forget the 5th person POV RT @overdunne: @GeneDoucette an antihero that dreams in a prologue? #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | teetate: | @EbonyMcKenna Hi sweetie! #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate DEXTER is a killer with a code, given to him by his policeman adoptive father. Watched his mother being carved up, too. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | WriterRoss: | @teetate NOT offended at all. I agree w/you. They have “Tara”-like connection to land I never have. I envy that sense of place. #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | GeneDoucette: | Seriously, I wrote the novel without doing anything writers are always advised to do, why not a dream sequence prologue? #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | Kim_Perez: | RT @GeneDoucette: I’m a big fan of the antihero. #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | phoebeeating: | Initially unlikable dudes work well for romance. That way you imagine the heroine/the reader is the exception/softens him #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | keelyinkster: | @LiaKeyes See he’s just a sweetie really! Apart from the body count LOL! #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | lynsouth: | RT @LiaKeyes In describing environment, imbue it with POV characters attitude towards it. What do they notice? What annoys them? #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | maryfranholm: | All the best heroes are antiheroes. Who wants to hang out with Mr. or Ms. Perfect? #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | teetate: | @WriterRoss I don’t know what it is, really. Something abt the way southerns write. Read: Tim Gautreaux. #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | Shelltex: | @LiaKeyes Yes, if MC notices the room is blue that’s good. If she’s describing the upstairs bathroom I wonder why I should care. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | Kim_Perez: | @GeneDoucette amen #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @teetate Hi tee! #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | 400rejections: | @ThoughtfulPen Most recent hero came off mean to some readers in 1st drft. I thought he ws funny, but sarcasm didn’t translate. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | 400rejections: | @maryfranholm Yeah! Perfect people are irritating! #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | phoebeeating: | @GeneDoucette I love “badass longcoats” as they say on tvtropes #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | SadieCass: | {Total Agreement} RT @maryfranholm: All the best heroes are antiheroes. Who wants to hang out with Mr. or Ms. Perfect? #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | thomasfloyd82: | @GeneDoucette I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Especially in a character driven story. #ScribeChat |
| 1:49 am | keelyinkster: | @maryfranholm and where is there for a perfect person to go? No development/change potential – unless it’s down! #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | teetate: | @EbonyMcKenna You’ll be happy to know I took a page out of your book and stopped procrastinating. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | editorialdept: | To sum up – effective opening conveys sense of place, gets readers into action, and lets them know the main character(s) #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | darrenpardee: | #scribechat antiheroes and even villains are likable; it’s the boring character we hate. |
| 1:50 am | LiaKeyes: | @Shelltex If MC has an opinion about the color blue, that info re room color is useful. Otherwise, not. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | tschmoot: | RT @editorialdept: To sum up – effective opening conveys sense of place, gets readers into action, and lets them know the main character(s) #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | SheviStories: | The problem with many prologues and dreams is they trick the reader into thinking it’s a different story. Nasty trick. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @400rejections I do like a sarcastic hero (mine is one) but you’re right, it’s a fine line between sarcasm and mean. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @teetate Woot! Now if only I could take my own medicine! LOL! #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | teetate: | @400rejections even in sci fi or fantasy, perfect characters simply aren’t believable. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | keelyinkster: | @darrenpardee yes, villians can be brilliant! #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @teetate Then again, I did open the file and stare at it and some ideas did leak out, so it does work. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | ThoughtfulPen: | RT @maryfranholm: All the best heroes are antiheroes. Who wants to hang out with Mr. or Ms. Perfect? #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | lynsouth: | @darrenpardee In addition to boring characters, I don’t like whiny characters, either. Obnoxious. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | teetate: | @EbonyMcKenna lol that counts, right? #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | 400rejections: | @darrenpardee how much more awesome is Cruella DeVille than Jane? #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | phoebeeating: | @teetate The worst is when they have fake flaws. “Lips too full” or whatever. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | PeterMcL: | I started writing an autobiography until I read that perfect characters aren’t acceptable. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | SheviStories: | The first scene needs to set the stage and give the reader a reason to stick around. That’s pretty much it. