First Sentences

As writers we are constantly trying to hook our readers and make them keep reading. We want them to read that first chapter and decide right then and there that they can't put the book down. However, it doesn't just start with the first chapter, or paragraph. It's that very first line.

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Seriously, I read agents blogs all the time and know they decide extremely quick if the book is worth reading more of or not. So, we need to hook them instantly, within that very first sentence.

This was something I had not pondered too much until I read this post by Jodi Meadows over on WriteOnCon last year. After that I revisited my WIPs only to realize my first lines were duds. Serious duds. I'm currently working on them, and maybe I will share them with you at a later date - when they don't stink so much.

All of this first line thinking had me pondering the first lines from currently HOT books. I thought I would share a few with you today. I haven't read all of them yet, but can you guess why they have taken up residence on my Kindle?

"The screw through Cinder's ankle had rusted, the engraved cross marks worn to a mangled circle."

Cinder by Marissa Meyer 

"They called the world beyond the walls of the Pod 'the Death Shop.'"  

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi 

"The moment she saw the young man walking down the darkened hall toward her, twirling his walking stick, Finley Jayne knew she'd be unemployed before the sun rose."  

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross 

"'You don't want to kill me,' I said."  

Clarity by Kim Harrington 

"I've been locked up for 264 days."  

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 

"There is one mirror in my house."  

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Your Turn -> Tell us your favorite first line.

Balancing Writing and Summer Vacation

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Balancing every day life and writing can be challenging, especially during the summer months for those with children. To keep myself on track I do monthly evaluations of my writing progress to see what I accomplished the previous month and create goals for the coming month. When I first began this evaluation process I had a tendency to set lofty writing goals. Over time I have adjusted to more realistic goals.

When I opened my planner early this week I realized I am way behind my anticipated goal. So far behind I have been forced to re-evaluate my current plan of attack. I would like to have my current wip polished in time for WriteOnCon.

When I set this goal back in May I truly believed I had more than enough time, possibly time to start polishing a different project. This got me thinking of how I would meet my writing goals. 

Here are five ways I've decided to use as means to meet this rather lofty goal.

1. Schedule Time To Write - Set aside time each day to write and stick to it. Don't schedule other activities at that time. Being summer sticking to the same time each day is difficult. Try varying the times each day.

2. Hold Yourself Accountable - This works great with critique partners. Talk weekly and ask each other how you are doing.

3. Set Goals - Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals. This is something I find difficult during the summer months. Vacations and kids at home slow down the writing tremendously. Make sure your goals are not too outrageous. Keep them realistic for the situation.

4. Reward Yourself - It could be celebrating with a brownie or cupcake. Or even going out to lunch or dinner as a celebration. There's always my personal favorite, buying more books.

5. Ignore The Internet - (This is the one I'm finding the most difficult to adhere to.) Don't allow yourself to check your emails or log on to the various social networks you use until after you have met your daily goal.

What are some ways you balance writing during summer vacation?

Let's Begin

Once a week I go for a kickboxing class. I’ve been doing this for a couple of months. When I’m in that class I try to be all fly, like the instructor. I try to kick as high as I can. I try to keep my punches and cross jabs sharp and clean. I try to bend low and jump tall. The word to keep in mind is try. I try and most of the times I don’t make it.

Those sixty minutes are tough. Forget the sharp punches. I’m happy if I manage to move my arms. Forget those ambitious kicks. I’m glad to just be on my feet. My kickboxing instructor, both intimidating and inspiring, encourages, shouts in my ear and pushes me. She does everything she can so that at the end of the sixty minutes I know I’ve tried my best. Exhausted, with that burn in my legs, when I exit the class, I feel better. I feel better even though I know I could have worked harder. Punched harder. Kicked harder. I even rate myself sometimes. 3/10. 5/10. 4/10. But when I leave the class, no matter, how low the rating, I feel better than before I entered the class.

It wasn’t always like that. In the middle of my kicks and jabs, I used to tell myself that I should have got this down by now. I know the routine. I’m building strength. I should have the stamina. I would be so dejected that I wasn’t getting better that some weeks I’d skip class because going to class made me feel worse. But then, the next morning, I’d feel even worse that I didn’t go to class. That I didn’t try. That I wasn’t taking the steps to become better.

So somehow I learned to leave judgment at the door. When I was in class I silenced my inner voice. I listened only to the instructor. At the end of the hour, I made only one promise. That I would return. And when I returned, I made only one promise. That I would stay.

It’s the same with our writing. Whatever you may call it –Butt in Chair. Two pages a day. One hour in the morning. It’s okay if you type nonsense those 60 minutes. It’s okay if you miss one day. It’s okay if you aren’t able to make it to the fifty-fifth minute. It’s okay if you get distracted by the view outside your window. Just get back there the next day. Put your shoes on. Bend your knees and start fresh with those cross jabs. All that matters is that you are there, trying, learning, improving, every day. Just doing it day after day, even when it seems tough and feels impossible. As long as you are doing it there is the chance that you are improving, becoming better at your craft, finishing that first draft and polishing that last revision.

So as my kickboxing instructor says, “Let’s begin.”

Words To Avoid

One of the best things that ever happened to my writing was joining a critique group.

Why?

They catch all of those pesky little words that I use too much, or words I really should not use at all. I edited that last sentence of those words and then added them in to show you how often and easily they creep into my writing.

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I have a short list in "Currently Editing" folder.

• that
• just
• seem
• like
• really
• feel
• start
• already
• felt 
• very

This worked fine - for a while. Then a few months back I read a post by Rachelle Gardner about cutting words. Although her post was about cutting words in an attempt to cut word count, I applied it to advice I've seen numerous times on agent and editor blogs.

Cut unnecessary words. 

 
Every word counts. 

Gardner gives a list which I have now plucked more words from to add to my own list. 

• actually
• almost
• appears
• basically
• close to
• eventually 
• exactly
• finally
• kind of
• nearly
• practically
• simply
• somehow
• somewhat
• suddenly
• truly
• utterly

She lists more, but these are the ones which tend to sneak into my writing more than the others.  And, leaving them out only tightens my sentences.

Your Turn -> What words sneak into your writing too often? 

Authors and Books that Take You Places!

Kimberly Ann Miller is the author of the forthcoming Paranormal YA Triangles  published by Spencer Hill Press. Welcome Kimmy! We here at TheWritersbytheshore blog believe in BIC (butt in chair), but we also think that writing (and life) should take us and our readers to fun destinations. So here we go...

Tell us a little about your book. Will we need our passports?

Absolutely! Here is the blurb from Spencer Hill Press’s website:

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess? 

Wow! Sounds great. So, if I was going to have dinner with your main character, what exotic locale would we be dining at?

Either on the ship out in the beautiful open sea, or on the amazing island of Bermuda.

Who is the character you would vote as "Most likely not to make it through customs" and why?

Hmm…Probably Marcus, because he would be the one to try to smuggle some alcohol in his carry-on!

If your main character was stranded on a desert island, what would be an essential travel item for them to take along?

A satellite phone to call someone to pick her up!

What advice would you offer to other writers embarking on their own writing adventure?

Be persistent and never give up. Breaking into publishing takes time, effort, and desire. Hone your craft, get yourself some wonderful critique partners, and take criticism with grace. I learned early on to listen to the advice of other writers because we share the same goal—to make my manuscript the best it can be. Most of all, enjoy the journey! There are amazing people out there all over the internet ready, willing, and able to help out!

Thanks, Kimmy and Bon Voyage!

Toni De Palma
http://www.tonidepalma.com/