Subverting expectations is very effective when used aptly and sparingly. It's like the satisfaction we feel when a magician fools us, or when we don't anticipate the punchline of a joke. Starting at the end got my attention because it subtly promises we're listening to a competent wordsmith with a sense of irony. I'm subscribing!
Practical advice. I'm reading Hemingway's Moveable Feast now. Well, it's in my lap as I text this. He makes little promises about meetings with remarkable folk, then delivers. It feels sleazy, but in a way that blesses the sleaze and gives me permission to think Gertrude Stein had her head up her bum.
@@Fairviewoflife2606I felt similar… how can one twist that which hasn’t yet been established? Perhaps conventional norms are being twisted-like Santa Claus stealing presents from under trees on Xmas eve, which could feel like a page one twist.
I read a book that I'd heard a lot of that made me put it right down! It started with some nonsense, like: "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them!" I mean, what kind of BS is that? I thought The Lord of the Flies was supposed to be a book about the collapse of society into chaos when dumb children are put in charge, not a 1500 page long poetry about rings!
Here is an example of a bad story opening. 1. Howling VII. Just the title makes the audience want to avoid watching the movie. They already know what its going to be about. 2. Here is a good example of a story opening, one you have never heard about before - you turn to religion for inspiration, because religion is still unpredictable in 2024 and that is why Richard Dawkins says its still evil. So go for it. Try there. A good example of how to start a religious themed novel with a horrifying twist is to make it be a sci - fi story about an alien who is a usurper. People are terrified of usurpers, not of a bunch of werewolves in the middle of the desert in another country than the one they live in. Now, imagine an alien usurper - an extraterrestrial usurper and you have a good plot. 3. Make the name of your story easy to remember so you can repeat it - nobody cares how to spell ´Howling VII´. But they can spell 2001; a Space Oddyssey with ease.
@@duncanosis6773 I'm looking forward to bingeing the rest of your content soon as I am able. I'm close to finishing my current project and I am hoping to get it published after I've revised it.
I know you say not to reference successful stories that contradict your points, but when GAME OF THRONES goes against your second point in the very first book, and went on to redefine the fantasy genre... I suppose a Prologue is allowed some leeway, eh?
GRRM had 25 of goodwill as an author before publishing Game of Thrones. You're proving his point; he had built up trust with his fans already, and he can ask a little more of them. I'm guessing you haven't published 6 well-loved fantasy books, along with countless stories featured in dozens of anthologies like GRRM had in 1996. Comparing your unpublished debut manuscript to seminal/popular works ("JRR Tolkien did it, so I can too!") is a painfully amateur writer sentiment. Go to any writer convention, and you'll hear this over and over from unpublished writers. You're not George R.R. Martin.
Ironically, by opening the video with the ending, it grabbed my attention.
Subverting expectations is very effective when used aptly and sparingly. It's like the satisfaction we feel when a magician fools us, or when we don't anticipate the punchline of a joke. Starting at the end got my attention because it subtly promises we're listening to a competent wordsmith with a sense of irony. I'm subscribing!
It was a dark and stormy night...
... My toe was floating in a bowl of scrambled eggs
… A bucket of melted icecream covered my head
…if I had an ounce of sense, I would have stayed in bed
It was the best of times! It was the blurst of times!
Practical advice. I'm reading Hemingway's Moveable Feast now. Well, it's in my lap as I text this. He makes little promises about meetings with remarkable folk, then delivers. It feels sleazy, but in a way that blesses the sleaze and gives me permission to think Gertrude Stein had her head up her bum.
Hemingway is my favorite writer who I don’t really like that much 😂
I find starting with a big twist works wonders. Nobody expects the biggest plot twist on the first page!
How can one start a story with a plot twist? 🤔 Please tell me as that can be a very interesting story starter🙏
@@Fairviewoflife2606 Easy. Start story. Twist immediately!
@@Fairviewoflife2606 Natural talent.
@@Fairviewoflife2606I felt similar… how can one twist that which hasn’t yet been established? Perhaps conventional norms are being twisted-like Santa Claus stealing presents from under trees on Xmas eve, which could feel like a page one twist.
@@BooksForever My chain of thoughts exactly😅
Thank you for making effective advice accessible :)
Glad it was helpful!
The night was sultry…
I read a book that I'd heard a lot of that made me put it right down! It started with some nonsense, like: "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them!"
I mean, what kind of BS is that? I thought The Lord of the Flies was supposed to be a book about the collapse of society into chaos when dumb children are put in charge, not a 1500 page long poetry about rings!
Here is an example of a bad story opening. 1. Howling VII. Just the title makes the audience want to avoid watching the movie. They already know what its going to be about. 2. Here is a good example of a story opening, one you have never heard about before - you turn to religion for inspiration, because religion is still unpredictable in 2024 and that is why Richard Dawkins says its still evil. So go for it. Try there. A good example of how to start a religious themed novel with a horrifying twist is to make it be a sci - fi story about an alien who is a usurper. People are terrified of usurpers, not of a bunch of werewolves in the middle of the desert in another country than the one they live in. Now, imagine an alien usurper - an extraterrestrial usurper and you have a good plot. 3. Make the name of your story easy to remember so you can repeat it - nobody cares how to spell ´Howling VII´. But they can spell 2001; a Space Oddyssey with ease.
I aboslutely love all your advice and videos mate.
I appreciate that!
Don't start with the what, start with the so-what.
Definetly stayed because of your opening.
Great advice!
Thanks!
Iran, I drank, therefore but the grass of Todd
Subscribed. 🖋
Awesome, thank you!
@@duncanosis6773 I'm looking forward to bingeing the rest of your content soon as I am able. I'm close to finishing my current project and I am hoping to get it published after I've revised it.
I know you say not to reference successful stories that contradict your points, but when GAME OF THRONES goes against your second point in the very first book, and went on to redefine the fantasy genre...
I suppose a Prologue is allowed some leeway, eh?
GRRM had 25 of goodwill as an author before publishing Game of Thrones. You're proving his point; he had built up trust with his fans already, and he can ask a little more of them.
I'm guessing you haven't published 6 well-loved fantasy books, along with countless stories featured in dozens of anthologies like GRRM had in 1996.
Comparing your unpublished debut manuscript to seminal/popular works ("JRR Tolkien did it, so I can too!") is a painfully amateur writer sentiment. Go to any writer convention, and you'll hear this over and over from unpublished writers. You're not George R.R. Martin.
ffs get on with it. first rule, make me want to move forward.