tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post662390828764987647..comments2024-03-29T06:35:45.788-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: The Opening ImageElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-34406858328899988472018-11-12T20:42:30.679-07:002018-11-12T20:42:30.679-07:00
I have this same problem. My husband and I were t...<br />I have this same problem. My husband and I were the perfect couple at first. We clicked right away and the chemistry was just crazy. But reality kicked in real soon and we started arguing a lot. Until now get into heavy arguments, where none of us is really listening and always out talk each other, until one day my husband left me it was like a dream, i beg and apologize for everything, he refuse for 1 year and 3 month, until i meet a man call doctor MACK online who is a great spell caster he cast a spell for me and told me that my husband will come back in 48 hours to beg me to come home, to my greatest surprise my husband come after 2 days of the spell and told me he is sorry, am so happy that i meet doctor MACK, if you need his help contact him on “DR_MACK@ YAHOO. COM”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-83349759969385720852012-05-24T09:29:45.206-06:002012-05-24T09:29:45.206-06:00I think the opening is the fun part. I like starti...I think the opening is the fun part. I like starting in the middle of an argument or with a character saying something that definitely needs an explanation.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-69865888201808592412012-05-24T08:06:22.609-06:002012-05-24T08:06:22.609-06:00I'm finishing a draft of a novel right now and...I'm finishing a draft of a novel right now and am already making revision notes. This is now on my list.Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-24592588563157768742012-05-24T07:22:43.388-06:002012-05-24T07:22:43.388-06:00I find it depends on the character I'm writing...I find it depends on the character I'm writing. Some are more forthcoming, and others I've rewritten many, many times.Carolyn Abiadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567399129586443513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-9704048408525735862012-05-24T06:01:54.540-06:002012-05-24T06:01:54.540-06:00I think so much of this depends on the type of boo...I think so much of this depends on the type of book you're writing. As someone who tends more to the literary side of things, I'm a bit slower on the opening as far as what's going on, but I try to be stronger about establishing the identity of the main character.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-35345747972437083922012-05-24T05:30:26.011-06:002012-05-24T05:30:26.011-06:00YEsss! the hardest part for lots of us, but I'...YEsss! the hardest part for lots of us, but I'm getting better, the more novels I write!Christina Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-76662838558657691682012-05-24T05:27:19.013-06:002012-05-24T05:27:19.013-06:00Thank you for saying this. In YA, particularly, pe...Thank you for saying this. In YA, particularly, people seem to think that you have to start with a big event, and quite frankly it drives me nuts. Because, for the reasons you stated, it's not always the best way to start.Becca Puglisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08945707666707799601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-8922166684570789922012-05-23T20:56:30.057-06:002012-05-23T20:56:30.057-06:00It needs work.It needs work.RaShelle Workmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582252557500502186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-67377511474195748552012-05-23T19:17:20.521-06:002012-05-23T19:17:20.521-06:00I Totally agree! And I am a HUGE STC fan as well!!...I Totally agree! And I am a HUGE STC fan as well!! Thank you for the reminder. Those opening pages will make you or break you. I would had loved to take one of your classes. Love Blake!Mart Ramirezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492840883926331053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-74440412868897175932012-05-23T16:30:21.304-06:002012-05-23T16:30:21.304-06:00I tend to be a slow starter. In fact I've bee...I tend to be a slow starter. In fact I've been spending a lot of time worrying about my WIPs beginning. Maybe I need to get this book.S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-39810878817895353432012-05-23T15:57:32.934-06:002012-05-23T15:57:32.934-06:00This was such an important piece of advice for me....This was such an important piece of advice for me. I first heard it at the SCWC, and it just opened my eyes. The lady called it the "Eden State"...basically right before the world explodes, lol.Jessica Therrienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08075397024734371669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-88741988287071881342012-05-23T14:32:57.692-06:002012-05-23T14:32:57.692-06:00I have Save the Cat and thought it was a great boo...I have Save the Cat and thought it was a great book. I definitely want to read the follow-ups to it. I heard your class based on the book was fantastic at Storymakers! Wish I could have been there.