All Questions
Tagged with first-line or openings
66 questions
0
votes
2
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210
views
I wanna start making scripts for my own Indie animation series, but can't find a good way to start it
I've been stumped for a few days on beginning my script for Space Hazard. I chose to begin writing with my biggest inspiration being Rodamrix. I already had a whole universe of ocs out there, but ...
- 23
1
vote
2
answers
141
views
Top Tips on a Good First Chapter
I'm struggling with my first chapter (fc). I have a plan but it doesn't contain any action, something that I know from experience should be in the fc to capture the reader's excitement.
I was going ...
- 902
6
votes
2
answers
138
views
How important is your first sentence?
I am sure I read somewhere that you need a gripping opening sentence to a story. I've been conscious of that claim when reading since and I find most of my favourite authors (King, Asimov, Iain M. ...
- 273
3
votes
2
answers
455
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What is the “RIOT” paragraph writing formula?
In my high school, a teacher had an acronym which was a guideline for writing an entry paragraph to an essay. The acronym was “RIOT”. Does anyone know what these letters stand for and can they locate ...
- 141
2
votes
3
answers
141
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Linear beginning or flash-forwards? [duplicate]
I'm writing this fantasy story that focuses on two main characters.
The story was supposed to start with the male protagonist. So, in the first four chapters or so, we get to know his current ...
- 769
2
votes
2
answers
252
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How should I start my daily diary entries?
My teacher once said that a daily diary is pretty much the same thing as a letter to a friend, except; it begins with "Dear diary" instead of "Dear friend".
Is this true?
- 109
2
votes
2
answers
194
views
Action-packed opening events: cliché or not?
Not a duplicate of Trying to avoid being cliché as that question asks about the opening line, rather than an opening event.
I am trying to avoid the many clichés out there, so I had a question about ...
- 1,753
9
votes
9
answers
5k
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Do I have to start my story with my main characters?
What I mean is, does my story have to start with my main character being introduced, or can I start with their parents and then ease into the main character after a time skip?
- 107
0
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1
answer
73
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Chapters in my thriller before the main threat comes in
I'm writing a thriller about some people that have their whole world change around them. I won't bog this question down with lengthy specifics though.
The world my characters inhabit isn't exactly ...
- 340
2
votes
3
answers
228
views
My protagonist being needed for my story is a life changing event, does that mean the event needs to be in my story?
My protagonist is a first-generation native on a colony world. The general culture of the colony makes it clear that everyone must contribute to the colony in a meaningful way. But instead of ...
- 340
2
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2
answers
103
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My writing is stiff at the start, I think I need an attitude adjustment
My story is raring to be put on paper. But the first paragraph, indeed the first chapter, is stiff as a board. Way too much subject, verb sentence structure (clean and safe).
Basically, I’m so ...
- 21
2
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2
answers
349
views
Beginning a story in a bar, good or bad? [closed]
Currently writing a novel about a man spiraling downward following a divorce, among other things. I want the reader to be grabbed by this man even though by all accounts he's a bit of an unsavory ...
190
votes
9
answers
20k
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"Dear Stack Exchange, I am very disappointed in you" - How to construct a strong opening line in a letter?
In light of recent events, I intended to write a simple letter of complaint to StackExchange. The obvious thing to do would be to write an opening with the fact such as
It came to my knowledge that ...
- 10.6k
35
votes
8
answers
9k
views
Is the first page of a novel really that important?
I am reading in a few blogs like this that the first page of the novel is really important if it has to get published. Is this true? Can a good story not compensate for an ordinary first page.
I have ...
- 2,399
9
votes
6
answers
798
views
Building a scene and readability
When building a scene at the beginning of a chapter for instance, before character interactions take place, what are the important elements to consider, and how long should the description be, before ...
- 193
13
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7
answers
2k
views
Should I describe a character deeply before killing it?
So, I have this little story I would like to tell.
It's about a girl and how she's forced to take a journey with the man who has just killed her father.
I'll skip the details. The point is I'm not ...
