Hatrack River Writers Workshop   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Open Discussions About Writing » From the WOTF January Newsletter....

   
Author Topic: From the WOTF January Newsletter....
Wolfe_boy
Member
Member # 5456

 - posted      Profile for Wolfe_boy   Email Wolfe_boy         Edit/Delete Post 
More ammunition supporting our focus on the first 13. From KD Wentworth's Words of Wisdom....

quote:
3. Get your best ammunition on the first page. Put whatever makes this science fiction or fantasy up front. Also, don't start with an extended scene that only functions as an info dump. If you think you need a prologue, try breaking the information up instead and salting it throughout the story. Prologues can slow down a reader's immersion in the story.

While it's not a good thing to focus on the first 13 to the exclusion or detriment of the rest of the story, it is something we should continue to work on and refine.

Jayson Merryfield


Posts: 733 | Registered: Apr 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
InarticulateBabbler
Member
Member # 4849

 - posted      Profile for InarticulateBabbler   Email InarticulateBabbler         Edit/Delete Post 
When I touched on this with K.D. Wentworth at the Writers of the Future Forum, here was the question and response:

quote:

Inarticulate Babbler wrote:
Kathy, an aside to the original question:

How much of a speculative element do you like to see on page 1? Can we hint at one, while we're establishing milieu and character and make the transition to the core element early on the second page?

I ask because--as is often tried in a workshop I frequent--I see so many people try to cram everything into that first page (13 lines), that it becomes obvious that you can't. Can you give us some advice on how to give enough character and "speculative element" on the first page for it not to be robbing something else?

Thanks,

-Rich


quote:

Yes, a hint is all the editor needs to stick with you. Cramming everything in on the first page is trying too hard. The editor just wants to know that reading further is not a waste of time because this story fits his/her guidelines.

[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited January 16, 2008).]


Posts: 3687 | Registered: Jan 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2