Don't you just LOVE it when...

Lydia Sharp · Apr 12, 2010

...you've written nearly fifty pages of a new novel, and realize that THIS is where your story actually starts? Not fifty pages ago, where you thought it did. No. That, apparently, was simply a warm-up to your new characters and their world, with no real plot or direction. Not that I didn't have a plan when I started it, because I did. But...

Ergh. Please tell me I'm not alone. This isn't the first time I've had to scrap a stale beginning in favor of a juicier one.

stormie · Apr 12, 2010

Yep, happened to me several times. But the good thing is that now you know where your story should start. It took time for the characters or the storyline to lead you to that point.

Lydia Sharp · Apr 12, 2010

stormie said:
But the good thing is that now you know where your story should start.

Yes. Thank you for pointing out the bright side of it.

allenparker · Apr 12, 2010

Actually, I intentionally write early. I think the beginnings offer the reader a more realistic entrance into the story, like walking in on part of a juicy conversation

ChaosTitan · Apr 12, 2010

stormie said:
Yep, happened to me several times. But the good thing is that now you know where your story should start. It took time for the characters or the storyline to lead you to that point.

Exactly.

I've seen a lot of agents comment on their blogs about how so many submissions start too soon. So you're a step ahead of the game if you can recognize a false beginning.

Danthia · Apr 12, 2010

You didn't start it too late, you just needed those 50 pages to figure out how it started. If you didn't write those, you might not have found the right opening.

I've scrapped plenty of beginnings. And endings. And middles now that I think about it...

RJK · Apr 12, 2010

Don't throw those fifty pages away, you're going to need some of them for flashbacks.

Chasing the Horizon · Apr 12, 2010

I do the opposite. I start too late, and have to add chapters to the beginning after realizing so much has already happened that I just can't possibly make the story make sense, lol.

eurodan49 · Apr 12, 2010

I started with a lengthy prologue and 3 chapters, about 15,000 words. My two MC had cameo appearances in those. Then an agent told me to start with a chapter on my MC. OK I wrote a new one. Next I wrote a new 3,000 prologue and turned the old one into an epilogue. Next another agent told me to can those old 3 chapters. I didn’t do it but repositioned them. Next another one told me to cut the prologue. Finally I ended up with cutting about 20,000, eliminating the prologue and rewriting the epilogue.
No big deal.

bglashbrooks · Apr 12, 2010

Lydia Sharp said:
...you've written nearly fifty pages of a new novel, and realize that THIS is where your story actually starts? Not fifty pages ago, where you thought it did. No. That, apparently, was simply a warm-up to your new characters and their world, with no real plot or direction. Not that I didn't have a plan when I started it, because I did. But...

Ergh. Please tell me I'm not alone. This isn't the first time I've had to scrap a stale beginning in favor of a juicier one.

I usually end up scrapping the first three chapters of a new novel--especially if it's intended to be a series. The first three just serve to acquaint me with the world. I don't know the characters until I get into the story better.

I usually end up weaving the info from those first three chapters in later, though.

Margarita Skies · Apr 12, 2010

I don't remember if this has happened to me before, but if it ever happens, I will be very happy. Can't wait to read your novel.

Caitlin Black · Apr 13, 2010

The closest I've come to this is deciding that my entire first book of a saga needs to be different. Maybe. I don't know... I'm still undecided as to whether or not to rewrite it.

ImogenAnn · Apr 13, 2010

I always end up dropping early scenes, but totally agree, it's part of establishing yourself in the world as well as your characters and readers, it's often not until much later in the process you start to see what is important to keep or weave in, and what to let go. First 20K words are, IMHO, the easiest to write and hardest to get right.
Also agree, don't scrap them, just put them on one side and have another look later on.

Becky Black · Apr 13, 2010

It's not something I seem to do very often, but I'm an outlining type of person, so maybe that makes a difference, don't know. I've already considered and rejected various start points before I start writing.

