I've always loved to start my dark tales with a bang, but recently I read that violence to start a story can instead turn a reader off because they have not yet developed feelings for your character, making it difficult for them to care. You know that makes a strange amount of sense to me. So taking it a step further ... what if it is your main character perpetrating the violence? More problematic yet ... what if your protagonist is a bit of an anti-hero? An everyday man who does what is necessary for what he believes in ... right or wrong?
This is making me rethink the opening of my WIP. I would love to hear your thoughts.
MM
I have no problem with it, whatsoever. I would even say that I like it, as long as you provide a good emotional reaction directly following.
ReplyDeleteThat's the dilemma I'm having with my urban fantasy. The MC is an assassin! I think it's a fine line. I start to hint at why she became an assassin later on in the first chapter to try to get the reader more invested into her and her story.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Summer. I love it when a story reaches out and grabs me by the throat. lol It draws me right in and makes me want more.
ReplyDeleteNicole, with an assassin as the MC ... I think I would be disappointed if we didn't start out with some action!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I like to be hooked straight away! I say go for it!
ReplyDeleteI like to hook my reader with a high tension bang right off the start, but the worry is why should the reader care about the character -- a perfect stranger -- with the angst? I think if you write the opening in a way readers will sympathize by simple virtue that they wouldn't want to be in that guys"s shoes, you can't go wrong.
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