tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post6997888986148718291..comments2023-12-11T12:54:31.808-06:00Comments on My Writing Life: The wonder of beginningsJulia Honeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-63725105623099039622012-06-30T10:27:21.546-05:002012-06-30T10:27:21.546-05:00I think I corrected the issue. Let me know.I think I corrected the issue. Let me know.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-29056928831672000192012-06-30T10:26:47.301-05:002012-06-30T10:26:47.301-05:00Good point, Leigh.Good point, Leigh.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-16535271317906276082012-06-30T10:26:32.228-05:002012-06-30T10:26:32.228-05:00Good point. Certain beginnings can be very powerfu...Good point. Certain beginnings can be very powerful and draw you to the story.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-88237481474326175072012-06-29T22:53:25.648-05:002012-06-29T22:53:25.648-05:00Great examples. Slow beginnings are rough. I hate ...Great examples. Slow beginnings are rough. I hate when you have to push 5 chapters through a book before you start to enjoy it. Not fun. Important to have your reading intrigued from the first line!Leigh Covingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377634002477171615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-72150335596385415022012-06-26T20:27:00.122-05:002012-06-26T20:27:00.122-05:00You're right that first paragraph is so vital....You're right that first paragraph is so vital. As is that very first sentence. I like simple but powerful.Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-32344494659346145732012-06-26T02:14:49.103-05:002012-06-26T02:14:49.103-05:00Sorry to weigh in, Julia... but I second this! I&#...Sorry to weigh in, Julia... but I second this! I've lost a few comments to you because the word verification can be difficult. I've got great eye sight, but even I have difficulty making out some of thoe words and letters. In trying to be too smart for machines,the system winds up being too 'smart'for humans, too. : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-78000098069312277192012-06-25T14:26:05.461-05:002012-06-25T14:26:05.461-05:00Thanks Elizabeth. It's good to know you find i...Thanks Elizabeth. It's good to know you find it useful. Enjoy your challenge!Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-1165084988905582392012-06-25T11:17:51.829-05:002012-06-25T11:17:51.829-05:00These were great examples, and this post comes at ...These were great examples, and this post comes at an excellent time: I'm trying to come up with a compelling opening for the next rewrite of my MG mystery.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-66598308033668677202012-06-24T06:20:53.627-05:002012-06-24T06:20:53.627-05:00Thanks Rick. I don't even know why that verifi...Thanks Rick. I don't even know why that verification is there. I never asked for it. I will have to figure out how to get rid of it, I suppose.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-56739425129395352762012-06-24T06:19:18.385-05:002012-06-24T06:19:18.385-05:00Thanks for the book recommendation, Rick. And I ag...Thanks for the book recommendation, Rick. And I agree with you. When I write my articles I try to write a good first paragraph to catch the reader's attention. Excellent point!Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-49354517309321977022012-06-24T06:17:33.271-05:002012-06-24T06:17:33.271-05:00I agree, Michelle. Beginnings are not always a hoo...I agree, Michelle. Beginnings are not always a hook. We need to dig deeper. I chose these beginnings because I thought they were good.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-60846001713387036772012-06-24T06:16:34.377-05:002012-06-24T06:16:34.377-05:00Interesting beginnings, Kimberly. Thanks for shari...Interesting beginnings, Kimberly. Thanks for sharing them.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-51455691356047734382012-06-24T06:16:01.387-05:002012-06-24T06:16:01.387-05:00Sometimes good beginnings make us feel as though w...Sometimes good beginnings make us feel as though we are about to embark on a journey...we don't want to miss it.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-88031592495016115342012-06-21T19:16:06.565-05:002012-06-21T19:16:06.565-05:00Another thought for your blog - I'd lose the w...Another thought for your blog - I'd lose the word verification. The spam guard captures 99 % of the spam so I find the word verification unnecessary on my blog.Rick Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-54023520570737289922012-06-21T19:14:12.949-05:002012-06-21T19:14:12.949-05:00I've never tried to write fiction, but I want ...I've never tried to write fiction, but I want to. I find your discussion interesting. I do write columns and features for newspapers and magazines, ad I can tell you beginnings make the difference in your story being read, or scanned before flipping to the comics.<br />I read a book recently by Sol Stein called Sol Stein on Writing and he gave very specific techniques on how to improve your writing.<br />Thanks.Rick Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-89653426042638424172012-06-21T17:11:32.874-05:002012-06-21T17:11:32.874-05:00Great post, always interesting to analyze beginnin...Great post, always interesting to analyze beginnings. From many books I love, the beginnings dont grip me. Yes, interesting <br />I suck at writing beginnings <br />XxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-41609705561857185292012-06-21T10:22:47.353-05:002012-06-21T10:22:47.353-05:00Great post, Julia! There are two books I read rece...Great post, Julia! There are two books I read recently and immediately fell in love with the opening sentences: "Bernadette had been dead two weeks when her sisters showed up in Doyle’s living room asking for the statue back." in Ann Patchett's 'Run', and; "Though I often looked for one, I finally had to admit there could be no cure for Paris." in Paula McLain's 'The Paris Wife'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-17559322876716471722012-06-21T06:23:08.678-05:002012-06-21T06:23:08.678-05:00Good beginnings are essential, and your examples a...Good beginnings are essential, and your examples are superb. I have been teaching writing for many years, and I cannot stress enough to my students the importance of that <i>hook.</i> I also agree that less-than-captivating openings often compel us to look no further.JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14692103477055483000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-76256225198558650362012-06-21T05:51:43.236-05:002012-06-21T05:51:43.236-05:00Hi Richard. I'm glad you like the choices I ma...Hi Richard. I'm glad you like the choices I made for the blog entry.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390949438490935682.post-82622501800757506252012-06-20T19:17:19.626-05:002012-06-20T19:17:19.626-05:00These are all well-written and compelling first pa...These are all well-written and compelling first paragraphs. Not sure I could ever write anything as well written as these are.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.com