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | LiaKeyes: | The most important element in an opening, beyond setting, atmosphere, everything… is emotional reaction in reader. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | phoebeeating: | RT @teetate: @400rejections even in sci fi or fantasy, perfect characters simply aren’t believable. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | editorialdept: | Sometimes a “normal”/boring hero is ok if the setting/situation is otherworldly. Gives readers an anchor. Otherwise, yes, boring #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes This does seem tricky but possibly effective. Time to reread a few openings to see if they are static or move? #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | rossiver: | RT @editorialdept: To sum up – effective opening conveys sense of place, gets readers into action, and lets them know the main character(s) #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | teetate: | @editorialdept you are wise, my dear. Agrees. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | keelyinkster: | @ThoughtfulPen – my fav sarcastic narrator – Bartimaeus, from the Bartimaeus Trilogy. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @SheviStories Set the scene and give MC motivation/conflict to make reader care. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | teetate: | @phoebeeating yes, exactly. Flaws have to go beyond the physical. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | 400rejections: | @lynsouth I find that sometimes characters come off as whiny due to too much exposition. Show instead of tell often fixes. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | WriterRoss: | @NomadicQuill THAT I can relate to re: feeling love for the place I grew up and appreciating it more now. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | LiaKeyes: | YES!!!! RT @keelyinkster: @ThoughtfulPen – my fav sarcastic narrator – Bartimaeus, from the Bartimaeus Trilogy. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | EbonyMcKenna: | LOL! RT @PeterMcL: I started writing an autobiography until I read that perfect characters aren’t acceptable. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | SheviStories: | But isn’t Harry Potter a perfect character? #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | vleemahoney: | RT @EllenHopkinsYA: I usually see novels (from newbies) starting too far in… too into the action. Many need a better setup. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | teetate: | RT @WriterRoss: @NomadicQuill THAT I can relate to re: feeling love for the place I grew up and appreciating it more now. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | editorialdept: | I was thinking of The Last Starfighter (yes, child of ’80s here) in last point. Hero is small town nice boy-setting is crazy. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @SheviStories Yes, it’s hard to insert a dream sequence at begining of story. Shana Abe did this well in Treasure Keeper tho. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | keelyinkster: | @SheviStories I actually find him a little – gulp – dull. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | 400rejections: | @SheviStories I think things can be more black and white in YA. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | Shelltex: | @LynSouth I’ll take a bitchy character over a whiner any day. Don’t like whiners in real life so sure don’t want to read them. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes sarcastic narrator: at last, something that sounds like a positive and also my novel. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | EbonyMcKenna: | #ScribeChat Just as most people aren’t aware of their flaws, most fictional characters aren’t aware either |
| 1:54 am | teetate: | @SheviStories Not at all. He makes loads of mistakes, refuses to let his opinions change until the very end. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | SheviStories: | Me, too, but millions love him. RT @keelyinkster: @SheviStories I actually find him a little – gulp – dull. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | LiaKeyes: | “If sentence one is crummy, why would sentence two be good?” Anon Snr Editor, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (HOOKED, L. Egerton) #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @SheviStories I’m not sure if it begins w/one though, I just know she uses them throughout story. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | KaylaCagan: | Have you ever heard about the 5 questions technique – open with your reader/audience having 5 questions about what’s happening? #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | maryfranholm: | @SheviStories No, Harry Potter isn’t perfect. He gets angry at his friends and breaks rules. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | teetate: | @editorialdept OMG so weird you said that. I just tracked down the trailer on youtube the other night. Wow. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | lynsouth: | @400rejections & @Shelltex: Agreed on both points. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | keelyinkster: | @ThoughtfulPen I do love the books, I think her awesome plotting saves them. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories JK Rowling thinks Harry is flawed. Not sure I agree. He’s quite a blank slate. The innately good kid. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | editorialdept: | People hate whiny characters because they don’t DO anything to change the situation – just whine about it. Frustrating to read. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes A classic that comes to my mind regarding this: Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth where from the start the earth is real. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @KaylaCagan Interesting, do tell us more #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | VagabondagePres: | @WriterRoss #scribechat The landscape stays still long enough to develop character in the South. |
