Comments on: The Importance of a Great Opening in a Novel

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 06:53:22 +0000

In reply to Raymond Walker. 'Capture phrase' is a good moniker. Ian Banks was great at the 'character intro' sentence I outline in the post.

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 06:52:17 +0000

In reply to Christine E. Robinson. Good luck with your sequel!

By: Raymond Walker

Raymond Walker — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:22:04 +0000

I like the idea and have used this methodology before, but it seems that those who enjoy your books just do. When others do not. I still try to attract new readers in with a well thought out beginning (lol) and end but to be honest with you, I am unsure that it makes much of a difference. I tried to do an “Ian Banks” in a couple of my novels but to be honest I am not sure that it worked.
Oh sorry, for those of you who do not know Ian Banks. “The Crow Road” started with “It all started on the day my grandmother exploded”. A clever writer, he always had a “Capture” phase.
I try to do it but wither I am succesful or not is a moot question.

By: Christine E. Robinson

Christine E. Robinson — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:17:19 +0000

Great reminder, Lucy! I rewrote the first page and first sentence in the sequel at least 100 times. I may have to add something more as the theme has more included. With the debut book, I got it right. But, I’m paying more attention to the story beats for the sequel. Christine

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:34:01 +0000

In reply to ANGELA ACKERMAN. I love being hooked too by the little details!

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:33:31 +0000

In reply to Kay DiBianca. Haha love it! Thanks

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:33:12 +0000

In reply to BECCA PUGLISI. Yup it won't be right for everyone or for every type of story for sure. I'm definitely a screenwriter at heart because action openings are the standard in that medium.

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:31:58 +0000

In reply to Jan Sikes. Glad the article helped!

By: Lucy V

Lucy V — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:31:36 +0000

In reply to Cheryl Potts.

Hi Cheryl, you’re right – prologues bring up all sorts of shenanigans, especially online. I don’t tend to use them … or rather I do, I just call them ‘chapter one’ to avoid any problems! So yes, I’d venture the advice is the same.

By: ANGELA ACKERMAN

ANGELA ACKERMAN — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 22:23:24 +0000

Starting with action is a tricky one because the wrong sort dumps them into a situation where they don’t know what’s going on, but when it’s done well and the reader gets enough information to get the basics of the current event unfolding they are pulled along with it and learn more about it and the characters as they do. I love being hooked as a reader by those little hooky details that pull me deeper into the action 🙂

By: Kay DiBianca

Kay DiBianca — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:26:02 +0000

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an author in possession of a good opening, is on her way to a captivating story.

(I couldn’t resist.) Great article and advice. Thank you!

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:37:31 +0000

Love me a strong story opening! Your advice for starting with action is interesting because this very often doesn’t work for me, personally. I like to know the character a bit before they get thrown to the wolves, but it’s true that this kind of opening works better for some stories than for others. Thank you, Lucy!