Maybe, for the sake of getting back into the routine, you could try letting yourself begin by jotting down some of those new story ideas the first day back at your desk? You can then pick up where you left off with the current WIP the next day. Or you do a little bit of both each day? Sometimes it doesn't matter exactly what it is you're writing, the fact that you're writing is what counts. I think this applies especially after a hiatus.
I wish I had the luxury of being able to sacrifice playing video games. Truth is the only time I'm not busy doing important things is the hour and a half I get to spend with my girlfriend, and I don't think she would be best pleased if I stopped communicating with her altogether. I have got an hour slot, that is all I have to work with, and even that gets eaten away by other things. I am so busy, I've not completed reading a book yet, this year.
Hi, so I am considering entering Nanowrimo by writing the sequel for Book of Legacy. The book does not end with a cliff hanger, but there are still many un answered questions. The first book is already 55 000 words and after editing I think there will be around 70 000 words so I think it is best to make a two volume series. Anyway, I was just wondering, how do you start a sequel? Do I have to recap what has happened? Reintroduce the characters? or can I just continue where I left of?
I seem to be busy spraying my uninformed opinions all over the forum today. Two personal preferences: 1] I don't like sequels that start by undoing the progression and resolution of the previous novel. MC works hard and makes his fortune. I don't want to start reading the sequel and suddenly he's a pauper again. Clearly it may be necessary to create new problems and tension, but just undoing the previous novel is not, in my personal opinion, the way to do it. 2] I prefer sequels that can be read as a standalone novel. Even if I've read the previous novel, I don't object to having backstory in the sequel to keep new readers informed. So, how to start? Enough background for the readers to understand what is happening, and introduce a story worthy problem. A new one.
My suggestion: Go to your bookshelf and pick up all the sequels you can find. Take a look at the opening chapters in each and note of the different authors' approaches.
Personally, do NOT start with a recap. That would annoy the ever-living out of me, because, as a reader, I tend to read sequels directly after the previous book. Even if I'm reading them as they're released, I re-read book 1 before 2 and 2 before 3, etc. At the same time, while you don't necessarily have to reintroduce new characters as though your reader doesn't know them (your readers are smart, give them credit), but don't just ASSUME that they remember every detail about them, either. Keep those small details in there (Not ALL readers are that smart, and even those that are appreciate the reminders, helps keep the mental image of the character, IMO). However, this is just my two cents, I would definitely pick up as many sequels off your bookshelf/from your library as you can find and study them.
I have not written any sequels, but I strongly dislike the recap when I read it. If I were to write a sequel, I would simply just start the novel as if it were a standalone and treat the previous novel just like backstory--sprinkle it in as needed and only when/if needed.
My preference would be to start with something new. New character, new location, new dilemma. Don't immediately fall back on the tried and tested; the elements and characters that are familiar and feel comfortable. Come at the audience out of left field, kick them in the shin, and run off into the nearest scrub of bushes. You can (re)introduce the familiar characters and situations later.
I think that I will continue the story as if it is a long book instead of treating it as two separate, and worry about how I will tie them together later. However, if I do choose to end it as it currently is; the main characters has just fled a town after freeing a person from the dungeons. The protagonist was never in favour of letting him into their group but the others made the decision without him as they carry the protagonist out of town while sleeping. The first book ends with him waking up and realising who is carrying him. (The protagonist is injured and 14 years old) In the story they visit six key locations, so far they have visited two... this might turn out into a three volume series.
Hi All, New to the forum so please bear with me... I am looking for advice please for where to begin.. I know that sounds insane but I have an idea for a story.. I am just unsure where to go next. What is the best way to handle my idea? Should I brainstorm.. or can anyone suggest any useful methods to use to help take my idea that step further? Any advice welcome. Cheers Matt
You have an idea, so flirt with it and see where it goes. Just pick a spot and start writing. If you feel you need more information to help the reader develop a sense of place you can always go back and write more chapters in front. Anything you write can be edited or changed later so don't worry if it doesn't look or sound right the first time around.
If you're not sure yet how the story is going to play out I would suggest sitting down and developing the story in your own mind before starting. Otherwise there's a risk that you will stall when you get to a point where you don't know how to proceed. I know some people are against planning, but that is my advice. Work on the story, make sure you have a good grasp of at least the basics before you press start. That is Main character/-s Goal Motivation Conflict Antagonist Setting Time
Assume there will be a character change. Where and who is that character in the beginning and why? Then build it around the character changing.
