There is a lot of talk about how the internet is a
horrible time suck, a devil waiting to distract writers from their work. This
certainly is true. However, it also can be a great way to prepare for starting
a new project. The trick is to set limits
on how long you rev your writing engine before you actually start writing.
In the spirit of inspired beginnings here is a
podcasts series, a YouTube and websites I used recently to help me get ready to
start my new project.
1. Narrative breakdown—an amazing and ongoing
series with hosts Cheryl Klein and James Monahan as well as guest co-hosts,
such as Rainbow Rowell and E. Lockhart.
Covers a wide range of writing topics, including many that will help with
developing story ideas.
2. Difference between mystery and suspense—One of the
problems I have when beginning a story is making sure I choose a beginning that
matches the genre I’m aiming for. This
link and the next are excellent for focusing on that issue.
3. Tons of inspiration here--even if romance is
secondary and not the focus of your project.
4. Building a fictional world. A TED-ed talk by Kate
Messner. This short talk is purely for fun—and it’s a great reminder about
world building no matter what genre you write.
5. Writing a killer opening line. Great inspiration, but remember you’re about
to write a first draft. Chances are the first sentence you write will not be
the one you end up with after revision. However, this article applies to more
than that single sentence and is worth a read.
6. And, as a bonus, the secrets to writing a best
selling novel--because why not start with a positive attitude.
Giveaway of the week:
Phyllis Whitney’s WRITING JUVENILE STORIES AND NOVELS.
I recently bought this older book on writing because I’m a
long time fan of Phyllis Whitney’s storytelling. However, my expectation weren’t high since
the book was originally written in the 1960’s.
I was totally wrong. This is one of the best writing books I’ve come
across. The advice is solid and easy to understand. It has fantastic advice on
how to choose the right type of beginning for different stories, outlining . .
. pretty much every aspect of writing. This book is good for beginning and
advanced writers.
This book is out of prints, so the winner will be
receiving a second hand copy. To enter
you need to leave a comment on this post and be a follower of this blog.
What an awesome collection of tips and links! I definitely spend too much time online, but I'm pretty good at starting right regarding my genre. Thanks for all the great info! (Don't enter me since I ordered books from Amazon 2 years ago and Egypt-post has yet to deliver them...)
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky to have a talent for beginnings. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent writing new ones only to have to do it all over again, and again :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list of resources. For me, beginnings are one of the most rewritten sections of anything I write, from articles to novels. I'd love to read Whitney's book.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great book, even if your just rereading it to be reminded of things you've learned at one time or another.
DeleteI'm really interested to dive into the link about building suspense appropriate to genre. I think this is something I struggle with because of my tendency to mash up features from different genres, and paying attention to all the world-building associated with that sometimes distracts me from thinking like a reader and building up their interest in the plot itself!
ReplyDeleteI think the key is to decide which genre you want to have dominant, focus on that in the first draft. Then add in dashes of the other genres, but keep them secondary. My WIP is a contemporary suspense. I focused on that, then (after reading the link about romance in this post) I realized I could slide in a glimpse of the love interest earlier in the story than I thought. By a glimpse I mean she just sees him, not contact because the goal of that first scene is to set up the main thread and genre. At least that's my experience with my current WIP.
DeleteSound advice! Thanks, Pat.
DeleteI enjoyed Kate's TED talk. I have a tendency to just get started writing and I have to figure out what the story is about. It might be very beneficial to spend some time answering those world building questions before diving in!
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's anything wrong with being a panster or a plotter. But I do think having a solid foundation helps in either case--or at least is a good way to not get lost before you really get going.
DeleteMust buy this book! Thanks for the great post, Pat!
ReplyDelete