I've blogged many times about the importance of a good opening hook. You can see my post about strong beginnings in First Impression and Lasting Impact. So how did I begin my NaNoWriMo novel today?
With two characters discussing the weather. Yep. This went on for about three pages. It was utter rubbish.
But...
It doesn't matter. There's a good argument for writing weak beginnings and material to just be scrapped later; it's a first draft. I had a rough idea of my plot planned out, but I wasn't prepared to spend time working out exactly where the story should start. I got about six pages done today and I think my story will actually begin about page three (which was Chekov's exact prediction - write your story, then throw out the first three pages). Plus, I was sticking to my theory, if you can't think of anything to write... write anyway (I include this as a tip on writing when you're stuck in Thinking About Writing)
After a long bout of weather-chatting, today my protagonist was merrily digging away and discovered a... severed hand! Yuck enough for most, but for her, even more so. When she touches dead things, she gets a flash of how they died. Turns out the hand was not an accidental death by misadventure caught up in the land explosives clearing dirt. She was murdered.
Anywhoos, I was happy with my word count, I hit 2,634 and will probably get a few words down tonight before bed. Did you start your novel today (I know we're all on different time zones)? How'd you go? Love it or Hate it?
Just started mine. Pleased with how it is going so far...surprised actually.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your hand :)
Good luck reaching your 50,000! I like your psychic concept.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm impressed with the word count for your first day. The story sounds intriquing. Keep on writing.
ReplyDeleteGreat numbers for your first day! That's awesome. I'm doing NaNo as well. I'm lisagibson there.
ReplyDeleteLisa ~ YA Literature Lover
Congratulations, you're off to a stellar start! :)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! For starting your NaNo with 3 pages of small talk and telling us about it. I told my inner editor to "just let it go!" about 28 times while I was writing this morning.
ReplyDeleteI had made it to 2,138 words before I knew it. And I learned that my audience is not who I thought they were...
Glynis - Thanks, the hand is getting a lot of page space still, and now other bits are turning up.
ReplyDeleteB.Miller - Thanks for visiting and the encouragement!
Myrna - Thank you, as always, you are a sweetie :-)
Lisa - Cool - I'm gonna buddy you on NaNo.
Notesfromnadir - Thanks, I'm loving NaNoWriMo.
Bel - you're most welcome for my honest appraisal of the rubbish I started writing for NaNo, and somedays it will probably all be rubbish, but if I keep going there will be some good bits - so you keep on, you're doing well with your numbers!
NaNo on!