Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Cambridge, England
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:27 am
I do. I like starting straight into action of some variety. It throws the reader a bit. Which is the downside. Not allowing the reader grow comfortable with the piece if over used. In that way if the reader feels too out of sorts and can't get into it you break your own flow.
Conversation like direct action is different, catches the attention and can be, in the end of the day, less boring because it simply doesn't happen that often.
I can't say I've done it very often myself, but I do enjoy reading a section that begins with dialogue.
As human beings, I think, most of our social interactions begin with dialogue. So it can get the story rolling quite well.
The only con I can see is if the conversation goes on too long without adding anything to the story line. _________________ Harker: ...I sometimes write stories.
Coroner: I sometimes read them.
Harker: Thank you.
Coroner: Stories in general--not yours.
-from "The Damned Thing" by Ambrose Bierce
Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Sol-3, USA, CA, Sacramento
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:01 am
Hi Vio,
You were always good at coming up with great questions.
In reference to Queen's "con" (or is it Qota for short?) the writing really shouldn't have anything that doesn't forward the story line. (And before you bring up characterization, Vio, I believe that characterization does forward the story line - you can't really have a story without characters.)
The goal at the beginning of a chapter, especially the first one, is to pull the reader in. There are a number of ways to do that. A few options are: 1) you can plunge the reader into an action sequence, 2) you can start an intruguing narrative, and 3) you can start with an intersting and revealing dialog (not too revealing though, just enough for orientation and to raise intersting questions.)
Of course, equally important is how to end a chapter in a way that ensures the reader will be interested in continuing. I know I am not the only one here who has read late into the night, vowing to stop at the end of the chapter to sleep but the author simply wouldn't allow it and you had to keep reading.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Alternative Reality Web Zine: ISSN# 1559-3037
All materials on these pages (including fiction, poetry, essays, articles, interviews and opinion pieces) are copyrighted to the original authors and may not be reproduced without permission.
