In relation to a novel, have people have found it usual to do an amount of introduction and description (waffle) in the first chapter, which I think is what I usually do, or jump right in to the middle of the action/speech?
I have just posted the first chapter of my new novel on the shared works page, demonstrating the 'jump right in' method!
https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/profile/c-ballantine/work
Any comments and advice welcome.
Thanks in advance!
I'm having real trouble following your speech. It's a little too broken for an opening scene when the reader is so clueless. I'm all for opening with dialogue, but every sentence of any opening needs to supply information the reader can use to build the world in their minds.
When I buy a book in a shop, I always check the first few sentences to make sure I can see something from them. All I have is voices in the darkness from your opening until the biodome is mentioned, which is a bit far down the page.
Also, the use of surname by her employer is odd. I really doubt the sort of people who run a facility like that are the type of people to stick to such an old-fashioned address of their employees.
In relation to the question, I always prefer to be right in the action straight away. Once you've captured attention, you can then walk the reader through some back story. I do that in most of my books, although I have one which never really does. The back story is the story so I leave the reader in her every thought giving little hint to anything that has happened in the past. It gradually unravels throughout the book without ever explaining or losing pace. The book is unfinished and I expect it to remain so for a while because it's not easy to write, but I think the result will be worth it.
I'm not particularly recommending that for your story, just suggesting that the waffle isn't always necessary and should be kept to a minimum where possible.
Hi, Christine,
Write the waffle entry, then cut out the first three pages and see if the story stands up. I bet it will.
It's far better to jump in, establishing persona and positioning straight away; you have, in effect, shouted 'Action!'
A romance is first and foremost about characters and their inter-relationship, not about the scenery or how the people got there. That's backstory - the part that you know happens before the people step into the spotlight, and which can be tossed into the mix at any point, but doesn't need to be there in bulk at the start (or, arguably, at any point.)
You have to grab your reader by the collar from the first word: throwing us into a conversation or an argument is going to do that better than explaining the background and then leading up to the exciting bit.
However, give us pointers: don't leave us floundering around in ignorance. Remember that we can't see what you have inside your head - only what you put on the page.
Lorraine
Hi Christine
No one wants to read waffle, but if you jump in without letting us know who is who it is hard to sustain interest.
Something in between please.
Personally, I like books that start with dialogue, but it's some people's pet peeve for some reason.
I think you could slip in a bit more description, without it becoming waffle, in between the dialogue. Just a couple of examples:
You wrote about dusting mud off her gloves, but you didn't say what type of gloves; I had to read a bit further before I realised she was gardening when already imagining it being a cold day with the protagonist wrapped up in woollies (obviously not the image you wanted to create).
With the first piece of dialogue between Hannah and 'the man' I wanted a bit more of an idea who this was; young, old; colleague, stranger; you didn't give much to work with. Even a quick glance over her shoulder would have revealed if he was wearing work shoes or tourist sandals.
So, I'm suggesting more clues as to who, what and where, but I still want it straight into the action.