Jeffe's 3 Principles for Crafting a Beginning

This week at the SFF Seven, we're talking about beginnings and our principles for crafting them.

But first, I want to tell you all a little story.

A few years back, I was involved in a local writers group where, as a fundraiser for the group, I volunteered - along with several other experienced authors - to read and critique works from others in the group. On one submission, another author (much more successful and famous than I) and I agreed that the book started in the wrong place, and we offered thoughtful feedback on what beginning might work more effectively. There was pushback from that author and the group, a feeling that we had been much too critical, and several people were upset that we had suggested the book had started in the wrong place. One person said to us that the author in question had already been published, implying how dare we suggest they didn't know how to begin the book.

We were both taken aback by this protest because, and I retell this tale because I think this is so important:

FIGURING OUT WHERE AND HOW TO BEGIN NEVER GETS EASIER.

Both my fellow critiquer and I revisit the openings of every book we write many, many times. Getting that opening right is key. It's also not easy.

So, what are my principles for crafting a beginning? I think a beginning should do three things.

1. Establish genre
2. Pose a question
3. Create sympathy for the protagonist

Establish genre

This one might sound like a no-brainer, but I only learned to do this deliberately, after writing many books. The opening lines of the book or story should ground the reader in what kind of story this will be. This grounding is more important than many authors might think. Sometimes we, especially as newer writers, have this impulse to play coy, as if keeping the reader guessing in this way will intrigue them. Trust me: it doesn't. Think of your favorite books and their opening lines; I bet you they all tell you what kind of story you're about to read.

Example: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen.

Look at how much you learn about the story to come from this one sentence.

Pose a question

THIS is where you intrigue the reader! Some writing teachers refer to this aspect as the "hook," but I think a lot of us have trouble understanding what a hook is supposed to be. Instead I think of this as posing a question. It doesn't have to be THE central question(s) of the entire story, but it should connect in some way. Suggest that there's a secret. Pose a conundrum. Put something in there to make the reader wonder - and to keep reading to find out the answer.

Example: "The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation. He'd been dead for ten days before they found him, you know. We hadn't intended to hide the body where it couldn't be found. In fact, we hadn't hidden it at all but simply left it where it fell in the hopes that some luckless passer-by would stumble over it before anyone noticed he was missing." The Secret History, Donna Tartt.

I skipped a bit there for efficiency's sake - but the whole opening prologue is worth studying! - but see how she introduces the core mystery and poses a number of questions? 

Create sympathy for the protagonist

I'm not saying your characters have to be likable, or even that the protagonist has to appear in the first few pages, or that there even has to be a single, identifiable protagonist. What I am saying is, whatever characters do appear at the beginning, the reader needs a reason to want to be in their heads, to take this journey with them. If there's nothing interesting or appealing about the characters in the story's opening, why should the reader keep going?

Example: "It was a dumb thing to do but it wasn't that dumb. There hadn't been any trouble out at the lake in years. And it was so exquisitely far from the rest of my life." Sunshine, Robin McKinley

Feel that instant interest in the character, the clarity of the voice, and how there's a sense of feeling for the person, whoever it may be? 

 

Really, all of these examples serve in all three principles. There's lots that goes into a good beginning, but these three are key. Beginnings are a challenge and take time and effort to get right. And totally worth it. 

Who Influences My Writing. I Hope.

Thursday was neuter day for the boy cats. I've had 3 drunk kittens on my hands. It turns out that drunk kittens do not simply drink water. They stand IN the water dishes and start digging. This lead to an inch of water in the bathroom, a sodden kitchen counter, and three kittens dripping water from their bellies down. I'm have no idea what was in the pain meds the vet gave them, but I want some.

Oh. Right. I was supposed to tell you about the influences on my writing, not hallucinating kittens. None of these authors will be a surprise to anyone. I've mentioned them all before. As I look across the list, though, maybe this is my wishful thinking list. These are the people I'd like to have influencing my writing, because in each case, I love the turns of phrase. I adore the images these writers create. Certainly, I'm reading modern authors whose work with words makes me swoon, but it's probably early to claim they influence me as a writer just yet. So my no-surprise-to-anyone list of influencers:

1. Andre Norton
2. Charles de Lint
3. Robin McKinley
4. H.M. Hoover
5. Arthur C. Clarke

Andre Norton was my first book love - the one where I read a single story of hers and I was hooked and had to hunt down everything she'd ever written. I'm still looking for the westerns.

