tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post1489084237299198952..comments2024-01-14T21:28:37.623-05:00Comments on In the Shade of the Cherry Tree .... Hope Comes Home: Where To BeginZan Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403563510118660546noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-10643171460671641462011-02-23T02:51:38.468-05:002011-02-23T02:51:38.468-05:00I've seen two arguments. One is to begin with ...I've seen two arguments. One is to begin with the inciting incident, as you describe. The other is to begin just before the beginning, as James N. Frey (no, not the guy on Oprah) says. This is in line with the hero's journey. If you show the character in his ordinary world for just a bit, the reader gets to know and care about him before the devastating change in his life takes place. I think which method you choose should depend on the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-87468200235201509272011-02-18T16:48:12.567-05:002011-02-18T16:48:12.567-05:00Trisha and Tanya,
I'm trying to break a few ru...Trisha and Tanya,<br />I'm trying to break a few rules, but I do want it read. So on I go. Good to meet you two.Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166450116524323462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-29483374959223907122011-02-18T14:52:23.635-05:002011-02-18T14:52:23.635-05:00For ever rule, every piece of advice there is one ...For ever rule, every piece of advice there is one that says something else. It's your story. So with it as you please, break the rules, remake the rules, have fun, and we'll have fun reading it.<br />Welcome to the crusade, this is an excellent post, got me thinking.Tanya Reimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293977395016853814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-42441528357854035432011-02-18T11:49:20.874-05:002011-02-18T11:49:20.874-05:00I don't know how, but I have managed to miss o...I don't know how, but I have managed to miss out on hearing this piece of advice - about chopping the first four chapters - in all the years I've been writing. And the irony is that with my contemp. romance novel, I did precisely that - cut out the first 4-5 chapters. They were all backstory. :)<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for stopping by my blog!Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-19698784531321088202011-02-18T08:34:32.579-05:002011-02-18T08:34:32.579-05:00Lynda and Susan,
Hi and welcome to the Shade this ...Lynda and Susan,<br />Hi and welcome to the Shade this morning. ; ) <br />Beginnings are so important. I'm sure I know where <i>Friendly Fire</i> starts, but some of my local crit group don't agree. I'm going to let that sit for the moment.Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166450116524323462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-33031850712462067972011-02-17T19:11:25.581-05:002011-02-17T19:11:25.581-05:00Zan Marie, excellent post. I'm still trying to...Zan Marie, excellent post. I'm still trying to figure out exactly where to start my WIP and meanwhile, just go on my merry way trusting that the opening scenes will eventually make themselves known.Susan Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03194055286314636481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-20905343626411924412011-02-17T16:54:38.124-05:002011-02-17T16:54:38.124-05:00Hi fellow crusader!
Great post. Thanks too for the...Hi fellow crusader!<br />Great post. Thanks too for the links. I find even though I know all the "rules" I still find it difficult to get the beginning right. It's the part of the novel that gets the MOST revisions.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-55309957104683820902011-02-17T11:29:34.747-05:002011-02-17T11:29:34.747-05:00Wow, I go to bed and look what lovely messages sho...Wow, I go to bed and look what lovely messages show up the next morning. ; ) Welcome to the Shade!<br /><br />@Lola--I agree, salt and backstory need to be used sparingly. Knowing what part to include and where to sprinkle--that's the craft. <br /><br />@Charlotte--Hi. I'm really enjoying meeting all the new people through the crusade--See you around.<br /><br />@Hi, Margo, It's nice to meet you too.<br /><br />@Michael--I'll have to look The Wind and the Lion up. I love new suggestions for movies to see. Thanks.<br /><br />@Nancy--I loved your post at L'Aussie's blog. Great info. Thanks for dropping by.<br /><br />@Trisha--Great! I'm really going to love getting to know you and your writing.<br /><br />@Dan--I know what you mean about the classics. The fact that reading was the only access to entertainment at home without TV, radio, or the internet, makes it a different audience. They loved every word they could get and the longer the read, the better. Dickens knew that well. ; )Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166450116524323462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-63519895838683244482011-02-16T19:38:23.399-05:002011-02-16T19:38:23.399-05:00I agree with you on in media res, but I think it&#...I agree with you on in media res, but I think it's more a product of our times than a carved-in-stone writer's decree. Most of the great classics of the 18th and 19th centuries take forever to set up the story, and that's okay. It's like easing into a cold pool or a hot bath. It's works. <br /><br />It's just that we live in an age of instant gratification, and most us have been conditioned to seek out the story right away.<br /><br />Personally, I prefer a fast start over the slow intro, but both styles have their merits.<br /><br />Greetings from a fellow Crusader.<br /><br /><a href="http://danklinefelter.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"> Dan</a>Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01103849952547613477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-74538896685780100512011-02-16T19:22:19.981-05:002011-02-16T19:22:19.981-05:00Hi there - just wanted to say hey and looks like w...Hi there - just wanted to say hey and looks like we're in the same Crusading group :) Nice to meet you!Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-75177754353424656692011-02-16T18:33:21.201-05:002011-02-16T18:33:21.201-05:00Nice to meet you Zan. I think I rewrote chapter on...Nice to meet you Zan. I think I rewrote chapter one of my fantasy over twenty times. I drives me nuts that famous authors can do anything they want and the rest of us are held to different standards. However, I hope to never let my writing slide just because I know it will sell anyway.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, fantasy author</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-34494268044736627052011-02-16T17:22:36.201-05:002011-02-16T17:22:36.201-05:00The Dawn and the Lion reminds me of a movie I saw ...The Dawn and the Lion reminds me of a movie I saw once called "The Wind and the Lion" (good show). I look forward to getting to know you.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-48649486626991903392011-02-16T15:22:35.329-05:002011-02-16T15:22:35.329-05:00Hi! I'm a fellow crusader and new follower. Ni...Hi! I'm a fellow crusader and new follower. Nice to meet you.Margo Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-78085844003174634592011-02-16T13:54:33.672-05:002011-02-16T13:54:33.672-05:00Really helpful post. I often think of unnecessary...Really helpful post. I often think of unnecessary beginnings as the author warming up--and yet sometimes we love our words so much it is difficult to tell when we're doing it. This post should help a lot! By the way, happy to be in your Crusade group!Charlotte Rains Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657052065864065323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-19701993324070376642011-02-16T13:14:26.097-05:002011-02-16T13:14:26.097-05:00Back story is like salt...sprinkle carefully.
