March 28, 2007
The Beginning: A Very Good Place to Start
Written by Shana in Writers and WritingMy favorite part of writing is the beginning. I love starting a new book. The story is still “pure,” which means that it hasn’t yet been corrupted by turns in the plot or traits in the characters I didn’t expect. Everything seems possible at the start of a book.
Somewhere between chapters 4 and 6, something usually goes wrong. A plot point that seemed simple is far more complicated than expected or a character who was supposed to be integral now seems unnecessary. The hero and heroine are bickering, and it’s not only getting on their nerves but mine as well.
I’m used to this, and I rely on my critique partners to help me tiptoe through the minefield of the good book gone bad. Usually by chapter 10 or 11, everything is back on track again.
At least it is in my process.
But I started a book recently that isn’t working the way all the others have. I don’t know how to explain it except to say that it doesn’t feel right. (Imagine USF’s expression when I say stuff like that.)
I’m sure I could have sat for a few hours and analyzed exactly what was wrong—motivation or character arc or something, but I just don’t have that much patience. I don’t want to think about it; I want to do it.
So I scrapped the book and started over. Yep. I just tossed what I had and opened a new document and typed “Chapter One.”
It actually felt good to do it that way, and the new version feels right to me now.
So what about you? Have you ever had to start over?
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Robyn DeHart Says:
Oh sure. I have yet (I think) to get the opening of a book right on the first try. Contrary to you, I hate beginnings, and before I was published I would just write as fast I could to get through the beginning to the middle, the good stuff. But since I sold I had to learn how to write proposals, which means stopping and revising, something I don’t normally do. But yeah, I recently scrapped chapter 1 and shifted everything up and wrote a new chapter 3 - never done that before, but like you, it just wasn’t feeling right.
Clarisse Says:
I’m assuming this isn’t just a writing question. I started out as an elementary school teacher and after 2 years I realized that I really did not like children in large bunches (which is sort of a minimum requirement for being a teacher). So after all that money and education, I quit teaching. I hasten to add that when I had my own children (only 2, not 25) I loved them to pieces so I don’t think it was the children I hated, just the bunches part. When I went back to work I became a paralegal which suited my talents and preferences so much better.
On the book front, the first book I started I put aside because it was so dark (and had to be that way) that it didn’t reflect my voice. I love the characters and the hook on that book and someday I will go back and finish it, but it just wasn’t the right book for me to tackle as a first shot. As you said, Shana, it just didn’t feel right.
Janelle Says:
Hey, Shana…
Here’s what I hope happened:
You start writing a historical (maybe the last one in the series?). Then it doesn’t feel right. So instead you start to write a contemporary. Since Shane Bolks fans (even if they are Shana Galen fans as well) have been sadly neglected since Reality TV Bites, the cosmos decides to reward them (me) for patience, and the only thing that feels right is to begin an awesome new contemporary.
Shana Says:
Janelle, you are so sweet! That’s not exactly what happened, but I have been working on a new contemp proposal. My agent is about to send it to some publishing houses. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Clarisse, this is definitely not just a writing question. And I totally understand what you mean about children in large bunches. As you know, I was a teacher, and I came to your realization as well very early in my career. I just didn’t know what else to do for money–other than write–so I stuck with teaching for 9 years. I still have flashbacks. Looking back, I probably should have listened to my gut and quit sooner.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Ah, I totally could do a room full of kiddos. I’ve thought many a time (well, mostly when I still had a day job) that I should have gotten my teaching certificate. In another life…
Clarisse Says:
Good teaching is as much a talent as being a good musician. If you have the gift (and Robyn, I can totally see you as a great teacher) then it is wonderful. We all had teachers who didn’t want to be there and I did want to be that teacher (of course, I had the class from hell - the woman who replaced me had 15 years of experience and used to sit at her desk at lunchtime and weep - they were that awful)
Margo Maguire Says:
I discovered after my first couple of books, that I start out with way too much backstory. So I started cutting out the first 2-3 chapters, and ended up with much better beginnings! I’ve learned since then, to start farther into the story, get it moving, and THEN throw some backstory into it.
Clarisse Says:
Margo, I can’t begin to tell you how comforting it is to know that I am not the only one who gets tangled up in backstory (as in I was almost 50 pages into the story before the hero and heroine actually met – hell, I wouldn’t even want to read that book).
I wanted to try to write this book as a learning process, and I am certainly accomplishing that “learning” part. Sometimes I feel like Penelope - I “weave” the book one day and tear out half of it the next.
Lacey Kaye Says:
I did that once, but it wasn’t until after I’d finished the book! Good luck!
Rainy Says:
I am in total agreement with you about beginnings. I love them. It’s a clean slate. It’s like beginning a love affair, full of promise, excitment, passion, hope, etc. Every time you sit in from of the computer, stories emerge out of nowhere, it seems.
Then, as you leave “the beginning” you can find yourself where the road does not merely fork, but divides into dozens of future roads leading to the middle. Which scenario should they travel?
Anyway, that’s what happens to me and part of my problem is in not having a clear picture where I need to go and not having done more planning.
Unfortunately, that’s where I quit out of frustration and begin another piece of work that beckons because of the new “excitement.”
A vicious cycle!
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