Story Starter #42

Story Starter #42

To a cannibal, everyone is a human resource.

This is some solid advice!

so the best/most helpful advice that i found for writing openings was in a Writer's Digest magazine from january 2020, in an article by Jane K. Cleland, and it was detailed and interesting. at the end it was distilled into Three Questions To Ask Before You Start Writing Your Opening:

What is most unusual about my story?

How do I want my reader to feel?

What sets the story in motion?

most of the advice i've read tries to create a formula--"don't open with a dream" "don't start with the weather" "start in the middle of some action" "don't start with dialogue" "here's an example of how to start with dialogue" etc etc. but there are always exceptions and contradictions and it's frustrating to wade through. basically, you write the opening that's proper for the story you are trying to write, and the above questions help you narrow in on what that is.

1. What is most unusual about my story?

it doesn't have to be over-the-top unique, or subversive, or anything like that. but look at your core idea and try and think what about it is most interesting to you. you're probably writing it because you like the idea--so start with the interesting part so that readers know what they're in for. it can be a question that's raised, or a detail about the setting, or the protagonist, or something, that sets it apart.

2. How do I want my reader to feel?

atmosphere is important at all times, but sometimes just knowing, 'i want my reader to feel worried, or sad, or to laugh' can help with figuring out the point at which to start. the article's advice was to make it evocative of the theme of your entire novel/whatever you're trying to write--make it a smaller echo of things to come to strengthen themes and also let readers know what they're in for. relate it to the title, or whatever you need to.

3. What sets the story in motion?

maybe your story doesn't start in the middle of the action. maybe it starts with a realization or finding an old photograph or--don't shoot me--waking up on the wrong side of the bed. start the story at the start. when the inciting incident happens. some genres require additional set-up, which is fine! you don't have to reach some immediacy threshold for people to be interested. try to make it all tie in to the plot and you'll be good.

so combine it all and you get:

start at the inciting incident and use verbs that evoke the feeling you want your reader to experience, and remember why you are interested in writing what you're writing.

go. you can do it.

Scenario Prompt #6

Your protagonist has to spend an entire day with someone they despise (outside of normal parameters, if it’s someone they’re forced to work with regularly). How do they handle it, and does their opinion change?

Image Prompt #1

(Photo by Lennart Wittstock from Pexels)

OTP Prompt #24

Your OTP goes to a costume party dressed as the opposite gender. One of them is surprisingly convincing.

Image Prompt #2

(Photo by Kristina Gain from Pexels)