#story openings

[writingraven]

Hello I love you’re writing tips!

I have a question.

I would like to ask what’s a good way to start my book? I’ve been making my story board but I just can’t think of any ways to get started on my book and plan out the entire plot. That’s what I’ve been having trouble with.

Thankies~

Hi there! Thanks for dropping an ask. I’m so glad you enjoy the writing tips!

My first recommendation is going to be very simple, probably more simple than you’d like — just write. Don’t worry about the perfect way to open your story because, truthfully, you’ll probably change it by the time you’re done editing anyway. You can start writing in the middle of the plot or just start writing random scenes. The more you write, the more details will come to you, and the more you’ll figure out what you want your layout to be.

Of course, I’ll give you some more ideas than that because that’s not very helpful to your direct question. But it’s something to consider. You don’t have to write your story in order. Your writing process is your own. Nonetheless, here are some ways to start your story!

✧

Writing Tips

Story Openings

➸ danger: drop the readers right into action with something dangerous; don’t worry if they don’t understand what’s happening yet because the whole point is to get them hooked

➸ dialogue: drop your readers right into an important conversation

➸ flashback: give the readers a glimpse into the character’s past, especially if it’s something that will heavily affect the character development; it’ll build the readers intrigue

➸ foreshadowing: let the readers in on what’s about to happen; something as simple as “if only he knew…” will add suspense and intrigue

➸ historical context: tell a story of the culture or some historical turning point to jump into world building

➸ mystery: have your character do something unexplained; it’ll make the readers want backstory

➸ normal day: start with a normal day… until it’s not; write your characters daily commitments (something to show who they are) and then have it all suddenly change; this can be a good way to express the main character’s lifestyle, introduce side characters early on, and world build — but be careful because it can also be rather boring

➸ onomatopoeia: start with a sound that moves into an action for a quick way to hook the reader (boom! crack! crash!)

➸ perspective: give a point of view from a side character (this can be especially intriguing if your main character is an unreliable narrator)

➸ prophecy: start with a compelling prophecy to keep the readers wondering how it will connect later on

➸ question: start with an important question and let the rest of the scene answer it

➸ secret: give your readers something only they know or something only one character knows; it’ll initiate suspense

✧

Tips

➸ avoid info-dumping: you spent all this time building this world and you want your readers to know it… I get it… but they’ll figure it out as the story goes; don’t throw a bunch of information at them right away or they won’t retain it and they’ll get bored

➸ don’t overdo descriptions: readers have an amazing ability to fill in gaps; they don’t need to know every detail of your setting or character appearance; give a prominent detail or two and let them fill in the rest

➸ don’t tell everything at once: your readers need to wonder what will happen or they won’t want to read more

➸ establish the character’s voice: your readers should have a decent idea of who the main character is by the end of the first chapter

➸ keep it moving: the plot should always move forward, even in the start; even though this is an ‘introduction’ chapter, it should flow into the second chapter with ease

➸ know what you want your readers to know: list the details you want established from the very beginning and brainstorm the best way to describe a majority of these while still moving the plot forward

#writing #writing tips #story ideas #reference #knowledge #writing reference #fantasy #characterisation #characteristics #story openings #opening your story #<3

[rickie-the-storyteller]

Poll Time!

Here's a fun one... hopefully.

It's not about ships this time lol. I was thinking about this recently and I realised that openings are really important in a story. The beginning sets the tone for the whole experience after all.

Curious to see what you guys think!

#rickie-the-storyteller #writerblr #writing poll #tumblr polls #story openings

[gracehosborn]

Here's a little writeblr ask for you! What's the conflict that really gets the story started?

Hi! Thank you for the ask!

I’ll answer for both my fictional projects for this one.

In Ink of Destruction, the conflict starts to unfold under the guise of curiosity. Having been set up on a blind date, Alex winds up with her belongings soaked in the rain in her escape, resulting in her going to a local store to purchase a pen which turns out to be quite mysterious.

In the first volume of The American Icarus, the story immediately kicks off with Alexander running home at the news of his mother falling sick. The conflict starts to bud when members of the local court come to seize the house after Alexander’s mother passed away some time later.

#thank you for the ask! #ink of destruction #IOD #the american icarus #TAI #novel conflicts #story openings #writers on tumblr #writing community

[writeouswriter]

Me: Alright how do I start this story?

My brain, which has suggested “a prophetic dream” for the past twenty story openings: Hmm, how about we try something flashy, something fun, something new, oh I don’t know, mayhaps... another prophetic dream?

#writing #writeblr #lets throw a psychic in there bitches love psychics/me i'm bitches #prophetic dreams i love you i hate you i love you #writer things #story openings #waking from startling premonitions is just it's just #no thoughts head filled with visions #writing humour #writing humor #this is relatable right

[jakeperalta]

letting celebrities think they can and should "use their platform" to speak on all current events and political issues regardless of how educated they are on them was a grave mistake

#i honestly think that's why half of these celebrities are just sharing around these same few wishy washy unhelpful statements #at this point it's a relief when i open an instagram story and it's just a celebrity posting about their regular stuff #like good thank you feel free to just be quiet #or just share some fundraising links if you feel a need to be helpful #but like ultimately if you have a platform of many thousands/millions #then frankly it is your responsibility to make sure what you are sharing is accurate and useful #and not just posting for the sake of posting #but instead somehow we're at the point where the more followers you have the more you are expected to just post something anything #talking

[tiredofsatansbullshit]

WHAT DO I DO NOW??

