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Here's the first thirteen lines to a horror story I'm writing about the monster under the bed and just how disturbing it can be. Please let me know if this is an intriguing opening and why you think so. Would you like to read more? What questions does it raise in your imagination? You all know, stuff like that. Thanks a lot, people. The Turtle Goddess
The light of a Strawberry Moon shone through trees and faltered over a young girl. She plodded with her long, dark hair hung over her face, slouched around and into thorny bushes. Her steps were sluggish and ragged.
“Tacee, pretty, tasty, Tacy. How I love to taste my Tacy.”
It was a Hunter’s Moon in late October. She had been asleep: lying on her stomach, her feet overhanging the end of the bed, her right arm crooked above her head, and her left arm dangled over the side. A keenly vivid pain, like a hornet’s angry sting, jolted her awake. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she squealed in shock and agony.
posted
Starting off with a dream sequence (or flashback?) may not be the best choice for an opening. Its strange and a little confusing, but I love the imagery.
I would read more, but if things aren't explained soon then I might lose interest.
[This message has been edited by EvoL (edited June 24, 2006).]
posted
I agree with EvoL on the confusing thing. It's hard to follow precisely what you are saying.
I like the dream thing, especially if it's about "the monster under the bed"...although I hope you stray far from stereotypical, maybe a play on the stereotype.
As for the imagery, like many others say, less is more. Your adjectives cloud the flow and beauty of this beginning.
Notwithstanding, I liked it very much, and would read on.
posted
Okay, before others comment on the "dream" thing, when you read the entire piece, you know she's not dreaming. Everything really happened (at least in storyland it did.) Also, I can't figure out how to format in Word so that it translates here. That also helps get across that she isn't dreaming, but rather remembering something that's been going on for nine months now. Like an unwanted pregnancy, she's seriously thinking of abortion.
I hope this helps clear up some of the readers' concerns.
TG, it may be that once the whole piece is read we'll know Tacy isn't dreaming. But you can't expect a reader to read on if they are confused right from the beginning.
Are these two separate scenes? Because why is there a Strawberry Moon and later a Hunter's Moon? (Why are these capitalized? Any significance?) And if we hadn't read your introductory comments, would we know that small bit of unattributed dialogue comes from a monster? No, we wouldn't. Clarity. I mean, the dialogue is sinister and nicely done in a creepy way, but how are we to know that Tacy isn't saying it to herself? Anyway, I'm unsure what you mean by formatting Word and translating it here... What are you aiming to do?
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I loved the dialogue. Otherwise I agree with the rest. Make it all clearer. Readers aren't in your head, we tend to be slow people who've had a hard day's work and aren't up to thinking much. I'd explain clearly that she's remembering or whatever. Starting with her walking in a scary place sounds a lot like what OSC means by a "woman crying driving through the snow". It tries to be a hook: tension, right at the beginning, but fails because we don't care enough about the MC to well... care. Have her do something in the first paragraph before you flash back. She isn't just walking around, running away to an unknown destination. She has a reason to be walking at night, and I need to know it. Is she making a decision? Tell me. Is she planing to get back at the monster? Tell me. That will give her innitiative. Passive victims are boring.
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posted
The second sentence has some confusion, caused by a misplaced modifier. (Did the girl, or her hair, slouch around the bushes?)
I wanted to know, because I'm a little weird, WHERE she hurt. Did the pain start in the arm that was hanging over the bed?
The first and third paragraphs are obviously two separate scenes, but there's no way to determine which scene owns the eery voice. Some sort of scene-break indicator would help.
I like the imagery, and the spoken line is very well done. I'm not usually into horror, but now I'd have to keep reading this piece.
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Maybe I'm a little slow, but I did not put together that the little girl was Tacy. No where in this opening do you actually name the girl--it's always little girl or she. I assumed the little girl was doing the talking. I'd keep reading regardless.
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I really appreciate all of your comments and, rereading this piece, I can see the validity of your concerns/suggestions. I'll definitely refer to them when it's revision time.
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I agree on the moon issue. two different moons? it could be a different planet with more than one moon.
i dont have an issue with the flow. there is only so much you can make clear in 13 lines. you have to leave some of it open otherwise i find it'll get dull and i'll lose too much interest with the dragging detail.
this leaves a lot open for the reader to want to know what goes on. granted, like someone said earlier, without that little bit at the begining we wouldnt know it is a monster. at the same time, i argue the point, how many books do you read without reading the back cover for the summary?
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