Ask O: How Do I Deliver a Tantalizing Opening? Three No-Nos to Avoid

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends!

Today’s question reminds us to create opening scenes that grab readers into our stories, not bog down with too much back story and set up. Check out my three, “What Not to Do” tips then tune in next week for some practical helps to make your opening enticing.

Openings are important not just because they’re one of the few marketing points we actually control, but also because a good opening invites. “Come, join the party. You’ll see, it’ll be a lot of fun.” An opening must intrigue our readers so they can’t read just one (page that is).

Ax the Back Flash
How do we create a compelling opening? Let’s start with what not to do. I once read a book in which the first three pages were a back flash of a past dinner party. It tarried on and on with precise details about each family member. I soon discovered these characters weren’t players in the story, the dinner party had no real significance, and the details would never come up again, yet this scene was using up valuable “real estate” in the opening.

It’s better to begin with a character in her present situation. Show us what she’s like by the way she acts, not by some psychological word picture of her family dynamics. Yes, we should have her back-story ever in mind, but let’s not suffocate our readers with details.

Drowning in Background
Another problem is when we think we have to explain everything before we can “get to” the story. To help our readers, we flood our openings with background information. “But,” a writer pleads, “my readers need to know about the French Resistance between 1942 and 1945 to understand why my character is dropping from a parachute, don’t they?” They don’t. Just start the story with the parachute plunging. Show your character’s fears, worries, thoughts. Let us smell what he smells and see what he sees. That will make readers keep reading.

I know it’s hard, but everything we create about our characters, all those gold nuggets of research … it all shouldn’t go in our books. And especially not in our openings. Readers want to get involved in the story from the gate/start/get-go, and they’re smart enough to figure out the other stuff—even without us explaining.

I Get the Picture
Many old books precede their plots with hundreds and hundreds (it seems) of pages of description. Like the first chapter of Les Miserables. It’s a long, detailed description of the bishop’s house down to where each piece of furniture is placed. I’m not sure why past authors got away with this. Perhaps it’s because multi-media wasn’t stimulating their readers’ imaginations.

But nowadays, we can’t do it. Even the most exquisitely written opening description will likely cause a reader to plop that book back on the shelf if it drags for more than a couple paragraphs. No, we must sprinkle pithy descriptions in the midst of action, dialogue, and emotion. In a way, we must be even more creative than old Victor Hugo.

To Review:
1. Never start with a back flash that has no relevance to the character
2. Limit background material, especially in the opening
3. Sprinkle description in the midst of your story, not all at the beginning

We're off to a good start! Just knowing what not to do should give some focus to your openings. Don't forget to come back next week to find my insights on enticing readers in your opening.

In the mean time, what opening boo boos have you found? What else should we avoid? Share your insights!

Happy writing,
Ocieanna

Writing through Pain by Matt Patterson

Have you ever found yourself too overwhelmed to write? Life can throw all sorts of things at us: pain, heartache, depression, grief, sickness, etc. But if we are called to write, God can use those things to help us in our writing. Author Matt Patterson tells us about his own personal journey through grief to writing a message of hope.

~ Angie

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God says He always uses our pain, failures and scars to make us more effective in ministry. As I approach a new year with a recently completed book aimed at helping others, I ask myself a simple, but strong question.

How do I see Him using my pain to make me more effective in my ministry of writing?

For me, it started with a newspaper column that was going to be very difficult, yet very special to write. It was our first daughter’s birthday. I wanted to relay in this column how much she had taught and touched me in what seemed to be a very short time here on earth. This column was about my two-year-old daughter Emily, who about two years prior, had passed away after a brave battle with leukemia. Emily was also born with Down syndrome.

This column – as short as it could be – walked readers through her birth and eventual death. It told them of our shock and dismay at hearing words like Down syndrome and leukemia.

It was short.

It was sad.

It was touching and a tribute.

Nearly 20 years later, I find it was a release and that God turned my tragedy into blessing and grief into mission.

My Emily is my story of pain. This book is my small effort to help families who have special needs children, little ones battling cancer or those heartbroken parents who have lost a child. Writing continues to be a source of comfort for me. It’s an opportunity to help or touch someone – mothers, fathers, as well as writers.

Many of us have similar stories to tell. Painful stories.

