Wednesday, November 13, 2013

A Simple Writing Rule That Does Not Mean What You Think It Means

One of the greatest benefits of eBooks is the fact that it has opened the market to writers all over the world to start publishing their own novels and stories. Because the online publication process has no upfront costs, you don't have to have a lot of capital to get started. However, the one thing that you must have when you're trying to break into the fiction writing market is a good story. When writing good stories, you may turn to a number of classes and recommendations from other writers to get advice. However, there's one simple writing rule that even some of the worst writers follow, and that writing rule does not actually mean what you think it means.
Start in the Middle of the Action
One of the most often cited rules of good story telling requires starting in the middle of the action. The mindset behind this particular rule is that the action automatically lures the readers in and makes them want to know more. But this rule runs a great risk, and oftentimes, writers apply it so stringently that they strangle their own stories.
Capturing your readers' interest is essential for getting them to continue reading. Whether your readers are reading on a Nook tablet,7 inch tablet or on a hard copy, you must give them a reason to turn the page. However, you must make sure that you do not make them so confused that they decide to put the book down and find something else that's more accessible.
What This Rule Actually Means
Starting in the middle of the action does not mean that you must start at the most crucial point in the story. Remember that you need to leave something to build up to, and, more importantly, you need to make sure that your readers understand and care about what's going on. So instead of starting in the middle of the most exciting action, hunt for a point that your readers will want to know more about and that you can use to introduce them to the conflict.
Contextual is as important in a novel as the characterization and the plot itself. Without context, the rain pouring down at the beginning of the story could indicate the coming of a flood or the end of a drought. This could be a cause for terror or hope, depending on the context of the story. Make sure that you provide enough context in the beginning of your story or novel to make that gripping information more powerful.
Give Yourself Alternative Starts
Writers sometimes lock themselves into a single beginning or formation of events. Lose that mindset. You may find your best introduction and beginning when you actually break away and try different starting points and points of view. Experiment with the context that you give. Then look to see which one is the most effective for drawing the readers into your story.
One of the most common rules in writing is to start in the middle of the action. The advice is not necessarily bad, but it can become problematic when the writer starts in the middle of the action without providing any context. The result from this is that the readers may be confused, and they may not want to continue journeying through the story to get that necessary context. Instead, start at a point where your readers can gain context and perspective. You may find that it works better if you try multiple beginnings. From here, you can determine which one actually accomplishes your goals better and makes the readers want to know more.
The author is associated with Nook which is a leading digital e-reader tablet, 7 inch tablet, e-book etc. provider.

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