Sometimes the hardest part of writing a story is getting started.
I’ve found that in my writing process lately I have a tendency to cut the first couple of chapters of my books. Why you ask? Because I needed to start the story elsewhere. I guess I’m one of those writers who gets to know my characters by writing and then cutting. *g*
In discussing my frustration with a friend about this strange ritual I seem to be doing, she said something that totally worked for me in relation to the best place to start my story:
Start your story where your plot’s conflict and your character’s conflict collide.
*insert light bulb over head* Her explanation made total sense to me, and upon reflection that is what I finally did in each novel that I’d ‘cut’ those first couple chapters. LOL! I just didn’t have a clearly defined way of explaining why I did what I did. Writer’s intuition certainly has its merits. 
Typically, when you start your story at this point, that means your book will open with an intense moment or an action scene, etc…basically a place that throws the reader right in the middle.
What happens when you are thrown right in the middle of something? If you have even one curious bone in your body, you’re going to ‘want’ to know why this character is being chased. Or why that character is hunting another person. Hence, you turn the page and keep reading.
That’s what starting your book in the right place will do—leave the reader intrigued and wanting to know the answers to many unanswered questions, which you’ll unveil as the story unfolds.
Make sense?
Yeah, I know this ‘starting your book in the right place’ advice is easier said than applied, but I think having a clear explanation of ‘where to start’, one that you can relate to, can only help.
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I have a tendency of writing my first scene before I plot out the book, so sometimes I’m left cutting that scene later on. I suppose that’s why it’s always a good idea to write an outline first. 
Great advice, Patrice!
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Ooo. That would help if I knew what my plot conflict and character conflict were. 
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I do think writing on outline does help with that, Julia. Though man, sometimes if you outline too much…with too much detail, it feels like you’ve already written the novel already.
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LOL Charli! You DO know…maybe not consciously, but you know.
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I did the same thing you did with my time travel. It did give me time to get to know my heroine, but all those words.. gone! hehe Even after I chopped 3 chapters away, I recently went through it again and chopped once more.
Maybe one day this story will be publish worthy… after I chop the thing in two! hehe
Thanks for all the advice.
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Dana,
One of the things I do when I cut scenes is I create a “cut scene” folder for that manuscript. I may never go back and use the information, but some of that information can be threaded in later to give your character more depth. I’ve discovered firsthand that if you delete the info all together…that’s the ONE time you wished you’d saved it. So save yourself some potential future grief and save it until you are completely done with the manuscript…and I mean DONE with edits through the publisher, etc. The editor may ask you to go back and “add” some depth in the beginning or later in the story to give more insight into your characters. 
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Oh I keep EVERY version of my ms. hehe I’m so bad about being a pack-rat where my stories are concerned. I have memory sticks full of different versions. Cause you’re right, you never know when you might need the stuff you took out.
I love coming to your blog.
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Hey Dana! I’m glad you keep your stuff. It’s a hard lesson to learn the first time around.