The Bible tells us to, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

It’s my desire to share testimony that God uses our talents, gifts and pain to help others. In Ecclesiastes it reads, “Two are better than one … If one falls down, his friend can help him up.” My Emily is my tool to reach down and help others up.

In between baking cookies, wrapping gifts and mailing out Christmas cards, some of us are going to sit down and begin to plan our writing for the coming year. I ask each of you to remember one simple step in this process.

Pray over your work.

Pray over your plans.

I testify that when we bow our heads and pray over our work, He will guide our hearts and minds to deliver messages that will indeed help others up.

Matt Patterson is the author of My Emily and an award-winning communications professional. His two-plus decades of experience include public and media relations, as well as print and broadcast journalism. He volunteers his time to helping organizations and charities dedicated to assisting families with children who have special needs or those battling pediatric cancers. He resides in Arizona with his wife and two daughters.

To purchase My Emily, click here.

Websites: http://mattpatterson.me, http://www.my-emily.org

Twitter: @myemily_thebook

Facebook: Matt Patterson, Author

Christmas Treat Series: A Log Cabin Christmas

If you enjoy reading Christmas stories during the holiday season, you're in for a treat this Mixing-it-Up Monday. Recently, I interviewed author Liz Johnson about the new nine-in-one compilation called A Log Cabin Christmas. She's one of the nine contributing authors. This collection hit the New York Times bestseller list in September, shortly after its release. See the note dated September 28th from the editor, Becky Germany, here. Congratulations to everyone involved! Relax and enjoy this second Christmas treat. ~ Annette

How did this project come about?

A Log Cabin Christmas Collection really came about because of Becky Germany, the brilliant fiction editor at Barbour. She had a vision for a book that featured stories set in American log cabins in the 1800s and invited authors to submit their novella proposals. I have no idea how many proposals Becky received. I just know that after a couple months of waiting on pins and needles, I received a very kind rejection note. Yep. Becky had filled all the slots and couldn't use my story. I was terribly sad, but loved my story so much that I couldn't just give it up. I was busy thinking of places it might fit, when I received a call, email, and text from my agent--all of which I missed! As I understand it, another author was unable to participate, and Becky offered me the vacant spot. I'm so glad she did!

This is a novella compilation. Tell us about that process. Was there a lot of collaboration? Do the stories overlap? Is it key to read the book from first novella through to the last, etc.? Any advice for writers who are collaborating on a project?

Each of the novellas in the collection is written by a different author and completely self-contained, so readers can enjoy them in any order. We didn't officially collaborate on the writing portion. Unofficially, however, I was honored to work with Michelle Ule, who authored A Dogtrot Christmas. She suggested we swap stories and give each other feedback. Her suggestions really improved my story, and I ended up with the easiest edit I've ever had. My only advice for other authors working on a compilation like this one is to be open to feedback from their fellow authors and especially their editors. Editors get to see the big picture of the collection long before the authors do. 

What is the theme of your novel or novella? How did you tie Christmas into the story? How did you go about choosing a theme for this story?

My novella, A Star in the Night, is about Cora Sinclair, a woman who serves at a field hospital toward the end of the Civil War. She sees things at the hospital that stay with her, invading her dreams and leaving her terrified of being a woman in love with a man who might never come back from the war. Following the Battle of Franklin in Tennessee on November 30, 1864, Cora finds a wounded union soldier and takes him back to the cabin she shares with her grandfather. But as she's nursing Jed back to health, Cora's nightmares continue. And it's Jed who challenges her to cast her cares at the feet of Jesus. The theme grew naturally out of the situation and the characters. I just tried to imagine how I would react to seeing that kind of pain and loss. It stays with a person and can cause anxiety. But the Bible is pretty clear that we're to cast all of our cares on Him. And the Christmas tie-in, again, came naturally out of the time of year. Cora makes Jed promise not to leave until Christmas, as he's still recovering. As he's stuck there, they plan their Christmas celebration.

