Ken Schneider wrote,
Why rewrite it to fit a begining when I can just rewrite a good begining.
My initial response is "To get the story moving".
Action captures a readers (and an agents and editors) attention. Grab 'em first. You can explain the rest of it to 'em later at some leisure, but you gotta' get their attention first.
Think of readers, agents, and editors somewhat like donkeys. There's an old adage that involves a baseball bat and the saying "First, get their attention."
Do not give anyone a chance to set your book aside and stamp "Rejection" on the front page. Hit 'em with your best shot (to use a Pat Benatar metaphor) and then keep hitting them again and again. Start off with an active scene and keep the action moving until there's a reasonable pause to the story. Then explain what you need to before starting the action again.
Think of your readers, agents, and editors like you do your main characters - punch 'em and keep on punching them with your writing. Never give 'em a chance to really come up for more than a short breath at a time. You want them completely immersed in your world and oblivious to your writing, your style, any typos, infodumps, etc., etc.
If you're not willing to kick your characters (and your readers, agents, and editors) when they're down, don't hit 'em when they're standing up.
Figuratively, of course, and meaning with your writing.
