Beginnings of books are hard! Usually
when ideas for a new book come to me, my imagination jumps into the middle of
the story, looks around, and thinks, “Oh, yeah, great idea!” But then I must
develop the story by asking myself, “Okay, how did your characters get to this
point?” Because my story ideas never seem to come to me at the beginning of the
story, more like the climactic battle scene at the end, or the exciting
near-miss in the middle. In fact, starting the story is one of the biggest
challenges for me.
As an author in today’s industry, there
is a LOT of pressure to get the opening just right. After all, so much hangs in
the balance with those first few lines and pages. Editors, agents, publishers,
readers, critique partners . . . everyone, it seems, reads those openings and
decides whether the book has any merit, and whether or not they will continue
reading, offer a contract, or buy the book.
Openings must capture the reader’s
attention instantly and make them curious enough to see what will happen that
they won’t put the book down. So, when I am trying to figure out just where to
begin, I ask myself several questions:
1.
Knowing where you want this story to go,
what is the event that starts the ball rolling? Not the backstory leading up to
that event, but the actual event.
2.
What does the scene look like, and how
can I place my character in a unique situation that will not be an overused
cliché?
3.
What tidbit of information can I
nonchalantly slide in that will make my readers ask a question they must
continue reading to find the answer to?
4.
Am I starting too big? If there is too
much action, it will be a letdown when I can’t build on that momentum.
In my newest release, Of Walls, my story opens with a scene
where Julie and her husband are having a conversation. It is a women’s fiction
novella about a mom, housewife, missionary who is struggling to save her
marriage. It makes sense they would be chatting in their kitchen, not on the
edge of a cliff for no reason other than to add intensity to the scene. The
opening line is: “I really need this trip.” Seems pretty simple, right? But, I
hope anyway, it instantly poses questions in the reader’s mind, and that is
usually a good thing. Readers may wonder, why does she need the trip? What kind
of trip? What’s going on that is so terrible she has to get away? And as long
as I deliver on my promise to answer their questions at some point, hopefully
they will keep reading to find out. And that, I think, is the biggest key to
beginnings. Creating a desire in the reader to want to find out more, and then
delivering on that promise to give them the answers a little at a time, keep
their interest, and form a relationship between character
and reader.
Author: Sara L. Foust
Title: Of Walls
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13:
ASIN: B07JN368FF
Tag line: A struggling marriage and a mission trip to the other side of
the world. What will Julie’s future hold?
Publisher: Silver Lining Literary Services
How to reach me:
Author
Bio:
Sara is a multi-published, award-winning author and homeschooling mother
of five who writes surrounded by the beauty of East Tennessee.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of
Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is the
author of the Love, Hope, and Faith Series, which includes Callum's Compass(2017), Camp
Hope (2018), and Rarity Mountain (March
2019). She also has a story, “Leap of
Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her
family, and the beauty of nature. When she isn’t writing, you can find her
reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more
about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please
visit www.saralfoust.com.
Blurb:
Julie
Johnson's life as a mom and homemaker is richly blessed, but her marriage is
struggling. Years of busyness, exhaustion, and hurt have taken their toll on
her emotional and spiritual life, building impenetrable walls around her heart.
When she feels God calling her to a mission trip on the other side of the
world, Julie puts her faith in Him and leaves her family for ten long days.
What she learns about herself, her marriage, and her faith will change her life
forever.
Buy
Links:
Barnes and Noble:
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2 comments:
Thanks for having me!
I enjoyed this post with Sara L. Foust about beginnings of a book. I've read her books that are captivating from the start, so Of Walls will be added to my growing list of TBR books. Thak you for sharing.
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