What is your best advice for writers working on a seasonal novel or novella? Did you set a mood as you wrote in order to get into the Christmas spirit? Did you write it at Christmastime in past years, or during the hot summer months? ;) 

I'm so glad I didn't have to write this during the summer, or I would have had a terrible time getting into the Christmas spirit. :) I signed my contract on this one in October, so I could have—maybe should have—written it in December. But like any good procrastinator, I waited until after Christmas to really dive into it. So my little tree and lights stayed up in my apartment clear through January. I refused to take them down with the hope that they'd help keep me in the spirit. I think they did their job pretty well. I do find that regardless of the time of year, looming deadlines always get me in the mood to write what I need to. :) 

What are you hoping readers take away from your story? How will your story minister to readers? How can writers help their readers glean the takeaway?

I hope readers will be encouraged to let go of their worry and fears and be reminded that God cares for them. I think it's easy to forget that God cares about the things that weigh heavy on our hearts, and the only way to truly get through them is to lay them at his feet. Writers each have their own way of sharing the takeaway of their stories, so I'd suggest they write what feels natural and authentic to them.

Thank you for visiting Seriously Write in December! We wish you all His best this Christmas season and always.

Thanks for having me!

~~~~

Liz Johnson is a full-time marketing specialist by day and a writer by night. She makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys exploring the history of the area, theater, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Follow her misadventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.

Hey Writer! Are You Mentally Fit? by Jillian Kent

Encouragement takes different forms. Sometimes we need motivation to write. Other times, we need to be reminded that besides working on our manuscripts, spending time with God, our family, and friends is also important. This Fortifying Friday, author Jillian Kent is here to talk about another vital part of our lives. What have you done recently pertaining to self-care and your mental health? ~ Dawn

Hey Writer! Are You Mentally Fit?

by Jillian Kent

If taking care of yourself usually shows up on the bottom of your to be done list it’s time to make a change. Women especially are at risk for depression because we tend to be the first line of defense in our families to take care of others and not us. As a Licensed Independent Social Worker counseling nursing students, I deal with mental health issues every day at work. But what many of us don’t think of until we get depressed or suffer from anxiety is what mental health looks like? What is a definition of mental health as opposed to mental illness?

One definition of mental health is:

1. psychological well-being and satisfactory adjustment to society and to the ordinary demands of life.

My definition of Mental Health is the absence of disease and the enjoyment of life. I like to say the absence of dis-ease. Just like any other part of the human body the human mind can have illnesses. Jesus demonstrated how to care for ourselves when HE said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NIV

There are many ways to relieve stress in our lives (my top pick is massage, bet you couldn't guess). I think other effective strategies include:

1. Talking about your problems with someone you trust.
2. Praying and seeking God’s wisdom for your particular concern.
3. Setting healthy boundaries, in other words, learning to say no. Resource: Boundaries (When to Say YES When to Say NO To Take Control of Your Life) Dr. Henry Cloud, and Dr. John Townsend
4. Exercising to release endorphins that help you feel better.

One of the biggest mental health disorders that we all know something about and many writers suffer from is depression. Did you know that Sir Winston Churchill suffered from depression; he called it his Black Dog.  http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/   

British folklore talks about a ghostly black dog that has large glowing eyes. This made me wonder if that was the thought behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the Baskervilles. I have not researched that idea but made a quick run of the question on the internet and found not surprisingly that Conan Doyle did suffer from depression at times.

There are many mysteries yet to be solved regarding the human body. The health of the spirit is also related to the health of the brain. Please remember that the brain is part of the body and those who suffer with any type of mental illness are due the same respect as anyone else who has cancer, diabetes, thyroid disease, etc. It’s just different. Taking care of you means taking care of your brain, too. What are some of the challenges you’ll be dealing with this month? And how will you getting your writing quota in if you’re on a real deadline or a self-imposed deadline? What tips can you offer to others?

Jillian Kent is a full time counselor for nursing students in a hospital based college in Cincinnati, Ohio. She’s been married for thirty years and has two grown daughters. Jillian signed her first contract on St. Patrick’s Day 2010. After selling her series to Realms/Charisma she was able to obtain Rachelle Gardner as an agent. Her first novel, Secrets of the Heart The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book One, released in May 2011. Book Two, Chameleon, will be available in May 2012.

You can find Jillian at all these places:

www.jilliankent.com

https://www.facebook.com/JillianKent

@JillKentAuthor on Twitter 

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/brilliant_well.html   Well Writer

http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/   Realms Bloggers

http://wordservewatercooler.com/   WordServe Literary Authors