Okay, so, I'm working on a story right now, and though I'm still working out the details in it, my mind wanders too much to stay focused on that for too long. So, lately, I've been thinking of ways to write it; I want a really challenging way to write this book, and I've come up with one, though, I do have a question about it. I'm writing this book in first person (taking place inside the female main character's head), present tense, and starting the story at one of the more exciting points in the book and flashing back. My question is, how does one start the story at an exciting point? and when you get down to the end of the flashback, how do you bring the reader out of the flashback and back into the action?
Question on Starting a Book
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Well I don't think I'd put a flash back in the opening of the book first off..
Secondly, I hate when people make this suggestion, but someone else would have anyway, so I'll throw it out. Why not just start the book at the flash back?
Third, I'm not sure how to answer the question of how you start it at the exciting moment. Whats hard about it?
Fourth, not really sure why you mentioned a focus problem, except if you were trying to be ironic and make an inside joke about how you want to know how to start your story, but you can't stay focused, so you mention not being able to stay focused, showing your inability to stay focused...
Secondly, I hate when people make this suggestion, but someone else would have anyway, so I'll throw it out. Why not just start the book at the flash back?
Third, I'm not sure how to answer the question of how you start it at the exciting moment. Whats hard about it?
Fourth, not really sure why you mentioned a focus problem, except if you were trying to be ironic and make an inside joke about how you want to know how to start your story, but you can't stay focused, so you mention not being able to stay focused, showing your inability to stay focused...
What you're looking for is information on how to write compelling transitions.
There are as many ways to do this as there are writers and what works for one story may not work for another. Read up on this as much as you can and study the way other authors in your genre manage the transitions, then find one that works for your style and the story.
Sorry I can't be more specifically helpful.
Warmly,
Jenny
There are as many ways to do this as there are writers and what works for one story may not work for another. Read up on this as much as you can and study the way other authors in your genre manage the transitions, then find one that works for your style and the story.
Sorry I can't be more specifically helpful.
Warmly,
Jenny
Well, if I just started at the flashback, and the flashback ends, how would I show that the whole thing was a flashback? =]
Why a 'challenging way' to write it? Just make it a good story.
To answer your questions, and I'm not being snarky.
1. By starting there. It's either an exciting/interesting incident or it isnt.
2. Simply let me know that I am now in the 'here and now'.
There's a thousand ways to do it. You could start a new scene or a new Chapter....I still wish I hadn't left that morning. Or...whatever..
Good luck.
ETA- Be sure you are doing a flashback and not simply starting your story earlier. If the latter it doesn't matter how you end it -it's simply a follow on chapter or scene.
Why not let me know in advance that I'm going backwards?
Or better still don't start with a flashback at all.
A flashback is history and at this stage the story should be moving forwards not backwards.
To answer your questions, and I'm not being snarky.
1. By starting there. It's either an exciting/interesting incident or it isnt.
2. Simply let me know that I am now in the 'here and now'.
There's a thousand ways to do it. You could start a new scene or a new Chapter....I still wish I hadn't left that morning. Or...whatever..
Good luck.
ETA- Be sure you are doing a flashback and not simply starting your story earlier. If the latter it doesn't matter how you end it -it's simply a follow on chapter or scene.
Why not let me know in advance that I'm going backwards?
Or better still don't start with a flashback at all.
A flashback is history and at this stage the story should be moving forwards not backwards.
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Firstly welcome to the forum
I wouldn't worry too much about the opening of your story right now. Just start where you currently feel it should start and go on from there. It's almost a given that at some point near the end you'll figure out where your story needs to begin. My opening chapter has changed at least 3 times already and I haven't finished my novel yet lol.
In terms of too many ideas and no focus why don't you get a notebook and write all the ideas down then work out some very loose outline? Maybe that'll help you focus on your story. It works for me.
In any case good luck and ask about anything you aren't sure about.
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It looks like you've gotten good information here.
One thing you could do is have a prologue in which the flash back occurs.
Then chapter 1 would be in the here and now.
Without knowing specifics its tough to give you advice. (As you may have seen from the posts)
One thing you could do is have a prologue in which the flash back occurs.
Then chapter 1 would be in the here and now.
Without knowing specifics its tough to give you advice. (As you may have seen from the posts)
Is there a particular reason why you want to start with a flashback? I guess it can be done but I've never come across a book that did. Maybe open with a scene that affects your MC and causes them to reflect?
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My Magnum Opus, "Andrew the bus driver and the malevolence of the man on the bicycle" opens with, no lie, a 10,000 word prologue, and is immediately followed by a protracted 15,000 word first chapter which is an in depth flash back and retelling of the events of the prologue.
Two things to keep in mind about my story.
1. I refuse to call the subsections of MY novelizations as chapters. I believe this cheapens them. Instead I refer to them as "les collection des mot". I also only use roman numerals in the book.
2. The prologue consists quite entirely, of the bus driver, sitting at his nook, eating cheese, and not really reflecting on anything of consequence.
I plan to have this 455,000 word book published sometime by 2011. I do this, because I, as a writer, can do whatever I want.
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You seem to be thinking yourself into a corner and perhaps trying to be too clever at this stage.
Write the story.
When it's finished the opening and how it will work best will no doubt be more apparent.
Write the story.
When it's finished the opening and how it will work best will no doubt be more apparent.
1. Matter-of-factly. Starting in the middle of the action will be challenging to read as well as to write, so keep your prose from going ballistic. Write clearly and be sure to give the reader enough information to ground them so they become invested in the story.
2. Generally, when I write flashbacks, I give them their own chapter or scene. When the flashback is done, I end the scene and begin the next with the current action.
If this is your first draft (as in you haven't got anything but notes and maybe character sketchs at this point), then my advice is simply BIC. That stands for Butt In Chair. Sit down and start writing where ever you feel like starting.
