Not knowing where to start - Writers Forum

Trackerlou · 08-25-2007, 09:14 AM

Just wondering how people decide "where" to start their story?

I know where I want mine to go and I'm looking foward to getting to the exciting bits but everytime I try to lead the story there I seem to end up with chapters full of irrelavant waffle.

The story I'm currently writing for instance first started with the lead character as a 16 year old in her last year of school. Then I rewrote the chapter to move it foward and she was 17 and in her first year olf college and now I'm considering moving the chapter further foward but how do you know when you've hit the right spot?

Joe Moore · 08-25-2007, 11:10 AM

Quoting a fellow forum member, Mike C: Start the story at the moment that disrupts your protagonist's universe and sets him/her on a quest. You also might want to consider Kurt Vonnegut's 8 rules of writing. Rule number 5 is: Start as close to the end as possible. I blogged on the topic over at InkSpot last May. Take a look. Good luck.

Trackerlou · 08-25-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Quoting a fellow forum member, Mike C: Start the story at the moment that disrupts your protagonist's universe and sets him/her on a quest. You also might want to consider Kurt Vonnegut's 8 rules of writing. Rule number 5 is: Start as close to the end as possible. I blogged on the topic over at InkSpot last May. Take a look. Good luck.

Thanks for that, I have decided to completely rewrite my first chapter and will definately bare your advice and comments in mind as I do so.