But I wouldn't worry about it. Those fifty pages will have given you more idea about your story and the characters and the general tone of the narrative so that now at the starting point you're alreayd firing on all cylinders. Even with my outline it still takes me a few chapters to write myself into the story and get the tone and the voices right. So those scenes may not be cut, but they get more editing than later ones!

Bufty · Apr 13, 2010

Who says? Flashbacks are a pain, and a lot rarer than you think.

RJK said:
Don't throw those fifty pages away, you're going to need some of them for flashbacks.

Lydia Sharp · Apr 13, 2010

Thanks for all the comments, guys! It's frustrating when you have that first moment of realization, but it really is for the good of the story in the long run.

And no, I'm not planning on deleting any of those pages, but I appreciate the concern.

Albannach · Apr 13, 2010

Chasing the Horizon said:
I do the opposite. I start too late, and have to add chapters to the beginning after realizing so much has already happened that I just can't possibly make the story make sense, lol.

I do that every time. I have never failed to have to go back and add several chapters.

PeterL · Apr 13, 2010

You are not alone.

Big Wolf · Apr 13, 2010

Wow, but what if your story doesn't start with action, but with the feeling, the culture of the protagonist? That is- well, okay, I started with an orgy that doesn't really advance the action, but rather sets the mystical scene. This story is about what people believe as much as what they do. Would that work?

Lydia Sharp · Apr 13, 2010

Big Wolf said:
Wow, but what if your story doesn't start with action, but with the feeling, the culture of the protagonist? That is- well, okay, I started with an orgy that doesn't really advance the action, but rather sets the mystical scene. This story is about what people believe as much as what they do. Would that work?

Start with tension, a clear conflict, and a story question that will be answered by the end.

Gabriele Campbell · Apr 13, 2010

Chasing the Horizon said:
I do the opposite. I start too late, and have to add chapters to the beginning after realizing so much has already happened that I just can't possibly make the story make sense, lol.

Not chapters, but scenes. I tend to start in the middle of action and I forget the reader needs to some grounding, like where the skirmish takes place, what is at stake, something about the MC's character besides the fact he's the royal marshal.... So I have to go back and add a page or two, and start the action not in the middle of the skirmish (or whatever action) but a few moments before those guys clash.

Raphee · Apr 13, 2010

Lydia Sharp said:
Start with tension, a clear conflict, and a story question that will be answered by the end.

Does the story question really have to come in the start, ie Ch. 1 or should there be a conflict hinting at the larger story question?

Lydia Sharp · Apr 14, 2010

Raphee said:
Does the story question really have to come in the start, ie Ch. 1 or should there be a conflict hinting at the larger story question?

You kind of answered your own question.

Story questions are usually not a blatant statement seen by the reader and recognized as "something that will be resolved by the end" until you go back and analyze it after reading the entire novel. It's there, but it is often times subtle. And in my opinion, it is closely related to your overall theme.

Conflict should be clear, though, right from the start. As a reader, that's what keeps me turning pages.

And this is why your first chapter by itself goes through just about the same number of revisions as the rest of your novel.

Raphee · Apr 14, 2010

Lydia, perhaps I didnt say it well. I'm trying to make a distinction between the 'Story Question." This is the main conflict, or say plot.

And between a conflict that's in there at the start, might even be irrelevant to the main Story Conflict but draws you into the story. So lets call it a sub-pot that'll have a separate resolution.

I've seen both things in novels. Both work. But then the writers skill comes into play, which makes us for get this linear, or box-like arrangement.

Well, I guess, I'm answering myself again.

Still I wonder what you guys think.

Caitlin Black · Apr 14, 2010

I think as long as it keeps the reader turning pages and is at least somewhat related to the story at hand (like, it's important to the characters and not just 50 pages of "We got in a fight at the pub" and then the rest is "ooh, romance lovey dovey dove") then it's fine.

Like you said, published authors have done it either way.

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