tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post5020829438108036157..comments2023-08-27T08:44:41.076-04:00Comments on Velociraptor Hands: When you’re not sure how to start your new novel, a map of emotionally resonant scenes can help you find your way.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07254042402802571155noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post-44855762225941694312012-03-21T16:07:14.104-04:002012-03-21T16:07:14.104-04:00Thanks very much! I've had to learn to make my...Thanks very much! I've had to learn to make my peace with the fact that much of what I write won't make it into the final book. You just have to think of it as part of the process--writing those scenes still might help you to get to know your characters and make the project an overall better book, even if you don't end up using the scenes themselves.<br /><br />Thanks for the tip on hooks. I have a particular love for starting chapters with dialogue, much to the chagrin of editor-types I've worked with :)Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07254042402802571155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post-69978182513537926402012-03-20T18:34:30.206-04:002012-03-20T18:34:30.206-04:00Writing out of context conversations sounds like a...Writing out of context conversations sounds like a great idea to get things rolling, although later I'd be afraid of writing something really good and then having to cut it. I'm super with adding things on top of already solid material, but I get nervous when it comes to taking things out.<br /><br />One other thing that works is writing a good hook to open each chapter. It can be a clever contrast, an ironic observation or a dramatic description.Joe Pinedahttp://bardofsteel.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post-49647132634060808432012-03-20T09:55:44.358-04:002012-03-20T09:55:44.358-04:00Thank you! I particularly love writing dialogue, s...Thank you! I particularly love writing dialogue, so maybe that's what pushed me toward trying the imaginary conversations thing in the first place. <br /><br />Ugh, yeah, it can be tough if you get too attached--which I pretty much always do. I'll throw my characters into these dangerous plots and then clutch at my chest, all, "Oh no, my BABIES!!"Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07254042402802571155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post-58216319512144795572012-03-20T09:47:58.834-04:002012-03-20T09:47:58.834-04:00Thanks! I really hope the imaginary conversations ...Thanks! I really hope the imaginary conversations work for you--they can do wonders for me.<br /><br />My character backgrounds are my stream-of-consciousness musings on the pasts of certain characters. So, no, I don't use an outline for those. I just loosely summarize the pivotal events of a character's past that I think helped to make the character who he or she is at the start of the book.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07254042402802571155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post-54085643832349233202012-03-20T06:10:32.655-04:002012-03-20T06:10:32.655-04:00As Ms. Eyez says, some very good advice. Also like...As Ms. Eyez says, some very good advice. Also like Ms. Eyez, I especially like the part about writing conversations between characters as a way to get to know them better and create story ideas. This is definitely going into my routine (although I occasionally get too attached to my characters already. I have to do something very unpleasant to one very soon, and I'm dreading the scene). <br /><br />The headline for the post is itself great advice. Big, powerful, character-driven scenes make a ready narrative framework, and also set the story tempo for the reader.Robert Sakai-Irvinehttp://www.curious-content.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2921907730774221937.post-28441098568513458372012-03-19T20:57:17.938-04:002012-03-19T20:57:17.938-04:00That's some good advice. I've always been...That's some good advice. I've always been a very... ah... disorganized writer. I have an outline, sort of. it takes up one, maybe two post-its.<br /><br />I'd never really thought about imaginary conversations. Perfectly timed post for me, I was literally just saying to a friend "I can't get a hold of this guy at all. He's driving me crazy!"<br /><br />Do you use any sort of outline for your character backgrounds?Nelarilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178268860644005556noreply@blogger.com