Getting started

I'm a big believer in writing a thorough outline before ever starting a book (and I give my reasons in that section). But sometimes I know the exact place or words that start my next novel and I'll write that before I do the outline.

It should go without saying that your opening should be great, but really think about that and be hypercritical. People very often send me a chunk of their book from some middle chapter because they believe, often correctly, that it's the best part of the book. And it often is great. So I challenge them to make the first paragraph just as great. Remember: agents, editors and readers often pick up a book and decide on that first page if they're going to continue.

The longer I write and the more I learn, the less run-up I do to a story, and in fact try to drop the reader into the middle of a great scene. If they have to play a little catch-up, I feel that's better than having them hang around waiting for the story to begin. Here's the first lines of my last novel. I don't hold it up as a perfect example by any means, but it definitely starts "in media res" as the old scribes advised.

FROM " target="_blank">TORTUGA GOLD

Taz Keaton, muscular, tanned, and shirtless, squeezed harder on the throttle and tried like hell to get a little more speed out of the outboard. But the forty-horse Yamaha was already wide open and screaming like James Brown as it blasted his tiny narrow boat up the Central American river. He squinted through the warm and windblown spray for any sign of the crashed chartered jet in the river or the thick jungle canopy of tropical trees and plants that loomed over it, but saw no clues as to where he would earn his three million dollars.

"Not looking good, Buddy," he yelled to his friend and partner who bounced along in the bow like a kid in the back of a pickup.

Gordon Windsor, his five-day stubble a dark contrast to Taz's strong, smooth face, turned and yelled back. "Yeah, but if you forget about that lucky break we had last year in Cambodia I think 'not looking good' is about as good as it ever looks."

"That's a point. Keep a close watch for survivors, too, maybe a pilot or crew member who's been busted up but is still alive."

"Will do. Not likely though."