I notice that in the Fragments section, my Feedback is usually, "nothing's happening." Somebody is thinking about something that has happened/will happen, or we're getting his/her philosophy of life, or we're getting a physical description of the surroundings. If there's a dragon in the surroundings, or the philosophy of life involves expecting aliens to save my soul, now that's a hook!
But even so, I'd usually like it better if the character's talking the alien ambassador about salvation, or fleeing the village while the dragon sets fire to it, than if it's just somebody thinking about something.
Not a rule, I'm sure, but a suggestion. Take it for what it's worth.
Posted by NilzarkK (Member # 2340) on :
That seems to be the consensus around here.
Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :
In modern popular fiction, it definitely seems to be the rule (or at least very strong suggestion). Literature is full of books that don't start out with an action hook, though, and they're still great books.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
It isn't so much starting off with action, though.
Damon Knight used to say that a story should start when it starts. There shouldn't be a lot of building up to it and there shouldn't be a lot of flashing back.
Start the writing when the story starts happening.
Posted by Alynia (Member # 2358) on :
One basic thing I try to remember is that when my story or play begins, I have to show stasis. I have to show that whatever is happening is how things are meant to be - and the actual story begins with the disruption of that stasis. The character in the story work to return to stasis.
So, in this case, I think your reference about not having "action" in the beginning is fine, so long as the stasis doesn't run overlong and you move quickly when stasis is ... ah... static? <grin>
[This message has been edited by Alynia (edited February 05, 2005).]