Check out some of the stories posted on http://www.chapteread.com. You'll get a good idea on how to start your story. Once, you get started you may want to post your beginning there to get some advice.Can someone please give me some advice on how start a story!?
Since you have an idea on what to write, how about starting off describing the setting of the story-like, if you're telling a story about an office woman who does the same mundane things over and over until she snaps, then start off with a description of the city she lives in, then go on into the building she works at, before zeroing in on the character herself. (hm, that's a pretty interesting idea-maybe I'll write about that :P) That's what I'd do, but since I don't know what your story is about I can't say if this is the best approach.
Try starting your piece with a beginning sentence, and see where it takes you. You preferably want your story to start in the middle of the action to grab your reader. So opening with an argument or an interesting question is a good idea. The key is to always get your reader to ask for more as you write, and for you to always ask yourself what if? or why? in your writing.
Where do you want the book to start at? Here's an example- the story is about a man who walks into a bar.
beginning- Boris opened the door to Scarlett Bar and was greeted by 5 over-friendly drunks who dragged me over to their table
middle- 'You don't drink beer?!'
'I just don't like the taste,' Boris replied, shrugging.
end- Boris looked through the windows of the bar he used to visit. Fondly he remembered the very first day he walked in...
Starting at the end is good for tragic stories, with a retrospective feel so people can see what led up to the big event described in your first line.
Middle throws you in and provides a hook. It is up to your audience to find their way. This is good if it's a book with lots of action/adventure.
You need a hook- maybe a witty line/put-down, or a intriguing description.
Think of the best story in the world, something YOU would want to read and would not want to put down. What would that be about? Now go out there and write it.
Or if you're really having writers' block, find a random sentence written somewhere--a sign, a billboard, online, whatever, and start a story with that sentence.
I'm not the best at the subject, but I'm sure the folks over at http://www.papertank.com could help you out if you asked them.
No comments:
Post a Comment