revealed quite a lot of intersting prompts, that would be all interesting to write about ... but for today it could be only one. It's the start of April and the start of the challenge, so what's better than to write about beginnings.
Oh, btw: My ABC list is written in German and I'm going to use the German words!
A for Anfang = start/beginning!
If you belong to that species of book lovers then you'll might know that wonderful feeling holding a brand new book in your hands. The excitement, the expectations. You know, the moment you open the book is like opening a magical door, then you begin to read the first lines and you enter a world filled with unknown places, different times and new friends. I love beginnings ... as a reader!
From a writer's point of view the perspective changes a little bit. Now it's on you to create exactly that kind of magic, that draws your reader into your story.
I'd like to ask you: How many pages do you read before you buy a book? Does that influence you, if you buy the book or not? And later on: Do you always finish a book? How many pages do you grant the author before you finally decide to stop?
I ask for two reasons:
First of all: I belong to that category of readers, who always finish a book. And according to my motto 'Always give a second chance, but no third.', even if I don't like a book, I would try another book from the same author.
Second, and more important: There are many advices for openings, like Amie Kaufman's What Does Your First Page Say About You? And Judy Hedlund writes in her article Potential First Chapter Problems, that the first 15 pages are essential. Your first chapter should start with kind of a bang, else you run the risk to lose your readers (or even get rebuffed by an agent).
I was wondering: Is that so? With really every book? Every story? Every genre?
What about romance or comedy? Even horror delivers a great example: Stephen King. He's known as the Master of Horror, but if you know his books, he's also very talented for lengthily descriptions and procrastination. Very often there's no big bang at the beginning, instead you have to turn patiently 50, 100, 200 or even many more pages until the final showdown.
I totally agree, it's advantageous to have a grand opening, but I would also say, that's no a general rule! It's said, don't judge a book by its cover. I would also say, don't judge a book by its first 15 pages!
All right, that was my start ... no 15 pages, but hopefully good enough for you to come back?!? See you then tomorrow with the letter B!
Well my B posting addresses my relationship with books specifically. I have an 80 page rule. If I don't care about the story or the characters in that window, I move on. Too many books and too few years to read them makes me brutal but not unreasonable. 80 pages seems fair.
Good luck with the challenge
Elaine
Http://mynext20yearsofliving.blogspot.com
I am glad I am not the only one borrowing from another alphabet. Although I am not everyday just on certain days. I always finish a book. Regardless of how much I hate it. I don't know why but I can't NOT finish it. However I can read very quickly so I can finish a 400 page novel in a matter of hours so I can get through a book I don't like pretty quickly.I am weird like that I know.
Stopping by from the Challeng!
Dafeenah
Schönen guten Tag! Mein Deutsch ist nicht mehr sehr gut, also gehts jetzt in English weiter...
I just found you on Arlee Bird's site and saw that you are in Germany where I was born and raised.
I now scan reviews before buying a book but used to skim through a book to get a good taste, not just the first few pages.
All the best for the A-Z challenge!
Petra
Hi Elaine,
your title for B sounds quite promising ... I'll step by tomorrow! :-)
Good luck for the challenge, to you, too!
Hi Dafeenah,
'I can't NOT finish it' ... that's exactly the lines I would use. I remember the days, when a friend's mother gave me a book to read, a book I would NEVER read! But I did it, not only out of respect for that woman. I simply couldn't NOT finish it ... even when my eyes feel asleep after every second page! *sigh* But people are different, aren't they?
Hi Petra,
your German is good! But feel free to use the language you feel most comfortable with! :-)
Where from Germany are you?
Wish you a good challenge, too! :-)
I total belong to that club about readers. Loved your post. Already follow you for other posts but will follow for A-Z as well.
Lisa
InspiredbyLisa
I love that you're following this challenge with German words!
I have a lot of favourite authors and categories, so when buying a book I don't usually read more than the back cover.
I don't think I've ever not finished a book once I've started reading it. It may take me a while, but I'll stick with it to the end.
Hi Lisa,
thanks a lot for following! :-) Hope you enjoy reading! Wish you a wonderful weekend!
Hi Carol,
I've just made a virtue out of necessity, it's simply easier to think in your mother tongue and your vocabulary is bigger! *lol*
Obviously ... *hmm* ... are writers in general passionate readers? Would be interesting to know, how 'normal readers' think about that question?!?!
If I don't like a book, I'll skim and speedread my way to the end. Just to see what happens. And I'm your #25 follower, yay!!
KarenG
This is interesting. Well, I am sure you know which person I am. I can get to page 250, and if I am bored, I will stop reading and find something more interesting to do. I wonder which it is for you as a writer? Do you think of a grand opening or do you carefully plan a plot that slowly unfolds as you get deeper into the book?
Hi KarenG,
welcome to my blog! Hope you enjoy reading here!
Speedreading ... good alternative, I wished I could do that, too!
Hi Bri,
that's exactly the question I'm dealing with my current writing project. At the moment I have that second option of a slowly unfolding plot, but I'm thinking of a way of how to include an epilogue or something to get more tenison on that first few pages!