Opening

writerdog said:

What is the best way to oepn a YA novel?

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Hey writer, stick around and some experts will answer that..Wow look you got your 50 posts! Whoo Hoo, now I think you get to pick your own avatar...Congrats!

I think its important to have a good hook at the beginning of any novel to grab the reader.

I write romance so I can't help with specific YA ideas, but I've been told that no matter the genre the begining of book needs to grab. Have you tried just thinking of one sentence, something that really grabs you, and working out from there? A single thought or a small piece of action?

writerdog said:

That could be a bad thing. It means I spend way too much time on here. What do you mean by experts?

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There are a lot of people on here that really know about different genres...I do childrens books and others..not real good with YA

writerdog said:

I do childrens books, also.

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You do? Thats great....I love them even though I'm a grown up...oh well, Disney made all his movies originally for grown ups

writerdog said:

Even Pinokio?

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Yes, very much so! Whats your favorite?

i write YA too. and personally i don't think there is one best way.

i'd suggest looking at your favorite books, YA or adult, and paying attention to how they open. odds are, there'll be a whole mix of different ways of opening. or maybe not-- maybe you'll find that you tend to like books with really catchy first sentences, or books that open with action, or something else.

i often don't figure out where the story begins or how to open it until after i finish the first draft. so i tend not to worry to much about openings until that point.

writerdog said:

What is the best way to oepn a YA novel?

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Writer I am going to study this for you tonite and will have some good answers for you tomorrow, hugs kimmi

writerdog said:

I was awakened this morning because of a nightmare, but that was sort of a good thing. Having a bad dream helped me think of a great opening. Having her somewhat relive some of the previous aaction in her sub consious mind, but waking up and then having to go on with the story. I've read several books in the YA genre open this way, and I always enjoyed that.

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Morning writer,
Sorry about your nightmare .
I am glad you have some ideas!
The YA is a good section to begin...
The opening of Harry Potter...what grabs you there...
Also I had a chance to think on this.
You have a love for dogs...right?

A good opening scene will engage the reader. It should make the reader want more. Action is one way to achieve that goal but, by itself, rarely enough. For example, if someone gets hit by a bus on page one it's sad and maybe even shocking but if we don't know anything about the victim we remain distant and with minimal concern. If the person is a beautiful young woman pushing a baby carriage, we may be nudged a little more toward learning more about the tragedy. If thousands of hundred dollar bills flutters out of the carriage and away in the breeze as the woman bleeds to death on the pavement, now we've got a real reason to turn the page. Why did this woman have so much money in a baby carriage?

Anyway, the point is, make the reader care about your story or your characters in the opening lines. Give them a reason to engage and commit. A "hook" is really a reason to care. Your job is to invent one and introduce it as quickly as possible.

This is as true for young adult as it is for adult novels.

writerdog said:

Yeah I am sorry about my nightmare too. I think I need to quit watching those reality0based shows about people getting attacked lol Yes I love dogs. In fact my favorite disney movie is Lady and the Tramp, especially the meatballs scene lol.

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Ok Great..lets get started, for a little then I have work to do ok?

writerdog said:

Sure.

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Ah Lady and the Tramp...a true Disney classic, that I love as well.

Have you ever read Winn Dixie?

writerdog said:

You mean Because of Winn Dixie?

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Did you read the book and what did you think of the opening?

So you are looking for an opening...Well lets see..
You have a great love for Dogs...
You need an outline....
Maybe a dry erase board...So you can write out your ideas on.
Why don't you have a writing exercise today and play around w/ an opening?
Start with a paragraph.

Winn Dixie is a wonderful YA book! Could you get it and read it...I think you would love it!

writerdog said:

What kind of writing excersize? Are they within AWWC?

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Well you want an opening for a book...
So you want to take it step by step...
Your first step will be the opening paragraph..
Do you have any ideas for an opening?