Retro Proactive

Last week I was freaking out about The Dirty Book Club. I toiled for days trying to find the ultimate way to start the novel. Actually, the prologue. Which will be a small chapter before the story begins to gives some background information. In this case, it is the scene that shows how the secret book club was formed, who started it, and why.  It is set in California, June 1962. Then it jumps to present day New York City.

I shouldn’t be surprised that the first paragraph took 5 days to write. I was never a 23 year old housewife in a beach town. I wasn’t even born in 1962. So I stopped down and immersed myself in that world. Thank Gawd for the www because I was able to research architecture, interior design, fashion, articles, interviews, etc. The more I learned about that time period the more I was able to put myself in the mindset of a girl who was shown a racy novel for the first time in her life. But nothing helped me more than this:

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I ordered this magazine from a vintage website. It cost 35 cents on the stand in 1962. I paid $49.00 for it plus $15 to have it overnight-ed. But it was worth it. Look at how they ate back then:

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A far cry from Jamba Juice and Sushi.

This piece of fiction really helped me understand what women were up against.

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It’s about this cool tween named Liz who loves to sail boats and fix cars. Her parents are not pleased with her masculine hobbies and would much rather she look pretty and date boys. So they force her to get a makeover. Instead of Liz shaving her head bald and piercing her privates in protest (that’s what I would have done) she goes along with it. She is reluctant at first but when she sees how beautiful she looks she decides they were right. She’s much rather look hot and go to dances than have hobbies or interests. I mean, could you imagine?

The more I researched the more my characters came to life. Some even started speaking to me.  Granted they were whispers but it’s only the beginning. We have the next three months to go deep.

Was it a bout of writer’s block? You betcha. Why? Because writer’s block isn’t a mental condition. It’s a sign from the story Gawds that you have no clue what you’re talking about. Either you don’t know your characters well enough or you’re not sure what to do with them. Figure those things out and your sentences will flow like Liz’s girly new blowout.

Go get inspired.

TTYW

Lisi

P.S. I know I promised to post my first sentence this week but I’ve decided to let it simmer like Macaroni and Ham Bake so I can really make a meal out of it.  I will serve it up big time next Wednesday.

On the menu:

Tips on first sentences and opening paragraphs garnished with examples from The Clique, Monster High, Alphas, Dirty Book Club and The Phoenix Five. Topped off with a pinky swear.