Creating an amazing first chapter… This is difficult, some would say the most difficult. It’s trying to decide that first sentence and where exactly, and how to start your story out; it is one of those moments that the backspace button is used most often. This is tough to get going because you want it to stand out, away from everyone else’s book. The first sentence must grab your audience. It must pull them in and keep them intrigued to read more. So using the usual starters is not a good idea. There are so many phrases that are used way too often, a simple example would be “Once upon a time”; that’s one that you shouldn’t try anymore. There are others, as well as not talking about the weather, and I just learned that having your main character waking up is also too cliché…(I just tried that in my own first chapter was told not to). It happens to the best of us, but to keep it strong writers must think outside of the box for that opening line. Even if you have an amazing and compelling prologue; I also learned that readers may skim over the prologue and move onto the first chapter. So keep that first sentence new and amazing. Keep it refreshed and unique to your story. Once you find that perfect beginning line the rest of the chapter should flow easily. As if the characters just needed that little bit of push to get their story told. The rest of the first chapter maintains that same importance. Bring the main characters to life here. Let the readers get a feeling of them, some personality and understanding. Let the readers step into their day to day life and fall in love with the story to come for them. It can seem daunting and overwhelming, but you can do it. Of course if needed the internet is filled with assistance as what to use. But honestly your best bet is to think of what is going on in the scene, of how you are starting it, and use details from that. Instead of being asleep and just waking up, are they dreaming? Did something happen the night before? Is someone in the room? Think of all the details surrounding the moment and leading up to it; then create your first line from that. You have this. Push past the looming fear of failing and press forward. Before you know it, the entire book will be done!
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ᴄᴏɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄɪsᴍ- is the process of offering valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner rather than an oppositional one. This is the general want, when someone asks for advice. We want Constructive Criticism. I’ve been sort of going through this whole thing where I’m talking about rejection, and how long the process is- basically this whole idea of making sure that you never give up on something that you love; no matter what anyone says. And I stand by that. I’m this small time something or other, trying to get my name out there as much as I can. I’m not doing so bad, and in the time, I’ve been working on getting myself out there; I’ve been put down and rejected. It hurts and makes you quickly want to put on the brakes. But I expect a rejection letter and I expect to put myself down along the process. Especially when it feels like it’s taking me forever to get to one point, or I put myself on a timeout to breathe away from the constant selling of myself and my work. However, the last thing I would want or expect is for my own peers to push me down as well. We should be able to come together and advise from our personal triumphs and tribulations. Yet, when I’ve been getting a couple comments regarding my work, that are claimed to be Critical Criticism, and I read over and over the words. I feel the sting that they leave behind, and I realize that what I’m reading is not critical in a sense to make me feel okay about what I’m doing but to let me know that I’m no good at what I’m doing. These messages are missing a key factor, and whether the other person is aware or not; unless requested for this tidbit of information I’m not even sure it was needed to be said. I didn’t ask to get put down, and I certainly wouldn’t request such harsh advice. We are all working to find an end goal, and we’ve all felt the pain of getting told no, or of just being our own Negative Nelly, that we don’t need anyone else doing it for us. As peers, we should push in the right direction, advise when asked, and give compliments where we see fit. It isn’t a competition in truth, because there are so many needs for products, for help, for books, that we should assist in a way that benefits everyone. Just think. If you were to work together with that person that you saw as a competition, you may be able to pick up more followers, learn new techniques, and even possibly realize that you aren’t so different. We all have mistakes, faults, and our own negativity that we deal with. There’s no reason to add more to someone. Be a light in their darkness. There will be one person that you will give a compliment to that it will benefit them in a way you wouldn’t even understand, and in the end; wouldn’t that feel better than trying to suffocate the flame they’ve worked so hard to build? Rejection...Criticism...the things we all have in common. The 'R' word is a tough pill to swallow, however we have all heard it in some form or another. But as a writer, trying to get out into the world, trying to get noticed; that word hurts to the core. This is your baby that you've been working on for what feels like YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. You finally have it completed and you think "now is the time that it will get picked up, put on bookshelves, and sold. Later a movie deal." Then the emails come back and it's not turning out how you thought it would...but let's face it; life never does. Get the chocolate, the wine, the 'whatever makes you happy' stuff out of the way and dust it all off. People get rejected every day, but there wouldn't be success stories if those people didn't move along. Research the heck out of query letters and see what exactly you might be missing, find peers to glance over what you have and see if they notice something, or maybe...that specific person that you sent that query to, or those multiple people; they aren't the ones for you. Do the research, if you feel you have done all you can in that avenue- change your path. There are publishing companies out there looking for you. Or of course, the ever-growing Self Publishing biz is always ready for a new face and new story. Don't let this one time, or even handfuls of rejections let you stop from following your dream. You'll get there, but only if you push yourself. It takes time, effort, a solid foundation to find your footing on this massive adventure. Don't let it get away from you. Just remember, Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before J.K Rowling found success! Falling into the writer category is a milestone itself, finding yourself pushed into those multiple categories, or trying to find that spot where you fit in; that is so very difficult. There are a million people out there that have already wrote books that are in your genre and sub-genre. It seems nearly impossible to stand out. There just doesn’t seem to be any reason to continue. Is this really something that you can be a part of for a long term type position? How did you get into this anyway? Some random decision that you wanted to try your hand and now what? No one is ever going to want to read your book. There are always so many questions that go along with this, so many concerns. When you first decide to step into the writing world, it feels like you have just stepped into a crowded arena and you have to fight to get to the top. There are so many genres and sub-genres. It is difficult to find your true place, but you will. There will be that niche that you climb into that will make your fingers go non-stop. Even if you don’t fit into one, and you enjoy a few different ones; there’s nothing wrong with that either. Writing is meant to make you happy, especially if YOU have decided to step into it. It can be work, and be very difficult but very worth it once you slide in and find that perfect spot. Standing out. That is difficult with so many other writers out there, but you can do it. Write. Then meet other writers. There are so many websites and groups that push you into the right direction and then from there it will be easy because you would have found those that you can communicate with and talk to. There will be new friends and priceless moments as you grow in your ability. If writing is a passion, then there’s no reason to step back. Even if this is a hobby or hopefully a career, it does take quite a bit of time and effort. Everyone has a reason to get into writing, and no matter what that reason is; it’s what will drive you forward to accomplish and each goal that you’ve given yourself. It does seem all very overwhelming in the beginning, and even years in, but don’t ever give up on it. There are so many resources to use to help with writing, and finding your place in it. And even if your concern is that no one will read it…even if only one person reads it, that is worth it. The first goal is to finish the work, then get it read. You have already accomplished so much by simply deciding to be a writer. And each step from there is a new accomplishment that you should pat yourself on the back for. It’s a learning experience that we are each consistently learning from. Sure there are a lot of writers, but no one has written what you wrote. No one has come up with the ideas you are putting on paper. They are unique, just as you are. Quitting isn’t an option when it comes to something you love. You've got this. |
AuthorTiffany Heiser Archives
February 2020
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