- 131
54
votes
12
answers
12k
views
How to trick the reader into thinking they're following a redshirt instead of the protagonist?
I'm currently planning a "magical girl" story, and I thought of an interesting way to start it, rather than launching straight into the backstory. It opens with a woman in her mid-thirties, complete ...
- 11k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to avoid introduction cliches
I'm writing a research paper in one of my math classes about the P vs NP problem. I feel the introduction to my paper sounds like a cliche. This is my intro:
In the field of mathematics, there are ...
- 133
7
votes
2
answers
250
views
Abandoning the Ordinary World
As I understand it, when considering the Three-Act Structure, the first half of Act One prior to the Inciting Incident is used to show the reader the 'Ordinary World'.
In the story I am working on, I ...
- 744
5
votes
3
answers
143
views
How to open a serious speech?
I need to speak at the unveiling of a memorial plaque (this one, incidentally).
I have an idea of what I want to say, and how I want to arrange it. My struggle is with the opening.
I have spoken in ...
6
votes
1
answer
137
views
Using a different POV just for the opening line
I'm currently working on a short story with a dramatic "twist" ending. I use the quotation marks because, unlike a conventional plot twist aimed at surprising the reader, the intended target of the ...
- 7,263
9
votes
8
answers
1k
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The problem with beginning
I don't mean "sitting down to write", I mean the literal beginning. The story itself starts with my protagonist running. I need to get him to run, then I'll have the rest of it sorted. But won't ...
- 91
2
votes
4
answers
338
views
Having Trouble Writing An Opening Scene With A Shy Character
I'm having a bit of trouble coming up with the opening scene for a fantasy story I'm writing, about a mousy but passionate girl from a family of entertainers who inherits the entertainer's blood. She ...
- 21
5
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3
answers
303
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Translating worldbuilding into an interesting opening
I've once heard there are 2 types of writers, and I am definitively an architect. I can write down a few hundred pages of worldbuilding and characters, but I scrap most of my stories after the first ...
- 153
3
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Alternatives to starting a sentence with well [closed]
I'm new to narrative writing and especially have trouble with dialogue. I too often am using the word well to start a character's sentence after receiving some information to then ask a question about ...
- 133
11
votes
8
answers
1k
views
How to think of a good beginning?
I've been thinking about my story for a while now and the problem I've run into is that I'm not sure how to start it. It isn't that I can't think of how to start it, I actually have a million ideas ...
- 351
6
votes
3
answers
456
views
Should I use an important scene from the middle of my novel as a prologue?
I am a first time novelist with writing experience. I have an idea for my novel that begins with an important scene which actually plays out in the middle of the novel. Should I write this as a ...
- 71
6
votes
5
answers
385
views
What is the structure and important points to cover in a first chapter?
I feel like I have everything except the first chapter; once the story is underway I feel like I know where to go, but I'd like some guidance in getting it all started when the reader knows nothing at ...
- 1,654
11
votes
4
answers
624
views
How do you deal with Chapter 2 when Chapter 1 is a volcano opening?
I know the logic behind volcano openings and why they’re problematic (they set the expectation that that level of action and excitement will continue; they’re a hard act to follow; they make a promise ...
- 9,923
2
votes
1
answer
281
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How to introduce the content of my essay (for IELTS) to my reader?
Is it okay to use the phrase “This essay will discuss” in the introduction? I was told by my tutor that I have to refrain from using it because it is too “mechanical”. Is there any way that I can make ...
- 29
5
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3
answers
2k
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How Can You Use "In Medias Res" To Beautify Your Amazing Masterpiece? [closed]
How do you write out the second build up without killing the essence of the masterpiece?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Medias Res?
- 51
21
votes
11
answers
5k
views
How to derive a first sentence from a story?
There is much advice out there on "how to write a killer opening line". Usually these blog posts or how-to-write book chapters list examples of first sentences from recognized masterworks or group ...
user29032
18
votes
8
answers
3k
views
How to open a novel?