Hug...Back story is like salt...sprinkle carefully.<br /><br />Hugs,<br />LolaLola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-11781123720385809382011-02-16T08:56:34.512-05:002011-02-16T08:56:34.512-05:00Hi,Elizabeth, Diamond, Constance, and E.J.,
I'...Hi,Elizabeth, Diamond, Constance, and E.J.,<br /><br />I'm glad you liked the post. I'm glad I wrote it out, even if my momma really didn't like me not liking her author. ; ) She understood when I explained how I would have rearranged the story. <br /><br />It's great to hear from so many Crusaders. See you around.Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166450116524323462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-77102415963043101472011-02-15T20:31:58.812-05:002011-02-15T20:31:58.812-05:00Excellent point, Zan! There are so many ways to a...Excellent point, Zan! There are so many ways to approach a story, but the direct route always seems to serve the story and reader the best.<br /><br />Fellow Crusader,<br /><br />EJWAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273059558675234923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-21686375383072159382011-02-15T20:11:04.497-05:002011-02-15T20:11:04.497-05:00Such a difficult problem :-)
so hard to know where...Such a difficult problem :-)<br />so hard to know where to start and stop. <br /><br />Figuring this out really helped me with my book. I hope i how have it right... :-)<br /><br />thanks for stopping off at my blog!<br /><br />Go crusaders!!<br /><br />ConstanceSarah Ketleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421335686195152108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-88272379560666420272011-02-15T19:33:47.854-05:002011-02-15T19:33:47.854-05:00This is a great post!!! The beginning of a novel m...This is a great post!!! The beginning of a novel makes all the difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-7566417090598520262011-02-15T16:43:43.966-05:002011-02-15T16:43:43.966-05:00I love your post. I recently had to do this with ...I love your post. I recently had to do this with my YA. I'm so much happier with it now though. It's a much faster paced book.<br /><br />I'm following ;)<br /><br />ecwrites.blogspot.comCrazy Life of a Writing Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064939499412649850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-70621142465004103902011-02-15T15:19:31.114-05:002011-02-15T15:19:31.114-05:00Hi, Jess, Lisa, Diana, and Raquel,
Welcome to the...Hi, Jess, Lisa, Diana, and Raquel, <br />Welcome to the Shade! I'm really enjoying this Crusade and meeting some really nice folks.Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166450116524323462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-78270126369695478502011-02-15T15:00:52.364-05:002011-02-15T15:00:52.364-05:00Dropped by to say hello from the crusade and to fo...Dropped by to say hello from the crusade and to follow. Thought the media res section was spot on. I love action in the first few paragraphs.<br /><b><a href="http://nitewriter6.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Edge of Your Seat Romance</a></b>Raquel Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870113745683162915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-67052315646440801692011-02-15T13:47:33.306-05:002011-02-15T13:47:33.306-05:00Stopping by from the crusade, I agree with your po...Stopping by from the crusade, I agree with your post. I'm an impatient reader and I like to get right into the problem and the backstory can be sprinkled in here and there if needed. <br /><br />dstracywrites.blogspot.comDianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13752019877440100530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-27429133910059414232011-02-15T13:44:24.191-05:002011-02-15T13:44:24.191-05:00Hello there fellow crusader. Thanks for stopping ...Hello there fellow crusader. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm slowly getting around to the other crusaders. ;) Love your blog btw. As you could tell from your visit I'm trying for the right place to start to. see ya aroundL.A. Colvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02660594640480581883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930358664981152962.post-77651181454959212392011-02-15T12:29:41.430-05:002011-02-15T12:29:41.430-05:00Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my blog from the ...Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my blog from the Crusade--I love the title of yours :)<br /><br />Starting in the right place is something I'm struggling with for my latest WIP, so thanks for your most recent post!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.com