tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post6646664913334457303..comments2023-10-15T03:20:42.697-04:00Comments on Blog of Author Michelle McLean: Tutor Tuesday - BeginningsMichelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-90510441398919135972010-10-20T08:48:42.113-04:002010-10-20T08:48:42.113-04:00Great post!.The level of pain depends on the story...Great post!.The level of pain depends on the story. With most of my short stories, I've noticed that by cutting into the draft two to three paragraphs in gets me to the beginning of the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-88614775614216763822010-10-19T17:01:40.528-04:002010-10-19T17:01:40.528-04:00GREAT job. This post is excellent and I love your ...GREAT job. This post is excellent and I love your take on writing a great beginning... I just went and read my first chapter to make sure it was doing what it was supposed to. Thanks.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-6851277885753799862010-10-19T16:08:40.334-04:002010-10-19T16:08:40.334-04:00Holy twin moment! I blogged about beginnings yeste...Holy twin moment! I blogged about beginnings yesterday. Your post is about a billion times better, but yeah. I relate openings to Law & Order. Lame. ;)Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-14747475221319754242010-10-19T12:46:22.539-04:002010-10-19T12:46:22.539-04:00Love this! It's so true. I hadn't thought ...Love this! It's so true. I hadn't thought of fiction in quite the same way as essay-writing or non-fiction-writing, but there really does need to be a sort of thesis statement, or something that hints at what this book is all about. <br /><br />I've recently decided that I prefer books that start with the internal conflict and then fan outward into the external conflict, and now I understand why. The external conflict might take pages and pages to develop fully, but the internal conflict is really what will drive the MC forward. <br /><br />I've read beginnings that jump into action (because the author was told it made the book more compelling) and then the action dissolves into a romantic comedy or something else totally different from what the reader has come to expect. So yeah. <br /><br />Spot on advice, Michelle, as always. Thank you!Katrina L. Lantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871272394922775923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-53106474882239563502010-10-19T12:32:33.562-04:002010-10-19T12:32:33.562-04:00I'm actually pretty good at beginnings most of...I'm actually pretty good at beginnings most of the time, but I tend to loose momentum as I get going. Then I'm stuck with an awesome beginning (in my opinion! ;) ) and then nothing to back it up. <br /><br />Thanks!j.leigh.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12086576155269323425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-61112737828946031352010-10-19T12:25:01.529-04:002010-10-19T12:25:01.529-04:00I'm with Carolyn. I work hard to make sure eve...I'm with Carolyn. I work hard to make sure everything I need is in the beginning, but the middle...I worry more about fluff and crap showing up in there, just to fill word count!Cinettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11453731550912619157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-28924748391717965292010-10-19T11:18:42.677-04:002010-10-19T11:18:42.677-04:00I actually love doing beginnings. Is that weird? B...I actually love doing beginnings. Is that weird? But the middle is a whole different story. =)Carolyn V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15456210036213016603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-56763109808813948742010-10-19T10:25:34.820-04:002010-10-19T10:25:34.820-04:00Excellent!!
I suffer from that whole how-the-hec...Excellent!! <br /><br />I suffer from that whole how-the-heck-do-I-start-this syndrome. I keep thinking about that opening scene/chapter long before I write it. Paranoid much? :D<br /><br />You nailed it with the thesis statement suggestion, btw. Easier said than done, but it's possible!Amparo Ortizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751368034351196820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-55905920025168173572010-10-19T09:13:25.998-04:002010-10-19T09:13:25.998-04:00I spend more time on them because I love reading t...I spend more time on them because I love reading them. They're the one place in life where it's great to be sucked in.<br />"This doesn't mean you need to lay all your cards out on the table." This is SO IMPORTANT! In the last two weeks alone I've picked up 3 novels where everything was on the table in at least the first 100 pages. Not a pleasant reading experience. Males me hesitant to choose those authors again.Mary@GigglesandGunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350818228268801008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-17220773727724273732010-10-19T09:04:46.090-04:002010-10-19T09:04:46.090-04:00Good post. Some beginnings are easier than others....Good post. Some beginnings are easier than others. Not sure why, but I think it is due in part to my confidence level going into a project. <br />Have a great day,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-83194887441985253972010-10-19T09:03:31.011-04:002010-10-19T09:03:31.011-04:00I agree it is best to nail the beginning, taking t...I agree it is best to nail the beginning, taking the time that is needed to do it. Thanks for this post! <br /><br />I'm following the OA Blog!A Pen In Neverland: Angela Peña Dahlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01979468109234357616noreply@blogger.com