In this video, I’m diving into how to pinpoint that perfect, immersive moment that hooks your reader from the start. I’ll offer a fresh perspective on this fundamental writing challenge, using Pam Jenoff’s “The Orphan’s Tale” as an example, and help you uncover the true heart of your story’s beginning.
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
Where does my story start? How do I figure it out? It’s a good question and one that doesn’t have an easy answer. In fact, it’s one of the things I find most challenging about writing. One of many things I find challenging is understanding where my story starts. Because think about it, your story doesn’t start on page one. Your characters have been in whatever situations they’ve been that lead to them having a story worth telling for a long time before chapter one began. It’s a different way of thinking about the issue. I’m not talking about opening minds. I’m talking about what now? What has the crisis, how has the crisis come to be? What is the, the fundamental situation that makes this the starting place of your story. It’s a different way of thinking about it. Let me give you one example, and this is from The Orphan, a novel. It’s by Pam Jenoff. And here’s the first line.
It’s a prologue, so it says “Prologue,” and then “Paris.”
“They will be looking for me by now.”
It’s immersive right away. Why are they looking? Why is she wanting to avoid being found? What’s going on? Now, whatever happened in her life before that point is what makes this the beginning of the story. What do you think? How do you approach it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you know where your stories begin. Put them in the comment section. That would be great. I have a new book out Beat the Bots, A Writer’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI. Please order it or pre-order it, that would be so great. Thank you for that. If you go to my website, janecleland.com/books/beat-the-bots, you’ll find your ordering options there. I’d be very grateful.
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