Comments on: The First Page http://www.unstressedsyllables.com/2010/the-first-page/ Writing advice for everyone Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:25:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Aaron Pogue http://www.unstressedsyllables.com/2010/the-first-page/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Aaron Pogue Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:49:46 +0000 http://www.unstressedsyllables.com/?p=116#comment-48 Courtney, You crack me up. Given what you did with family histories in the novel, maybe the genealogy wouldn't have been too terrible. Maybe? No. You're right. It had to be out. But I remember the family histories in the novel. You developed a compelling, believable foreign culture and one of the masterstrokes was the emphasis on family history. I know you probably stripped out pages and pages (and days and days worth of work), but the slivers that remained added an amazing depth to your finished work. You know all that. It's worth saying again, though, for all the writers kicking themselves for writing stupid intros and wasteful filler and all the junk that gets jotted down just as fuel for the editing process. It's all valuable. It's why we have rough drafts in the first place (and why they're so important). It's also why you can't live in fear of the blank page. Put something on it. Even if it's garbage, even if it's BORING, even if it gets cut two months from now, it's going to make your book better. In the first draft stage, every word you put down on paper makes your book better. Courtney,
You crack me up.

Given what you did with family histories in the novel, maybe the genealogy wouldn’t have been too terrible. Maybe?

No. You’re right. It had to be out. But I remember the family histories in the novel. You developed a compelling, believable foreign culture and one of the masterstrokes was the emphasis on family history. I know you probably stripped out pages and pages (and days and days worth of work), but the slivers that remained added an amazing depth to your finished work.

You know all that. It’s worth saying again, though, for all the writers kicking themselves for writing stupid intros and wasteful filler and all the junk that gets jotted down just as fuel for the editing process. It’s all valuable. It’s why we have rough drafts in the first place (and why they’re so important).

It’s also why you can’t live in fear of the blank page. Put something on it. Even if it’s garbage, even if it’s BORING, even if it gets cut two months from now, it’s going to make your book better. In the first draft stage, every word you put down on paper makes your book better.

]]> By: Courtney http://www.unstressedsyllables.com/2010/the-first-page/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Courtney Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:50:06 +0000 http://www.unstressedsyllables.com/?p=116#comment-36 Ahh, the infamous prologue of the fantasy genre. ;o) As you well know, I've been guilty of this, myself. But the writer's drive to give the reader every backstory detail often carries past the beginning of the story and into the beginning of each chapter. Exhibit A: In my fantasy novel, TRIAD, I originally began Chapter Two with a listing of my main character's genealogy. *facepalm* Why did I do it? Because I have a personal love for genealogy, and I had made up this fascinating family line going back umpteen generations, spanning 1500 years, with terribly clever names and a hint of story to go with each one. Who wouldn't want to read that?!? Fortunately, Elizabeth Engstrom, my writing mentor at the time, kindly yet bluntly pointed out to me that this was boring. Re-write, re-write, re-write. And there was much re-joicing. ;o) Ahh, the infamous prologue of the fantasy genre. ;o) As you well know, I’ve been guilty of this, myself. But the writer’s drive to give the reader every backstory detail often carries past the beginning of the story and into the beginning of each chapter.

Exhibit A: In my fantasy novel, TRIAD, I originally began Chapter Two with a listing of my main character’s genealogy.

*facepalm*

Why did I do it? Because I have a personal love for genealogy, and I had made up this fascinating family line going back umpteen generations, spanning 1500 years, with terribly clever names and a hint of story to go with each one. Who wouldn’t want to read that?!?

Fortunately, Elizabeth Engstrom, my writing mentor at the time, kindly yet bluntly pointed out to me that this was boring.

Re-write, re-write, re-write. And there was much re-joicing. ;o)

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