How did you start your novel?

by Adrian Sroka
16th February 2014

Did you steam in Medias Res on the first page, or start somewhere in the middle? Perhaps you started at the end and worked backwards.

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Mine is structured much as Tiago suggests although the narrative jumps about as it weaves together an historical and a contemporary strand. An earlier draft did begin in the middle of the action; that scene as told from that particular character's viewpoint has since been deleted altogether. It might now be reinstated following agent advice but I am undecided. At any rate, I've now realised that the order at the end of the first draft will bear no resemblance to the order at the end of the fourth draft. I envy people who can "write it right" sooner than that!

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Louise
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Louise Taylor
16/02/2014

I started with a scene set centuries before the events of my book.

Following that I right linearly, with the occasional return to a time before, what I call my Flashback chapters. Though not all of these are personal accounts, some are extracts from historical texts and court records

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Michael
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Michael Anstead
16/02/2014

I started with a scene somewhere in the middle - I'm not an organised person. I then visualised various scenes before & after that one that I wanted to include & had to weave them together to make a story. So basically it grew rather organically. I wouldn't recommend it as a method though, too confusing!

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susan
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susan Russell
16/02/2014