This week, we pull an episode from the video archives. Alida, Kathryn, and Matt discuss what makes a great opening. Do you need to begin in media res? What is in media res, anyway? How about opening with a scenario? How much depth of character is needed in an opening? How do you get it on the page and hook a reader?
Previously published as video-only episode 6.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
Want to know what it takes to write a good opening? How do you hook your reader and get them invested in your story? How do you create character empathy and what are the action steps that you need to take in order to write a great opening?
What we talked about:
What makes a great opening? How do you hook a reader? What does it take to get a reader invested in your story in the first page or sentence? (0:18)
How have you created intrigue in your opening? Have you led the reader to ask an unresolved question? (6:13)
Can you start without the character? (9:35)
How do you establish depth of character? When have you gone deep enough into your character to hook those reader? (11:27)
How do you create character empathy? (18:18)
What you should take away from this episode. (24:25)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Saturday by Ian McEwan
Enduring Love by Ian McEwan