| 1:55 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @ThoughtfulPen You made it to the chat! The one time I’m on the move with sketchy service  #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | lynsouth: | RT @maryfranholm:No, Harry Potter isnt perfect. He gets angry at his friends and breaks rules || And he leaps before he looks. #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @keelyinkster Yes!!! She knows how to capture your interest and then she runs with it. I like the ride! #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | GeneDoucette: | I really think Harry Potter is only imperfect as a character when the plot demands that he be imperfect at that moment. #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | lisagailgreen: | Hey chiming back in for a few seconds – HP – Harry might have flaws, but they are minor #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | WriterRoss: | @VagabondagePres True. Life moves quickly in these parts. ;> #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | KaylaCagan: | @ThoughtfulPen So, the idea is that your prologue or opening, should make the audience stay so interested they ask (1/2) #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @editorialdept Yes – ok to whine at first perhaps, but then they must take steps to make change #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | rayelizabeth: | @EllenHopkinsYA so excited for it. best of luck, i know it will be gorgeous so happy you decided to do a sequel.! #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @HeatherMcCorkle I was wondering why I didn’t see you in the threads! #scribechat : – ) |
| 1:57 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen well, he’s stubborn, has a ‘saving ppl thing’ & hates the man who is protecting him the most. I’d say he’s flawed #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | phoebeeating: | Anyone find themselves completely rewriting their opening after the 1st draft is complete as the style or direction changed? #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | jflamingo2: | @teetate @LiaKeyes #scribechat Or how they are trying to ‘remember’ or even ‘not react’ like in The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson |
| 1:58 am | maryfranholm: | @LynSouth Yes. Harry has some personal flaws, but his moral code is strong He is, after all, the hero. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | Chey_XoXo: | RT @editorialdept: Sometimes a “normal”/boring hero is ok if the setting/situation is otherworldly. Gives readers an anchor. Otherwise, yes, boring #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | teetate: | @phoebeeating constantly. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @ThoughtfulPen I miss you all! This is my favorite chat! #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | keelyinkster: | @phoebeeating I often rewrite almost everything -perhaps I should outline! #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | SheviStories: | BTW, one common mistake writers make: thinking hiding info from the reader is a good hook. It’s not. It’s just frustrating. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | KaylaCagan: | @ThoughtfulPen (2/2) a min of 5 questions i.e. What happens next? Who are these characters? OMG, will the dog fall in the well? #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate What bores me about Harry Potter is he never doubts his decisions before he acts. There’s no inherent internal conflict #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @HeatherMcCorkle I haven’t been here in a while. Thurs. nights are usually busy for me, but I missed #scribechat and topic was irresistible! |
| 1:58 am | 400rejections: | Whiny Characters: It’s the difference between someone saying “my life sucks” and watching their home burn, their dog die, etc. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | lisagailgreen: | @teetate he doesn’t hate Dumbledore he’s frustrated because he’s kept in the dark. & the other two could be good traits as well #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | GeneDoucette: | @SheviStories well, it depends on how well you do it. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | KaylaCagan: | RT @400rejections: Whiny Characters: It’s the difference between someone saying “my life sucks” and watching their home burn, their dog die, etc. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | teetate: | @maryfranholm of course. At times, a reluctant hero, but yes, still the hero. Snape would be, I think, the anti hero #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | editorialdept: | @phoebeeating Can’t think of a time I haven’t had to rewrite my opening. Things change so much-significance shifts as story goes #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | IreneZiegler: | @keelyinkster Im a big fan of outlining, especially when story is plot-heavy. Saves a lot of time and frustration. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen actually, I meant Snape. In the end, DD was using him to end Voldemort. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | keelyinkster: | @lisagailgreen he does become a major whinner in book 5. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | SheviStories: | I don’t need five questions, just one. And that one is “What’s going to happen next?” #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | phoebeeating: | @keelyinkster I do too, but I also don’t outline! My draft openings tend to be pedantic scene-setting until I find voice #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | lynsouth: | @teetate I think Snape is one of the best characters in the whole HP series! #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | LiaKeyes: | If you love the chat, do please shout about it on blogs, FB and Twitter during the week. And here:http://www.facebook.com/SCBWI #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes exactly. And I think that’s an intentional flaw. #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | 400rejections: | @teetate And Snape is so much more awesome than Harry. Also because Alan Rickman rocks. #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @HeatherMcCorkle Mine too! (and #writechat and #story_craft, but #scribechat is THE best!)! |