#i had just opened a nice fic too #i just wanna read the silly little stories in my phone #ao3

[ronanlynchbf]

tshirt that says NO LIVE ORGANISM CAN CONTINUE FOR LONG TO EXIST SANELY UNDER CONDITIONS OF ABSOLUTE REALITY

#i literally JUST finished hill house a few days ago and i already want to reread. Badly. it's sooo so so soo sooooooooo good <33333!!!!! #also completely enamored by shirley jackson's writing style i NEED to read everything she has written ever like right now.. #opening lines of ALL TIME btw 👆❗❗❗ #r.txt #the haunting of hill house #ALSO i've seen commentary videos on the tv show they made of hill house but from what i remember of it it's SO different from the book??? #i think they were all siblings in the show which is??????? like why would you change that part?? i love sibling relationships as much as the #next guy but i feel like the fact that none of them knew each other was such an essential part of the story like why would u change it.... #also eleanor was like. an entirely different character who was also already dead in the show i believe??? and dr. montague doesn't exist?? #hill house could've been really good as a show idk why they changed it up like that...like was the original story not interesting enough for #you or something?? WHO decided to make that change i just wanna talk 🤨

[nerdpoe]

The Green Lanterns have found an anomaly in space uncomfortably close to Earth. A floating green wormhole, that does not follow the rules that wormholes are supposed to follow.

In fact, it seems to be fine to get close to. It does not distort any time or space near it; it's literally like someone had just poked a hole through the universe, and they can just step into it.

They opt to use an exploratory space shuttle.

Naturally, certain Earth Leaders want to send representatives to go up in that shuttle.

Green Lantern Corp tries to push back, they really do, but humans are stubborn.

They get their exploratory astronauts.

Hal Jordan manages to get chosen for America; his experience in the military and having Batman pull the strings was a huge part of that.

The first hint that something was wrong was when they went through the portal and it was just a sea of green full of doors.

Second was when it looks like they would hit something, they just went through it.

Third was that the portal closed behind them.

Fourth, there's...something circling their craft, tapping on the walls and doors. It talks to them in the voice of a young boy, and keeps asking to be let in.

Or; Danny found a weird ship in the Zone, and he doesn't want to be rude and just barge in since it isn't one of his parents.

#dpxdc #dcxdp #dp x dc #dc x dp #phanfic #story prompt #hal hates this #he hates it so fucking much #danny just wants them to open the door and let him in #or give him permission to phase in

[saewokhrisz]

2/2 "gift"

#happy 2/2 people enjoy #[shuts off my phone and opens p3r] #albeit im posting this according to japanese time because im too excited to sit on it more... #this is actually based on a real story i bought a pomegranate two weeks ago and found out it was rotten when i tried to peel it i was so sa #shuake #ren amamiya #goro akechi #persona 5 #persona #fanart #my art #comic

[lilybug-02]

Pain is a great motivator…

Part 26 || First || Previous || Next

—Full Series—

Meanwhile Toriel:

(Loud noises don't wake her up usually.)

Artist note: I’m so proud of this :))) I know it’s a lot of dialogue and reading, but dialogue is grueling work for me. I’m glad with the art and for the amount of pages I made in such a relatively short time span -w- page 5 was super fun to work on. A lot of blood, sweat, and hours here... :) The backgrounds were a big bore tbh, but I finished them! Yippie!

#CHARA WTF DO YOU MEAN “COMPUTER”???? #lol i hope you guys dont hate me for what im doing in the next update. #IS THAT A MAC OS??? #Yes......owo'' #Kris and the Gang are LITTLE now. I've pixelated them and turned them into little game characters! #FINALLY!! #I never thought I would be going so far in the story to explain WHY Kris pulls out their SOUL and opens Darkfountains even when they killed #Berdly in Chapter 2. Pain can make people do horrible things. #Uhhhhhhhhh anyways. :3 I hope you liked it! I made this post a little too long for my liking and didnt get it out when i wanted too- #but thats okay! As long as people enjoy it :) #bread #art #deltarune chara timeline #deltarune chara timeline comic #seriously though #long post #man am I glad I switched over to the limited color palet! It helps me feel alot more relaxed uwu #This is....way over 16 hours of work q-q #chara #asriel #susie #kris #asriel dreemurr #kris dreemurr #kris deltarune #susie deltarune #deltarune #comic #my art

[iipaint]

oh, i should have gone deeper, but i'm not so brave

when i was done dying - dan deacon // fionna and cake - "cheers"

#web weaving #adventure time #fionna and cake #fionna and cake spoilers #simon petrikov #betty grof #petrigrof #this is what the golbetty scene reminded me of hehe #wwiwdd is a very fi and cake song anyway. like the series overall #i very much enjoyed the show and i like that the ending was open ended #even if a bit unsatisfactory thats reflective of life! the day after the end etc yk #we keep on living even after a supposed ending to the story and i like that message being at the shows core

[bixels]

Concept art for the Grand Galloping 20’s NYC story, which’ll split the main six into pairs.

