Author(ish) Podcast

Author(ish) Podcast Episode 08 – Opening Pages: Risky Versus Less Risky

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In this episode, Amy and Dana discuss all things opening pages! We focus on risky versus less risky ways to open your novel including examples.

Risky
  • Prologues – as long as it’s not info-dumpy and adds curiosity, go for it! But we encourage you to read well done prologues of published novels.
  • Backstory – In opening pages, use as little backstory as possible for reader context.
  • Introduce MC early, but don’t introduce too many characters too soon.
  • Be cautious not to spend valuable opening pages real estate on insignificant characters.
  • Character names matter. Be sure they aren’t too similar.
  • Be cautious not to start opening pages with large chunks of narration or description. Readers need white space.
  • Starting an opening scene with dialogue can be risky. Readers aren’t invested in setting or with a character.
  • Cliche openings – the weather, a dream sequence, waking up – all are risky. Proceed with caution.
  • Rhetorical Questions – Can feel like breaking the fourth wall. Instead, consider a rewrite as showing statements.
  • Reader doesn’t need to know everything in chapter 1. Plant curiosity seeds.
    • Less Risky
    • Drop the main character in a scene right before the inciting incident.
    • Establish where we are in time and setting.
    • Establish character’s goal(s) and obstacle(s).
    • Leave more questions than answers. Curiosity not confusion.
    • Power imbalance and tension.
    • Cliffhanger ending.
    • Throw rocks at your protagonist. (Thanks to Sally Lotz for this nugget!)
      • Novels Mentioned in this Episode
      • Lisa Wingate – Before We Were Yours
      • Sally Lotz – The Truth is a Lie
      • Jennifer Vido – Serendipity by the Seas
      • Katherine Center – Happiness for Beginners
      • S.E. Reed – My Heart is Hurting
      • Dana Hawkins – Love and Rainbow Lattes
      • Amy Nielsen – Worth It

        • ...more
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        Author(ish) PodcastBy Hosted by Amy Nielsen and Dana Hawkins. Produced by Mayflower Media.
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