Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Awesome Beginnings: Links On Perfecting Your First Chapter

I'm feeling a little down this week, and couldn't come up with anything to blog about. Luckily, my blogging buddies rock seriously hard and have provided some help!

With what, you ask?

Beginnings. 

They're scary to write, aren't they? Hooking readers in + Me = suckfest. That's why I'm giving you all some super awesome links to help you with that pesky first chapter. I promise to post my personal beef with first chapters later on, so pretty please stay tuned for that. 

Le links:

My Operation Awesome buddy Michelle McLean tutors you on how to create a thesis statement in your opening pages.

The ladies over at Adventures in Children's Publishing share their favorite opening passages.



and



There are A TON of other great sites/blogs/forums you can check out (like Janice Hardy's entire freakin' blog: http://storyflip.blogspot.com), but these are just a few of my faves. You won't regret taking a look at them. Pinky swear :D


Now tell me: do you struggle with openings as much as I do???

12 comments:

  1. I love openings. I guess I'm strange like that. But I struggle with the middle. *sigh*

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  2. I'm checking them all out. Thanks for the links!

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  3. Wow! What a great list of links! You've given me lots to read and research today.

    Oh, and you SO do not suck at beginnings, Amparo! You've hooked me, so I know what I'm talking about. ;)

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  4. A timely post considering I'm about to "start" a new project and am considering NaNo this year. Thanks for all the links.

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  5. What timing! I just deleted my first chapter after realizing (um, thanks to a 10 page crit I won from an agent) that it sucked. It was the wrong beginning for my project. Turns out chapter two was a better place to start. But now I'm rewriting it so that it works as a first chapter. ;)

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  6. Openings can definitely be tough. I'm off to read some of the great links you've supplied. Thanks!
    Lisa ~ YA Literature Lover

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  7. Hope you feel better! Thanks for all the linkage, I'm excited to sink into them.

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  8. Oh you gorgeous creature!! I've been re-writing my first paragraph since JULY!! My first paragraph. I've not progressed past it yet.

    I feel your pain!!! :-)

    Good luck with yours and thanks for these links too! Take care
    x

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  9. Thanks for the great links! I hope you feel better!

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  10. Thanks for these amazing links. I struggle with beginnings so much. I don't even know how many times I've rewritten the beginning of my novel.

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  11. Oh yeah, opening pages are tough! I think I've polished mine to a high gloss at this point...now I just need to do the same with the rest of the MS, LOL! :D

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  12. GRRREAAT Timing! I just decided to do Nano. A bit late, but OH WELL! LOL Thanks for link : )

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