Last time, you did some brainstorming for the stories you'll be creating. Today, I'm giving a test for the first period and then returning your brainstorming notes with my comments. Some of you weren't here and weren't able to begin brainstorming. If you weren't here, visit last class's blog post, review what we did (read the post), and begin brainstorming.
If you were here and you're getting comments back. You may choose to talk with me, continue brainstorming (in the case that you need more time for development), or begin the drafting process. Reconnect with your notes, though. Change, edit, add, subtract, etc. Don't merely begin writing a story because you seek to finish it faster. Some tips on actually beginning to write:
1) Make a declarative statement. Start bold, don't be afraid. Beginning in this way, you establish power and can grab interest quickly. It can also set the tone for the rest of the story. Beginning with a powerful statement or dialogue is a great way to grab attention. Remember hook and inciting incident.
2) Start with an interesting flashback. You have already practiced writing flashbacks and are familiar with how powerful they can be. They have the ability to set the reader in the fragmented nature of a character's mind. This is a powerful tool to use when beginning a story.
3) Start with what's at stake. What's the chief crisis of your story? Start with that. Introduce the conflict, a character flaw, a secret, or a memory that pulls the reader in immediately.
4) Don't fall into story starting cliche! Beginning stories with an information dump, boring descriptions, fanciful language, and a needless amount of questions, paths, or characters for a reader to follow are a few ways to disinterest the reader. Don't fall into these traps.
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