Is it a bad idea to start a book out with an event, such as witnessing a murdur? I would think that would be somewhat over the top. Please advise.
Opening Quiery
- Thread starter AllyWoof
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Actually I disagree. It really depends how you write it. Why don't you try and see. And after all an event is far more interesting to start a book with than nothing. In A Series of Unortunate Events, Mr. Poe informs the Baudelaires that their parents died in a fire within the first few pages. I think you can start with murder, as long as you write it very carefully. Why don't you try it first, and then ask if it works in the SYW, as opposed to asking first? Though there are guidelines, there really aren't rules in writing. And even those guidelines can be broken.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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I think a lot depends on what type of book it is and what age group.
Donna Jo Napoli once gave the following advice about the opening sentence (or paragraph) in a workshop. It should contain four things:
1. an element of the main character
2. the current or potential problem
3. an element of the setting
4. the tone of your story (scary, funny, heartwarming…)
Donna Jo Napoli once gave the following advice about the opening sentence (or paragraph) in a workshop. It should contain four things:
1. an element of the main character
2. the current or potential problem
3. an element of the setting
4. the tone of your story (scary, funny, heartwarming…)
Beginning a book with an exciting event is definitely a good idea. Witnessing a murder is gripping and will pull your reader in - however, I would only advise this particular situation (murder, that is) for a teenage readership.
I think more information about the story and what it's supposed to be about would help us better advise you. There is nothing wrong with starting that way if it's done sensitively and it's for an age group that wouldn't get freaked out by it.
Eric
Eric
I have decided to reread some of my how too books. I am going to make a computer file with important information and print a copy. Maybe knowing the make of todays YA books will help.
Maybe this applies to just movies only (I studied filmmaking and am a professional video editor by day, writer by night) but you don't have to show the whole murder if our hero is a witness to it. Less is more. It allows the viewer (in movies) come up with their own terrifying imagery.
So maybe when writing this scene you can have different eerie sounds (gun going off, screams, foot-steps of the other person running away) and still have the hero hiding, not visually witnessing the event, but witnessing none the less (without scary the heebie-jeebies out of your reader or getting too gory.. unless that's what you want)
So maybe when writing this scene you can have different eerie sounds (gun going off, screams, foot-steps of the other person running away) and still have the hero hiding, not visually witnessing the event, but witnessing none the less (without scary the heebie-jeebies out of your reader or getting too gory.. unless that's what you want)
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If it is YA, I think you are okay to have this type of opening.
I also like the idea of letting the reader's imagination fill in the blanks by having the action off camera (so to speak). It builds tension and gets them invested quickly.
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Honestly writerdog I wouldn't worry about rules or "does this apply to all . . ." etc. Just write it. Don't keep asking permission to do something. Do it first, and then we can all analyse it and decide whether it works or not. I mean a conversation like this is interesting to have about theories and generalities (what makes a good story etc), but when you are asking specifically about something you want to write, I say have faith in yourself and just go for it!
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I think that if you're writing for ya, starting with he murder bit is fine. Like the others said, it's an exciting hook. But leave some details to be discovered later. Keep the reader wanting more.
I'd echo what Toothpaste said... good advice.
Don't worry too much about the beginning because you'll probably go back and change it. With the first two books I wrote, I spent a lot of time revising the early chapters and in the end, after I had first drafts finished, I decided to cut most of the beginning anyway and start in a completely different way. So now I'm more likely to just jump in and write.
good luck! -cassidy
Don't worry too much about the beginning because you'll probably go back and change it. With the first two books I wrote, I spent a lot of time revising the early chapters and in the end, after I had first drafts finished, I decided to cut most of the beginning anyway and start in a completely different way. So now I'm more likely to just jump in and write.
good luck! -cassidy
go YA
agreed. if there's a murder make it a young adult (13 and up) or an adult book.
good luck!
- evan
agreed. if there's a murder make it a young adult (13 and up) or an adult book.
good luck!
- evan