Is there anything more exciting than starting a new book? The first few pages of breathless exposition–how can he possibly get out of that situation, why does she need to be there–the first meet, the first glance, the first description, all leading up to the inevitable Happy Ever After.
No, wait, that’s not what I meant.
Is there anything more terrifying than starting to write a new book? The first few pages are crucial to setting up the rest of the action, the prose should be compelling, conveying information without too much ‘infodump,’ the set-up should be sufficiently difficult to make your reader wonder just how the hero and heroine are going to get out of their situation and into each others’ arms–that’s a lot of pressure.
Guess what I did yesterday? Yup. Started writing a new book. It was called Clive Owen Goes to Hell, but now I’ve titled it the more sedate Road To Passion. I’ve got 744 words thus far, no clue if they work, or the idea sucks, or where these two are going. But it’s something, and I’m going to plug away at it until I think I know (or my kind reading friends tell me) that it does or doesn’t work.
Wish me luck, I’m off to the wars.
*FINGERS CROSSED* for you, Megan.
I just started work on my second book (MS is done but will be subjected to HUGE revisions before I turn it in), and I’m having the same problems/doubts.
Does it open in the right place? Is the set-up compelling? Are the obstacles nasty enough? The Golden Heart judges loved the opening as is, am I asking for trouble by messing with it? Is the POV deep enough?
BTW, did you see Clive on the cover of Sept’s GQ? Hot. Hotter. Hottest!
http://www.murphsplace.com/owen/gq-06.html
Oh Megan, I know how you feel. I agonize about beginnings, too. Come to think of it, I agonize over the whole first draft. If it didn’t get a whole lot better by the second draft, I’d give up this nonsense!
Even if you end up rewriting or trashing them, those 744 words are gold because they *exist* and now you can move on.
Hugs and the best of luck to you!
Elena
Thanks, ladies, and let me wish you good luck, too.
Best of luck, Megan! (Though I love your first title better than your second. 🙂
Todd-who-likes-your-first-title