Looking at the function of the beginning of a novel, it is clear that it should hook the reader and draw him or her into the story. Different techniques for achieving the hook have been described, ...
user29032
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How do you drop a reader in the middle of nowhere at the beginning of a story?
My story begins with a little girl waking up in a creepy and probably very haunted house in the middle of nowhere. She has no memories of how she got there, what happened or what the place even is, ...
user23083
2
votes
4
answers
845
views
How many pages should cover the Ordinary World of the Protagonist?
How many pages and chapters should cover the Ordinary World also known as the normal world of the Protagonist? Ordinary World is the term used in the Hero's Journey for the ordinary world the hero ...
- 661
0
votes
3
answers
172
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Trying to avoid being cliché
Has opening a story with something like "I hurtled to my death", "I had destroyed the earth", or other outlandish statements like these become cliché? And if so, what are some alternative methods to ...
-1
votes
1
answer
199
views
Opening of a cover letter [closed]
I am currently writing a cover letter (for a job application) and after a long 'struggle' with the opening paragraph, I've decided to start it by briefly presenting myself and then continuing with
"...
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
775
views
Prologues with no protagonist - How can they work?
It is my understanding that novels should generally start right off with the protagonist. The story is about the protagonist, after all, not something else (This obviously changes a bit if the PoV is ...
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
Delerium too much like a dream?
My novel starts with the character believing she is outside, naked, because she is delerious. After less than a page she realizes where she really is. She was delerious because she fainted and she ...
- 11
0
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4
answers
2k
views
Should the opening of a short story mirror the ending?
When I was in school, my English teacher told me that a short story's beginning should mirror its ending, or at least the conclusion should in some way parallel the starting point of the story; but I ...
- 135
3
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Is my opening chapter too short?
I've just started writing my first proper novel, I've written short stories and started to write before, but never really had the motivation, but now I have a new, interesting storyline to write about,...
2
votes
3
answers
378
views
Does this urge you to read further or stop? [closed]
I was wondering if this opening of my book enticed readers to read further. The book is a dystopian novel. This is NOT a complete chapter, it is only a part of it. Please leave comments on how I can ...
- 269
0
votes
6
answers
447
views
Does the following opening grip you? [closed]
Of all the people who wanted to join the trip, Paola was the the last I expected would come. It surprised me. We barely knew each other at school, and I was pretty sure she wasn't interested in me. I ...
- 12.4k
8
votes
3
answers
2k
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What are the pros and cons of starting a novel with internal dialogue?
I'm thinking about starting a novel by having the first sentence be internal dialogue.
What are the potential problems this could raise? What are the benefits?
By internal dialogue I mean something ...
- 81
1
vote
3
answers
243
views
When opening a book
I hear a lot of things about how one should give the name of their character early in the writing setting etc. My question is is it ok not to name your character, not to be specific about your setting ...
- 11
2
votes
4
answers
132
views
Does this opening relate to the message? [closed]
This is now my third attempt of writing the opening of my book. I took What's advice and tried to send a message to the readers. the message was:
What makes us strong is our courage.
In the story, ...
- 269
3
votes
3
answers
319
views
Does this opening somewhat grip the reader? [closed]
I took the advice of very helpful people on my last question. I considered many possibilities to start my book, but I chose this one.
This is only a snippet of my opening. I am going for a strong ...
- 269
2
votes
2
answers
344
views
Am I providing enough information to keep the reader gripped?
This is the opening of a short story I'm writing (second draft):
A deep silence enveloped the room as the words escaped from my mouth. I turned to the side to look at Akiko. She was staring ...
- 12.4k
5
votes
5
answers
441
views
Does this entice the reader to continue? [closed]
This is the beginning of my science fiction book that I am currently writing. I tried to be more specific, but without giving away the full idea. I might have failed at that.
I wanted to know if this ...
- 269
2
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Writing a punchy paragraph opening / beginning
I am writing a paper and always want to find ways to write a punch opening for my paragraph. I'm not sure how to take an informative paragraph and find an exciting lead-in that will encourage the ...
- 217