This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, and Carlee explore opening scenes and what you should include right away to establish who and what the story is about. Missing the mark with your opening scene could mislead the reader and set your story up for disappointment.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
Why do you need to think about your opening scene? What should you pack into it? And what does it mean to hook your reader? We talk about the different tools you can use to craft a scene that works for your story!
What we talked about:
Why are we talking about the opening scene? (1:25)
Do you always need your core goal and problem present in your opening? (3:25)
What’s the pitfall writers fall into? (14:26)
Keep your characters important! (15:50)
And keep your setting in the background. (18:20)
What does a hook need to do? (19:00)
Show your character’s humanity. (24:23)
Use voice! (28:29)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
Sleepless in Seattle
Grey’s Anatomy
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
Do you enjoy the show?
Do you learn something every week?
Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com