Charles de Lint writes words the way I imagine most people write music. I love the way his words go together. I can't figure out if it's painterly or musical or both. I just love his facility with the language.

Robin McKinley makes me love her worlds and her characters. It's no secret that Sunshine is one of my desert isle books.

H.M. Hoover - how do I explain this one. H.M. Hoover wrote kids books. These books are pretty damned dark. But to this day, despite my age, H.M. Hoover's writing makes me identify with a 10 year old heroine every single time.

Arthur C. Clarke - I love the themes in his work. Always have. The stories go together in a way that feels so effortless. Complex ideas and descriptions slid down so easily. I love getting to the end of one of his stories, my head whirling, and wonder how I got from page 1 to The End.

I guess the common theme is that these are people who write books that stay with me. In every case, the stories stuck with me not just for days, but for decades. These are the books that I kept in storage during the boat years, and then paid to haul across the continent when we moved. I can walk into my office right now and put my hands on books by each of these people. That's what I aspire to be. So yeah. This is my man-I-want-to-be-like-them list of authors who I hope influence my writing.

The Godparents: Jeffe's Top Five Influences as a Writer

We're heading into the last week of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Fantasy Storybundle. The theme is "Kickass Heroines" and this is such a kickass collection. I was one of the first to download it, even though my own book is in it, and I've read a couple of others. So many fantastic books for an amazing price.

The Bundle was curated by Terry Mixon who says:

SFWA is over 50 years old and its membership consists of professional writers and publishing professionals from around the globe. It administers the Nebula Awards each year, and so very much more. It was a real pleasure reading the submissions from SFWA members this year and, as every year, we had a rough time narrowing the selection to just a few books. We think you'll be delighted as there is something for everyone in this great bundle.

 • The Arrows of the Heart by Jeffe Kennedy. What do you do when your boyfriend is an animal? Really. An animal.

 • The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, Books 1-3 by Annie Bellet. Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer, a mostly-human woman is finally safe – if she can resist using her magic. Or can she?

 • The Dragon Blood Collection, Books 1-3 by Lindsay Buroker. A dashing pilot, a comely sorceress, and a smart-mouthed soulsword all come together in a world intent on killing them.

 • Radiance by Grace Draven. A marriage between alien kingdoms – and two "spares" who find beauty in each other, and that heroism comes in many forms.

 • Ashwin by Kit Rocha. Can a genetically manipulated soldier be a hero? A healer finds a way to love a man without feelings—and fight for brightness in a dark world.

 • The Raven and the Reindeer by Ursula Vernon. An enthralling remix of a classic fairy tale, with a practical heroine who follows her heart to a very different ending.

There are more than those, too. Check out the deal here. 

*****
Our topic this week at the SFF Seven is "The Godparents: Your top five influences as a writer."

At least the person who suggested this one is letting me have five?

This isn't the definitive list, but it does come pretty close to encapsulating my major influences. These are the authors I not only love, but who influenced the way I write.

Tanith Lee

Anne McCaffrey

Patricia McKillip

Robin McKinley

Anne Rice

I linked to the best pages I could find for each (avoiding Wikipedia if possible). Sadly Tanith Lee and Anne McCaffrey are both dead now. I have no idea why three of them are "Mc" names - except that perhaps I identify with the Celtic voice, and they would've all been shelved close together. This goes beyond discoverability, however, as I started reading Robin McKinley much later.

All of these women write vividly sensual fantasy with women who are the front and center heroes of their own journeys. (With Anne Rice, it depends on the book.) They all created worlds I wanted to live in, presented complex interpersonal relationships, and explored shades of morality in fascinating ways.

They have been wonderful Godmothers to me, one and all.

Wishful Anthology

Coming to you live from the annual Novelist's Inc conference in St. Pete Beach - which means this will be short and blunt because I'm blogging between workshop sessions.  Also. I'm warm.

If I could be in an anthology with any three authors alive or dead, here's my dream list:

Andre Norton - because her books are why I'm in this mess to being with.
Robin McKinley - because of The Blue Sword and Sunshine
Arthur C. Clarke - because Childhood's End

Lofty goals. But lets be clear. I'd prefer to NOT have to die to get this anthology. Guess I'd better get on inventing that time machine, huh?