Tag: beginnings

STRONG STARTS: Dawn Miller’s “Howl”

Jun 2, 2022

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by

Ace Baker

in starters, Uncategorized

STRONG STARTS: Dawn Miller’s story “Howl,” in The Things We Leave Behind Storytellers are sometimes tempted to do the “James Bond”—start with a chase scene, an explosion, something quick and frantic to get the heartbeats going. Truth is, the opposite is often more effective. Early on, it’s important to include detailed description so readers can…
STARTERS : Great opening lines from 2013 BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS

Nov 19, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in nonfiction, starters

I picked up a copy of the 2013 BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS, edited by Cheryl Strayed. Here are a few of the best opening lines: On Thanksgiving my father asked me if I wanted to visit the Nazi. –“Keeper of the Flame,” by Matthew Vollmer The first time I heard her I didn’t hear her at…
SIWC Countdown: 10 openings you’ll love!

Oct 15, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork

Ok, it is officially 10 days until SIWC, so I’m beginning a countdown on fighttowrite. Today, here are 10 openings I hope you’ll love: From “Ceiling,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie When Obinze first saw her e-mail, he was sitting in the back of his Land Rover in still Lagos traffic, his jacket slung over the…
Opening paragraphs #005: SUPER CHALLENGE!

Jul 29, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fiction, knockout idea, novels, short stories, writing technique

Let’s do a quick review of our look at beginnings in the past four days: Day one: sharp contrast: tough, tough soft Day two: a bit of mystery Day three: 3-line description that ends with a powerful short line Day four: help NOT wanted; hesitation at interaction And now, on day five, we’re…
Opening paragraphs #004: Help NOT wanted!

Jul 28, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, short stories, writing technique

Have you ever been in a situation where you want to help someone, but they don’t want to be helped? Take a look at this opening by Jess Row in “The Call of Blood“: Mornings he finds Mrs. Kang upright in bed, peeling invisible ginger with an invisible knife. She watches her hands with…
Opening paragraphs #003: Shake it up!

Jul 27, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, power punch, short stories, writing technique

For day three of our investigation of openings, I thought I’d show you one that is powerful, sarcastic, hilarious, and tragic–all at the same time! Check out the beginning to “Property,” by Elizabeth McCracken: The ad should have said, For rent, six-room hovel. Quarter-filled Mrs. Butterworth’s bottle in living room, sandy sheets throughout, lingering…
Opening paragraphs #002: Add a bit of mystery!

Jul 26, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, short stories, writing technique

Let’s jump right into today’s opening paragraph by taking a look at the start of Allegra Goodman’s “La Vita Nuova”: The day her fiance left, Amanda went walking in the Colonial cemetery off Garden Street. The gravestones were so worn that she could hardly read them. They were melting away into the weedy grass.…
Opening paragraphs #001: Strength AND vulnerability, at the same time!

Jul 25, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fiction, novels, power punch, short stories, writing technique

For today’s starting paragraph, I decided to go with one that packs quite a punch. First, read how Megan Mayhew Bergman begins “Housewifely Arts”: I am my own housewife, my own breadwinner. I make lunches and change light bulbs. I kiss bruises and kill copperheads from the backyard creek with a steel hoe. I change…
8 Titles You Can THINK SOMETHING DIFFERENT For. . .

Jul 4, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fiction, knockout idea, novels, poetry, short stories, standing 8 count

In the July / August 2013 Report on Business, Eric Reguly has an article titled “STORAGE WARS,” but it’s not about the TV show where people buy abandoned storage lockers in the hopes of finding treasure. It’s actually aboput Big Oil’s reserves and what would happen to them if we stopped “burning the stuff…
Sara Dailey week #002: Character and pathos

Jun 25, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, nonfiction, novels, short stories, writing technique

In “The Memory Train,” Sara Dailey begins by describing a man, Phineas Gage, a railroad worker who survived after a large iron rod punctured his left frontal lobe. The bleached bone shows a jagged U above the empty hollow of the left eye’s socket, bone that never again seamlessly met other bone. It…