At this point in the process it's more important to get the story out of your head and on paper (or in electrons, whatever) than it is to have all the scenes in the right order or craft the perfect beginning. It's OK to skip around in a first draft and write scenes out of order. Don't get so hung up on the first sentence that you never get to the second or the last.
You can fix a lot of things in editing, but first you have to get the story written so you can see the big picture clearly.
If you can't seem to make yourself sit down and write, try using a timer. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write as fast as you can until it goes off.
Good luck!
At this point in the process it's more important to get the story out of your head and on paper (or in electrons, whatever) than it is to have all the scenes in the right order or craft the perfect beginning. It's OK to skip around in a first draft and write scenes out of order. Don't get so hung up on the first sentence that you never get to the second or the last.
You can fix a lot of things in editing, but first you have to get the story written so you can see the big picture clearly.
If you can't seem to make yourself sit down and write, try using a timer. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write as fast as you can until it goes off.
Good luck!
The Passion of the Christ, although a movie, not a book, starts near the end of the story and consists mostly of flashbacks (at least the first half of the movie).
Two caviats here. Nearly everyone on the planet knows the story, and it is a movie, where flashbacks seem to work better.
Two caviats here. Nearly everyone on the planet knows the story, and it is a movie, where flashbacks seem to work better.
Start your story where your story begins. Don't worry about any fancy sleight-of-hand at this point. You can always tweak the format and play with events on a re-write. But in order to re-write, you must first write.
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I'm also just baffled by this. Writing a novel is hard enough, you want to make it more difficult???
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If you're serious with this lack of focus issue and weren't just making a joke, then I'd work on that before you write anything. Although writing is a lot of fun, it's also hard work. If you're not focused enough to plan it, let alone write anything, then there's a problem.
i would think hard before using a flashback...it's a gimmicky cinematic technique, but it can work in fiction but it is not an easy thing to pull off.
Also, if you are thinking of using a flashback to start the story, how will the reader even know that it's a flashback considering you are writing in the present tense? you would actually have to tell the reader it's a flashback. The first scene, in my opinion should establish a strong 'present'. Starting with a flashback makes no sense. Cardinal rule of writing, which you will already know is...keep it simple. Start with a strong hook in the first few pages and worry about 'the past' later.
Also, if you are thinking of using a flashback to start the story, how will the reader even know that it's a flashback considering you are writing in the present tense? you would actually have to tell the reader it's a flashback. The first scene, in my opinion should establish a strong 'present'. Starting with a flashback makes no sense. Cardinal rule of writing, which you will already know is...keep it simple. Start with a strong hook in the first few pages and worry about 'the past' later.
Agree.
1) Write the book any way you want, starting anywhere you want, but carry it through to the end*.
2) Read the first draft straight through and make marks in the margins where you think there are problems and issues.
3) edit the heck out of the story to address the issues found, to perfect the prose, and to get it ready for beta readers (may take multiple passes)
4) Find trusted betas and send it out for their comments.
5) pay attention to what the betas say and make your decisions on how to modify the story to get it submission ready.
*Cut the hand wringing about finding the perfect beginning and the perfect approach and just write the story. There will be plenty of time in # 2-5 to play with the opening and the overall writing approach. The final version of that opening probably will look nothing like it did in the original version anyway.
If you don't just sit down and write the story, you will never complete #1 and you can flush # 2-5 down the porcelain growler.
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I wrote my first manuscript front to back.
Currently, I take tons of notes and when I feel I might lose the freshness of my idea, I write the scene, regardless of where it falls in the story. I want the scenes bright, not me writing off my notes.
Know ahead, like I didn't, you will edit and edit and it'll be no fun. Being tempted to give up is a big part. I won't do that this time. I'm also not writing an unpublishable tangle of weirdness either.
Currently, I take tons of notes and when I feel I might lose the freshness of my idea, I write the scene, regardless of where it falls in the story. I want the scenes bright, not me writing off my notes.
Know ahead, like I didn't, you will edit and edit and it'll be no fun. Being tempted to give up is a big part. I won't do that this time. I'm also not writing an unpublishable tangle of weirdness either.
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Just write the story. Please don't let your creativity get crushed at the very beginning of the proccess. I have just been through this and it can crush your soul. I am finding that it is possible for one to think a story to death. I am learning I if I try to hard to be perfect, which will never happen, by the way, it takes all the fun out of writing. Use the bic method and go with the flow.
jane
jane
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Here's how to start the book at an exciting point... Just copy and paste this word-for-word:
"Abstemious?" Luke is raising his pistol and pointing it at my eyes. "Just who the f**k are you calling' 'abstemious'?"
The muzzle of the .38 looks about a yard wide. I can see the muscles straining in Luke's neck. His face is red.
===========
There you are! Exciting!
Go from there.
"Abstemious?" Luke is raising his pistol and pointing it at my eyes. "Just who the f**k are you calling' 'abstemious'?"
The muzzle of the .38 looks about a yard wide. I can see the muscles straining in Luke's neck. His face is red.
===========
There you are! Exciting!
Go from there.
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I resent this. I've never called anyone abstemious in my life.
Seun, whose real name just so happens to be Luke.
I dnt knw if I cn help u wid ur focus problem.
For the excited point part ... um ... you could start it in any way lik a dialogue or jst abt anything.As for gettin bck frm flashbck I gata say - just end the chapter and the nxt chapter can be out of flashback though i suggest starting wid a prologue.
For the excited point part ... um ... you could start it in any way lik a dialogue or jst abt anything.As for gettin bck frm flashbck I gata say - just end the chapter and the nxt chapter can be out of flashback though i suggest starting wid a prologue.
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