Theme, tone, PoV, all things to consider. As a designer, the working is this.... What's the brief? Highlight key objectives Brain storm/first ideas Discuss Develop Further feedback Amend Finalise
I'm an amateur writer at best, despite making countless stories (that I've never finished) in the past. I'm a harsh critic towards myself, you see. I've recently decided on starting a novel, maybe a trilogy. I want to finish it as well. But I find myself unable to make a proper opening. I do not want to start out flat or make a cliche introduction. I plan on making an action/adventure novel wherein the protagonist, a bubbly yet determined girl, is introduced with some... flair? She isn't optimistic, per se, but she does have quite a lot of exuberance and edge to her, but can be analytical and serious when the situation calls for it. Every time I try to think of a suitable introduction I always hit a dead end. I have everything roughly planned out, but the opening is where I am struggling with. I really do want to hook the readers to the story as they read the first few pages. What do you suggest? Your opinions and suggestions do not have to be specific, I just need an outline or idea of what to do. Thank you very much!
When I was asking myself the same question as you, I went to a library and spent hours reading the first pages of many books from many different genres. The same can be done using "Look Inside" on Amazon. Ask yourself: which of these starting paragraphs would make you want to read the rest of the book. How much detail they contain. Whether they start in the middle of the story or somewhere else. Whether they start with a static or active scene. Etc. Look for patterns that you feel make a good start to a story, and then try to think how you would do something similar for your own stories.
So this is going to be pretty vague, because without some idea of what's going on in your story it's hard to suggest much, but text-wise I usually say start with a bang. This doesn't necessarily mean action - it could be a joke, it could be simmering tension, it could be a sentence so fucking beautiful it makes your reader's heart jump - but give them something interesting. It doesn't need to be so grabbing they commit to your whole book right there, but you at least need to get them to the next paragraph, the next chapter. But here's another, possibly more useful way to answer your question. The best way to start a story is later. The opening's not coming to you. Not a problem. Go write a different bit. You don't have to write from beginning to end, so write the scenes you've got clear in your head and come back to it later. Often you'll feel more inspired once there's some words already on the page.
If the opening is tripping you up, I think you should just go ahead with a starting point you've chosen and start writing the story. As you go through the writing process, the story may start to congeal a bit more and you may find a place that really works great as an opening to the story. Then you cut what you've written up to that point and you have your start.
Maybe take it from some turning point or soon to be turning point in the mc's life? Think in terms of answering the basics - who, what, where, when, why and how. They don't have answer all the story questions but just lay the ground work for the scene you're about to plop the reader into. Ask yourself some questions - how do you want the reader to see the mc first off? What setting do you want to begin with? - Sometimes you can have things do double duty - when you pick a highschool classroom to set the scene in it informs your reader your mc is a highschool student, when you set it in a castle you're telling your reader it's fantasy. What mood do you want to set? Also never worry about getting the first scene, first draft right. You just want to get words on the screen/paper.
This may seem basic but where does your plot start? What is the spark that ignites the story. Start here. If it's an action story then I think the start needs to contain action. As other people have said, just start somewhere, it may well not turn out to fit your story but in all likelihood you won't know this until you've written your story. Rewrites are wonderful things.
Does anyone know where their story begins until it is finished? I have never completed anything more than a very short story but I bet there are lots of long term members on this forum who have written their story(ies) and when they were into the draft stages decided to shuffle the deck or even realized that they needed to back up further in the story timeline to really get it started properly. As the others have said, just write what you have in mind and worry about how it begins as the complete story unfolds on 'paper', it will just come to you when you see it.
You don't have to start at the beginning. By that I mean that the beginning, or opening, to your book may be the first thing a reader reads, but it's not the first thing you need to write. Stories don't have to be written in a linear fashion. You can create all the bits and fit them together later. Many writers start with the end, so they know where they are going. Many people that write in a linear fashion are doing 'role-playing' writing, where they go on adventures in their as they make it up and then write it down. That can work, but so can planning. If you can't write a good opening yet, don't, or write a crap one and fix it later. It won't matter how good it is until other people read it anyway.
Deciding where to begin my WIP was challenging, including whether it would be action packed or not. I rewrote the beginning, including a large number of chapters a number of times, then followed some advice: write the story from the beginning, including the boring stuff and once you've completed it, the true/ideal beginning will stand out clearly. Now ive finished the first draft this has worked for me I know the nature of the first chapter and the location within the story. i will have to rewrite lots anyway, but it will be with a clear focus.
I wrote the first chapter of my first book with a scene in a hospital where the MC's father had just died. The next chapter I had take place at the cemetery after the funeral. I then proceeded to write the entire rest of the book. When I finished the first draft and re-read the first two chapters during editing I plainly saw that the story did not need Chapter 1. I could start it with Chapter 2 just as easily, and it was more effective as an opening and as a hook to the reader. My point: don't dwell on getting it right on the first go. Write something, then move on. It's not written in stone. You can always go back and change it or in my case delete a whole chapter.