<br /><br />As for my opening image, I think it's far too slow so I've been rewriting it this week and hopefully improving it.Leslie https://www.blogger.com/profile/17430815366297302202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-4017205857936208842012-05-23T14:12:13.526-06:002012-05-23T14:12:13.526-06:00I completely agree. There's nothing worse than...I completely agree. There's nothing worse than getting thrown into a train wreck waiting to happen without knowing who's on the train. because if I don't know, I'm not going to care much about the wreck.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-72934114385522081812012-05-23T13:06:38.555-06:002012-05-23T13:06:38.555-06:00I don't think I figured out a good balance unt...I don't think I figured out a good balance until my fifth fiction book. Most had a gentle and slow beginning until that point.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-58337779689562051642012-05-23T12:43:55.455-06:002012-05-23T12:43:55.455-06:00I really need to read this book, since i've be...I really need to read this book, since i've been told now that my outline is less of an outline and more of a beat sheet. Who knew?<br />I actually had to rewrite the beginning of my current MS 3x, which is a bit unusual for me. But i think it's just right, now. And i actually prefer novels that start out a bit slower. Right in the action is a bit too jarring for my tastesSarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-42155149690273187772012-05-23T12:10:48.260-06:002012-05-23T12:10:48.260-06:00Ordered the book. Beginning are the hardest to nai...Ordered the book. Beginning are the hardest to nail down. I like this idea of the before snapshot.<br /><br />Thanks!Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09462486350293703991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-22681045281636089432012-05-23T12:07:00.115-06:002012-05-23T12:07:00.115-06:00Loved your class, Elana. I'm working my way th...Loved your class, Elana. I'm working my way through the book.<br /><br />I agree about the opening. It doesn't have to be action, it just needs to be something interesting that captures the interest of the reader.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-83528977749323383152012-05-23T12:05:04.565-06:002012-05-23T12:05:04.565-06:00I think establishing who the character is so that ...I think establishing who the character is so that when the action happens we are right there with them is the most important thing. It doesn't have to be backstory, but who are they right now.Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-41010328610098873742012-05-23T12:02:58.860-06:002012-05-23T12:02:58.860-06:00I seem to have two. My mystery opens with the mur...I seem to have two. My mystery opens with the murder so the first image is of the killer and the victim. The next scene is the opening image of my protag. Does that count?LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-48317839688166615622012-05-23T11:27:25.294-06:002012-05-23T11:27:25.294-06:00Those are my favorite writing books as well! I did...Those are my favorite writing books as well! I didn't even know about the fifteen beats until after I'd written the first draft of my second book, but when I went through the checklist, I was stunned to see I'd done most of it right. (When it comes to writing, that doesn't happen often for me.)<br />I don't mind a slow start. Neither of my books hit the ground running.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-67669326306373342292012-05-23T11:23:52.741-06:002012-05-23T11:23:52.741-06:00Ah, openings! So hard for them to feel organic and...Ah, openings! So hard for them to feel organic and right. The thing that has worked the best for me is to write what I think is the best opening and then finish the book. More often than not, I go back and know exactly what the beginning should be. dRuth Jossehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664678990038670303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-13998493687810947822012-05-23T11:21:51.975-06:002012-05-23T11:21:51.975-06:00I like to read enough to hook me, but I need to br...I like to read enough to hook me, but I need to breathe and absorb what's going on at that point. <br /><br />I rewrite my first page more than any other too.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-49329212905486617022012-05-23T11:00:30.307-06:002012-05-23T11:00:30.307-06:00My opening scene is always the one I rewrite the m...My opening scene is always the one I rewrite the most. I think it's hard to capture your story world and your characters the best way possible until after your story is completely done, which could be why I kept revising the intro as I went along.<br /><br />The Cat Strikes Back?!? I must check out this book!Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07835079187093517851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-78592840418623427932012-05-23T10:04:03.682-06:002012-05-23T10:04:03.682-06:00certainly a hard one to do--saying hi from the az ...certainly a hard one to do--saying hi from the az challenge!Lynn Proctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349867270815243053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65318993934372961612012-05-23T09:33:43.516-06:002012-05-23T09:33:43.516-06:00Its actually really nice to hear this, I've be...Its actually really nice to hear this, I've been wondering if my opening is too slow. Great post!<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(my creative writing blog)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com