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How to Start a Novel

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Re: How to Start a Novel

#71

Post by iainctduncan »

weeblewobble wrote: post #61
jeffwass wrote: post #15

Trying to think of a catchy or clever novel opener can be a major discouragement from just getting the pen to the paper and formulating that first paragraph. It can be much easier to start your writing a bit further in, where you have a rough idea of a scene, and letting the characters and the action work themselves. In fact, this is a good way to create bridges through tricky parts, where you know the current scene,…

reminded me of this great piece of writing advice from Simpsons writer John Swartzwelder: " I do have a trick that makes things easier for me. Since writing is very hard and rewriting is comparatively easy and rather fun, I always write my scripts all the way through as fast as I can, the first day, if possible, putting in crap jokes and pattern dialogue—“Homer, I don’t want you to do that.” “Then I won’t do it.” The…

I use this technique for my work writing, I first read about it as "vomit draft". When you give yourself permission to write a truly vomitous first draft, man it's easier. Even if you completely rewrite it, it's a fantastic way to get your thoughts in order.

Re: How to Start a Novel

#72

Post by soupajoe »

fraXis wrote: post #66
jonnycomputer wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neat game. I have a board game, whose name escapes me at the moment. Instead of books, players receive cards, and tell stories about the cards, the player whose turn it is tells a story about their card, and then others hand them a card that they think matches the story, and then everyone has to guess whose card is the player's. If everyone guesses, player gets no points and everyone else 2. If no-one guess, player g…

This sounds fun! Can you please reply with the name of the game?

I believe the game they are referring to is Dixit. It is a great way to share in each other’s creativity. The game’s scoring incentives keep the story telling from being gamed in a way that diminishes the fun.

Similar games, where you lobby others with creativity, are:

Snake Oil. When I’m not gaming, I love defining customer needs and determining benefits in the sales process. Snake Oil is a light game that lets me practice these skills with my friends and giggle about something I normally take seriously.

Funemployed. Each player takes turns as the recruiter for a job that was randomly drawn from the deck. Each other player assembles personality trait and skill cards and then interviews for the position weaving each trait into their pitch. You’ll need to remove some cards to make it PG.

Rory’s Story Cubes. A light dice rolling story prompt activity. Roll the dice and tell a story by referring to the symbols shown.

There are more games that cultivate story telling and let creativity shine. You can poke around BoardGameGeek[1], but games with the storytelling tag vary wildly and rules complexity can be high.

Each game causes different dynamics to emerge between players and that atmosphere is critical. You don’t want to play a game that will bum people out instead of fire up their creativity.

These games can be great team building exercises too!

Feel free to reach out with your play group’s preferences and player count. I’d love to help you have a blast the next time you game! Joe at FiremindGames dot com.

[1] https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2027/storytellin...

Re: How to Start a Novel

#73

Post by austinl »

huachimingo wrote: post #22
jeffwass wrote: post #15

Trying to think of a catchy or clever novel opener can be a major discouragement from just getting the pen to the paper and formulating that first paragraph. It can be much easier to start your writing a bit further in, where you have a rough idea of a scene, and letting the characters and the action work themselves. In fact, this is a good way to create bridges through tricky parts, where you know the current scene,…

Ray Bradbury did this with Farenheit 451. He did a small demo with all the key aspects and then made the novel. You can do a lot of these small "demos" or short stories and save them for a future novel. Or instead write them together and make an anthology, like the Poe stories. We need more anthologies.

Ironically, the first time I remember being struck by an opening line was from Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury:

"The seller of lightning-rods arrived just ahead of the storm."

It's almost too forward — but I loved the visual. It's hard to not be hooked by the impending storm.

Re: How to Start a Novel

#74

Post by chmod775 »

> the first line is frequently the only line a reader reads.

Never have I done that. Most people will give it at least half a chapter.

A typical reader will already have an idea of what they're getting themselves into - from being familiar with the author, reviews, or blurb. They're not going to put your book down just because your opening isn't something clever.

You don't want readers to think about how clever you are anyways. You want them to be immersed in your story, if a story is what you're selling.

The first chapter, like any other part of your story, should be interesting, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with starting it as you would chapter five.

Re: How to Start a Novel

#75

Post by tunesmith »

Had a great time recently, reading aloud the story that starts with this sentence:

"It was not until several weeks after he had decided to murder his wife that Dr. Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter."

Re: How to Start a Novel

#76

Post by jonnycomputer »

fraXis wrote: post #66
jonnycomputer wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neat game. I have a board game, whose name escapes me at the moment. Instead of books, players receive cards, and tell stories about the cards, the player whose turn it is tells a story about their card, and then others hand them a card that they think matches the story, and then everyone has to guess whose card is the player's. If everyone guesses, player gets no points and everyone else 2. If no-one guess, player g…

This sounds fun! Can you please reply with the name of the game?

soupoje as it right. Dixit. My kids love it.

Re: How to Start a Novel

#77

Post by jonnycomputer »

soupajoe wrote: post #72
fraXis wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds fun! Can you please reply with the name of the game?

I believe the game they are referring to is Dixit. It is a great way to share in each other’s creativity. The game’s scoring incentives keep the story telling from being gamed in a way that diminishes the fun. Similar games, where you lobby others with creativity, are: Snake Oil. When I’m not gaming, I love defining customer needs and determining benefits in the sales process. Snake Oil is a light game that lets me p…

Thanks!

Re: How to Start a Novel

#78

Post by solipsism »

bprieto wrote: post #40
wintermutestwin wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it is from all the years I have spent trying to trim my overly verbose writing, but "was to remember" grates on me as a needlessly inflated way of saying "remembered."

The Spanish original is "había de recordar", and "was to remember" is a good translation. It's meaning is different from just "remembered", as it implies a causality. It wasn't a random remembrance that just happened, it was some memory that was brought by the proximity of death.

"was to remember" doesn't imply causality any more than "remembered" does.

"could not help but remember" would've been a much better translation, and even has the similarity that the usage is less common and more literary (i speak Spanish).

Re: How to Start a Novel

#79

Post by vlmutolo »

I've always been partial to clear prose that sets the stage.

“The island of Gont, a single mountain that lifts its peak a mile above the storm-racked Northeast Sea, is a land famous for wizards.”

A Wizard of Earthsea

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