| 2:00 am | IreneZiegler: | RT @SheviStories  ne common mistake writers make:thinking hiding info from reader is a good hook. Its not. Its just frustrating. #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | KaylaCagan: | @SheviStories It’s a fine line between hiding and letting details unfold slowly, yes? It’s hard not to want to show it all immed.#scribechat |
| 2:00 am | teetate: | @lynsouth very diverse. Very complicated. #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | lynsouth: | Yes! Rickman rocks!! RT @400rejections:And Snape is so much more awesome than Harry. Also because Alan Rickman rocks. #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes see, even though he is a little perfect, I still love him! I wish I could put my finger on it but I CARE about him. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | KaylaCagan: | @400rejections AGREED! #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | teetate: | @400rejections LOL see, I know plenty who love him bc of Rickman. Personally, 4 the same reason, I’m a Sirius fan. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | editorialdept: | RT @SheviStories ne common mistake writers make:thinking hiding info from reader is a good hook. Its not. Its just frustrating. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | keelyinkster: | @phoebeeating I always start with a strong image know the end but the character shows me the way to get there eventually! #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen Oh so do I. I generally love all the characters. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @lynsouth Hear hear, Alan Rickman rocks! #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @LynSouth @400rejections @teetate AGREED! Love Snape! #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes Some non-fic is brilliant at doing this too. Making u see a killer in a very real way – Ann Rule comes to mind. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Easier to relate to characters who don’t always know what action to take? Suspect Harry won’t last as long as Hamlet #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | teetate: | @editorialdept but how do you not withhold w/o doing an info dump? #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | lisagailgreen: | @teetate Oops sorry!! Heh, yes but Snape didn’t exactly endear himself to Harry did he? #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | IreneZiegler: | @KaylaCagan But sometimes you want to just give the reader an answer, to feed their hunger for more plot solutions. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | KaylaCagan: | Feel I have to ask this: Has anyone read Book 1 of Pretty Little Liars? I just finished. Would love to hear your thoughts.#scribechat |
| 2:02 am | GeneDoucette: | I like to start my books in Latin or Middle-High German, just to throw off everyone. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | keelyinkster: | @teetate I love Sirius too – probably more than Harry. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | EbonyMcKenna: | #ScribeChat What I love is a character who is truly conflicted. Not based on misunderstandings but deep personal beliefs vs reality |
| 2:02 am | maryfranholm: | @LynSouth Ok, yes, I love Harry, but Snape/Alan Rickman does rock! #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | VagabondagePres: | @GeneDoucette #scribechat Harry Potter is pretty insecure until he gets mad. And then he never knows when to back down. |
| 2:02 am | teetate: | @ThoughtfulPen I think his history was probably the saddest thing I’ve read in the books. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | LiaKeyes: | @lisagailgreen Why do you care about him? Because he’s nice? An orphan? #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | SheviStories: | If the MC knows something, I, the reader, should be allowed to know it too. Only info hidden to the MC should be hidden from me. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | ThoughtfulPen: | HaHa! RT @KaylaCagan OMG, will the dog fall in the well? #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | phoebeeating: | @KaylaCagan Have to make sure you live up to your tension. Don’t hide your MCs name for 50 pgs only to tell me he’s “joe” #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | keelyinkster: | @EbonyMcKenna Truly Madly Deeply! #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen No, not at all. And remember our view of Snape’s is, essentially, Harry’s so it’s a biased view. #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | KaylaCagan: | My question as well! RT @teetate @editorialdept but how do you not withhold w/o doing an info dump? #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | glenak: | @LiaKeyes didnt harry have some internal conflicts? Hmm … actually i dont remember #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | LiaKeyes: | How much of your ending is foreshadowed in your opening? #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | lisagailgreen: | @teetate @LiaKeyes she has a way of making them all come to life, but why I care? I feel like I KNOW them all #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | teetate: | @keelyinkster Umhmm. Poor guy. But I’m a total Oldman fangirl. #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | lynsouth: | @teetate @keelyinkster: love Sirius, too. Because Gary Oldman rocks!  #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | maryfranholm: | @phoebeeating At least twice a month. #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | inkgypsy: | @LiaKeyes (Just dropping in) -not big on Harry himself but many 2ndary & even minor ones grabbed my interest. #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | SheviStories: | It’s funny, but I don’t like too many hooks. Makes it hard to focus. Give me one, or one with many reprecussions. #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | LiaKeyes: | @IreneZiegler WOW! #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | inkgypsy: | RT @GeneDoucette: @teetate the trick is to withhold information without making it clear you are withholding information. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | VagabondagePres: | @lisagailgreen #scribechat she was referring to Snape. |
| 2:07 am | editorialdept: | I’m terribly guilty of listing sun’s position in sky! RT @kaylischolz: And never open your book with a weather report! #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | KaylaCagan: | @IreneZiegler That’s awesome. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | teetate: | @IreneZiegler wow. I’m very impressed. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | glenak: | @phoebeeating yep. That’s my style too #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | IreneZiegler: | Thanks, all. Hitting the hay with a good book. Later. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @KaylaCagan @teetate I think to limit yourself to revelations, only reveal what’s important in the moment. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | EbonyMcKenna: | @LiaKeyes I think Katniss was deeply conflicted in Hunger Games. Or, comedy, Cammie Morgan in Gallagher Girls #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | glenak: | @SheviStories however though, there are clever ways to reveal stuff without outrightly putting it out there for the reader #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | KarlenePetitt: | RT @LiaKeyes: RT @jflamingo2: Some non-fic is brilliant at doing this too. Making u see a killer in a very real way – Ann Rule comes to mind. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | SheviStories: | RE: info dumps. Most of the info probably isn’t necessary if the only way to get it in the story is with an info dump. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | teetate: | What do y’all believe is the best method for withholding info w/o the process being annoying to the reader? #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | phoebeeating: | @LiaKeyes A fair amount? I don’t like twist endings–I want the reader to feel pieces falling into place, not shock #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | teetate: | RT @ThoughtfulPen: @KaylaCagan @teetate I think to limit yourself to revelations, only reveal what’s important in the moment. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | Shelltex: | @keelyinkster We have very similar writing patterns. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | editorialdept: | Parcel it out thru book, not all in opening scene RT @KaylaCagan @teetate but how do you not withhold w/o doing an info dump? #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | glenak: | One very good example is Justin Cronin’s The Passage. One of the MC is a former paedophile, #scribechat |
| 2:13 am | LiaKeyes: | Is there such a thing as a perfect opening? #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | glenak: | It’s because he has a hero complex! That’s what got him into trouble and got sirius killed in OOTP. Hermione even said it #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | jflamingo2: | @LiaKeyes I always felt like Dumbledore had a lot more internal conflict instead of Harry. #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | kaylischolz: | @teetate Nice question! #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | phoebeeating: | @WriterRoss Ditto. Fail whale of a night. #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @LiaKeyes @jflamingo2 Yes, was just reading this somewhere. (about non-fic as good example) #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I think it’s subjective for the reader. I’m not going to like everything you like and vice versa. #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | LiaKeyes: | Does introducing a horrid antagonist predispose us to like protagonist introduced later? #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | jflamingo2: | RT @LiaKeyes: If you love the chat, do please shout about it on blogs, FB and Twitter during the week. And here: http://www.facebook.com/SCBWI #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | vhesketh: | RT @EllenHopkinsYA: I usually see novels (from newbies) starting too far in… too into the action. Many need a better setup. #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | overdunne: | @LiaKeyes Everyone’s perfect opening is different. How else could so many incred’ly diff authors do so well? #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | glenak: | ANd it is true. Wen harry smells something fishy he always wants to investigates, and he always suspects draco, snape or voldy #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | teetate: | @glenak true, but Sirius was responsible for his own actions. #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | ThoughtfulPen: | @phoebeeating @ |