Berkley McGee
asked
Veronica Roth:
What are some good ways to start a book? No good ideas are coming to mind and I don’t really know what to do. Any advice?
Veronica Roth
Start with the first scene you want to write. It may not be the beginning you will ultimately need, but that doesn't matter. Just pick a spot and start.
I always start my stories in the wrong place. I usually write 50-75 unnecessary pages at the beginning of a book so that I can feel my way into it. It annoys me that I do this, because it feels like a waste of time, but it's the only way that works for me. Only when I have a rough draft can I look back and see where the story really needs to begin. So my point is, you're not going to magically come up with the perfect beginning for a story-- you need to just tell the story as it comes to you, and worry about its starting place later.
I always start my stories in the wrong place. I usually write 50-75 unnecessary pages at the beginning of a book so that I can feel my way into it. It annoys me that I do this, because it feels like a waste of time, but it's the only way that works for me. Only when I have a rough draft can I look back and see where the story really needs to begin. So my point is, you're not going to magically come up with the perfect beginning for a story-- you need to just tell the story as it comes to you, and worry about its starting place later.
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