Friday, June 25, 2010

Don't forget to enter the title contest to win a Barnes & Noble gift card + a goodies basket from my local coffee shop, Village Coffee. http://robyn-campbell.blogspot.com/2010/06/questions-or-comments-about-title-post.html#comments

What do you think of your novel opening? That first sentence of your story. The one the agent will read and within 6 seconds she/he will make a decision based on those words. Those first very important words. 

These beginnings have to make you remember. Make you  imagine. Make you want to read more and more. 

I have struggled over my beginning with SEVENTY TWO HOURS. That first sentence. UGH! So many rewritten first sentences, first paragraphs, and first pages. 

I finally got mine. Or did I ? ^_^ See? That's my struggle. As soon as I would rework the sentences/paragraphs/pages, I would question what I wrote, send said junk to Beth, where she would tell me what the problem might be. Then, I would start anew. 
 

Of course, you know my personal favorite:

"The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it." Oh man! That is sooooooooo good!

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Or:

"Marley was dead: to begin with."

"I am Sam. Sam I am.

"TRUE! - nervous - very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?"

"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin."


"He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish."


Did I mention I finally got mine? Maybe... ^_^

 

11 comments:

  1. Openings can be tough. If they could all be like "I am Sam..." things might be simpler:)
    Blessings for your weekend,
    Karen

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  2. Ah, but Karen, isn't that a great opening? Though, it can never be done again. In that way. Simple yet powerful for children. My kids read that book over and over and over again. Blessings to you too. =)

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  3. Yep, the hook IS key!!!!
    I LOVE Lessman's, "Sisters are overrated."
    (paraphrase, but SUCH a hook for THE WHOLE SERIES)

    Blessings. Have a great weekend!
    P

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  4. Great one! So cool. Have a great weekend too, girl! Blessings right back at ya. =)

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  5. Robyn...openings can be really tough. I have struggled with mine. Have a great weekend!

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  6. Well, big ol' congrats if you found it! I'm still in search of mine. I think the bar is much higher these days because agents and editors are inundated with submissions, especially MG/YA. We really have to shine to be seen in the pile-up. *polish, polish*

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  7. Glad you found your opening. Good luck!!!

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  8. Love those examples Robyn! I like my first sentences, but they're subject to change. :-)

    How are you doing, health-wise?

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  9. A great opening line will get me every time. I actually would extend that to a great opening paragraph or two. I'm a big Dostoyevsky fan. The opening paragraphs of "Crime and Punishment" blew me away the first time I read it.

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  10. My current beginning I'm pretty sure is going to change. I've known it since I wrote it so I'm good with that!

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  11. How about "Maman died today. Or was it yesterday? I don't remember." Now, that's a compelling beginning.

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