tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post1650487620358657926..comments2023-09-27T03:56:54.678-05:00Comments on As We Were Saying....: Act First, Explain Later For A Compelling First PageRuby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030839859107760855noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-87273575109083796892011-10-20T08:58:22.074-05:002011-10-20T08:58:22.074-05:00Thanks for your comments, Kim, Susan and Caroline....Thanks for your comments, Kim, Susan and Caroline.<br /><br />Kim,I like your opening scene. Make sure to include dialogue and thoughts and her feelings (nervousness) and other sensory details, to bring your MC to life for the reader quickly.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-78632998644705030872011-10-19T22:46:18.124-05:002011-10-19T22:46:18.124-05:00Jodie, that's a great checklist. I have to sla...Jodie, that's a great checklist. I have to slap my hands to prevent a cast of thousands. Thanks for sharing. That's a nice list to print and save by the computer.Caroline Clemmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-55507576719042625032011-10-19T21:48:49.174-05:002011-10-19T21:48:49.174-05:00My first manuscript (first version) started with a...My first manuscript (first version) started with a main character pacing his office, contemplating the bad predicament he just put himself into. Totally the wrong spot! My second manuscript started in the right spot, dramatic inciting incident, but didn't have nearly enough deep POV for readers to get connected. Of all the ones you listed above, I think I've done all of them at one point or another. Leave it to me to use every bad habit out there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-84348379974940323972011-10-19T20:01:21.878-05:002011-10-19T20:01:21.878-05:00Thank you, Jodie! This is very helpful!
My MC st...Thank you, Jodie! This is very helpful! <br /><br />My MC starts at a bank, depositing a large sum of money that she acquired in a bit of a dubious way. Even though it opens in that way, the inciting incident is quick to happen (by page three). Is that considered static? <br /><br />Thanks again!<br />KimKimberly Waltonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-49129116663887057722011-10-19T17:14:19.401-05:002011-10-19T17:14:19.401-05:00Also, for more on this topic, please check out my ...Also, for more on this topic, please check out my article, Those Crucial First Five Pages, at Crime Fiction Collective, http://crimefictioncollective.blogspot.com/2011/08/those-crucial-first-five-pages.htmlJodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-66253072287384810732011-10-19T17:09:49.985-05:002011-10-19T17:09:49.985-05:00Hi Anonymous and Ruby,
I'd establish the main...Hi Anonymous and Ruby,<br /><br />I'd establish the main character first before the discovery of the body. Readers want to know who to start rooting for early on. They want to know who's story it is, and why they should care enough about that person to follow their story.<br /><br />Ruby, take that story out again! Introduce your main character in a meaningful way, in a scene with others, with a bit of conflict and intrigue, then have him/her discover the body. Don't give up on that story!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-25346434779737301882011-10-19T14:03:22.143-05:002011-10-19T14:03:22.143-05:00Jodie:
Thanks so much for visiting our blog. Seein...Jodie:<br />Thanks so much for visiting our blog. Seeing Laurie's comment made me think of my first chapter where the protagonist finds the body of a friend and a contest judge said that I had too much before the inciting incident. I took it out, then was told by another, I didn't have enough of a setup. I finally decided to just put the story aside for a while.Ruby Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01030839859107760855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-78337038509123342382011-10-19T13:58:05.109-05:002011-10-19T13:58:05.109-05:00Jodie:
It's always hard for a new writer to st...Jodie:<br />It's always hard for a new writer to start the story where the story starts!<br />You made some really valid points.<br />If someone discovers a dead body how much set up do you do?<br />LaurieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com