With two tickets to a Wonderbolts ballgame, Wígmuŋke and Félicie must traverse the treacherous transit system of Manhattan island. While Wígmuŋke dreams of meeting her hero, Team Captain “Spitfire,” Félicie learns the value of an assertive voice amongst rude New Yorkers.

#mlp #fluttershy #rainbow dash #flutterdash #my art #fanart #the grand galloping 20s #character design #concept art #the whole story will have some nods to fantasia 2000 but it won’t really look like this #this concept’s stylized for what I imagine would be an opening sequence

[lucidloving]

Richard Siken, "The Torn-up Road" // Lora Mathis, "If There's A Way Out I'll Take It"

#theme: to tell a story is to re-open a wound #web weaving #webs #web weave #webweave #poetry #aesthetic #prose #prose poetry #art #collage #literature #book quotes #books #novel quotes #novels #quotes #excerpt #poem excerpt #poem #richard siken #lora mathis #compilation #parallels #inspo #words #writing #trauma #storytelling #old wounds

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

An unbothered queen has entered, and subsequently left.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

#poorly drawn mdzs #mdzs #wen qing #wen ning #jiang cheng #wei wuxian #In the audio drama she quite literally opens the door and then leaves after seeing them without breaking conversation. #It is both so impressive and deeply funny to me. #I imagine her just literally pivoting in one foot and walking right out. #She came home after a long day at work and in 0.5 seconds went “I would rather go back to the office than deal with this right now”. #Besides tickling me to near tears - this scene is also a great introduction to Wen Qing - her first instinct is to protect! #She lives by the code of 'I don't care who you are - if you need help I will lend it.' a true doctor and professional. #Sure she is *mad* that Wen Ning puts himself (and her to a lesser extent) at risk by helping 'the enemy' but she gives in quick. #I love Wen Qing a lot - she is such an unsung hero in this story. #Sorry that her first appearance on this blog was...what it was. I'll let your curiosity take you down that path...

[chewingbatmanlikeasqueakytoy]

Why doesn't the justice league know about Amity Park?

Okay so it's been a bit sonce I watched the show but one of the things in DpxDC is the anti-ecto acts, which I love, but correct me if I'm wrong, I THINK ??? they only show up in reality trip? SO: What if Danny, when using the gauntlet to undo everything, also got rid of the Anti-Ecto acts? but this is babys first time editing reality so he uh Fucks Up A Lil'. As a result when Danny used the reality gauntlet to wipe the AEA from existence he accidentally wiped Amity Park from perception. A big 'nothing matters over here' jedi mind trick, and now no ones looking at Amity. So, the Justice League actually WERE looking into and monitoring the situation in Amity, but when the perception filter closed them off, all of that suddenly went ignored.

This is noticed when someone (Alfred, Dick, Tim, literally anyone) realises theres just. A BIG dusty pile of case files semi abandoned somewhere in the cave when going through a (time period)ly cave cleaning.

They put it down because it's Not Important.

They come back to finish the cleaning the next day and do the exact same thing, but there's nothing to actually distract them this time and it pings as weird. Because why would case files be not important? They are by definition important, because only things flagged as important go into case files.

They try to get someone else to read it, because as long as they don't read the information in the file, they don't put it down.

That person goes to read it, gets a line in and then says something like 'that isn't important' and goes to leave. Person A pushes it and person B ALSO catches on.

Que the Batfam trying to figure out hey, what the fuck actually?

Meanwhile, how is Amity fairing? Canon compliant everything's going alright? Or have knock on effects to No One Look Here started to show?

#Another way for the JL not to notice amity park and not make the JL wildly incompetent #and if the anti ecto acts ARE a response to reign storm #then the JL doing their own investigations into it around that time checks out #plus it opens plenty of reasonable excuses for some of the more horrifying concepts to take place #oh an entire town only people inside it can percieve? #an entire organisation like the giw you could totally bullshit something like #they have anti ghost technology of COURSE the perception filter doesnt effect them #they made the anti filters when they realised they were unable to communicate outside the town #so thats how theyre getting funding and supplies in #(and that leaves a trail for the JL to follow) #YEAH #an entire town that cant be percieved #with a population that arguably the government has given free range on? #that sounds like a cadmus PLAYGROUND #dpxdc #dc x dp #dp x dc #dcxdp #danny phantom #story prompt #or starter? #lmao not sure

[kitmarlowe]

#the graham norton show #michael sheen #ian mckellen #michaelsheenedit #gif #shakespeare nerd 🤝 shakespeare legend #how very sweet #this was a fun lineup actually well done #ambika's (unintentional) story about sleeping with her eyes open