It all started with a map
I go to a writing group once a week, and I love it. We sit at an outdoor restaurant and order drinks with lots of ice and strange names like kombucha. A wise person said: there are 2 elements to being a good writer. Having a good story, and telling it in an engaging way. I suppose I agree. I'm reading a book about a massacre of over 100 people in the 1800's. It's a true story. But it's so dry and involves so many characters eye witnesses that I can't keep up, even though I've read other books on the event.
I should be very involved in the book, the tragedy happened at a place that is about an hour or so from where I used to live in Utah. Men from my town were involved, albeit over 100 years ago. It's a big fat book, and it was recommended by a friend who's family is from the area. My husband's great (how many greats?) grandfather came across the scene afterwards, he helped bury some of the dead. This book is supposed to be amazing because it sets the stage of how this terrible thing could happen. It explains how we can't judge those people, because we never walked in their shoes. That's what drew me in. But it was too comprehensive for me. Too many details.
On the other side of things: someone in my group is writing a book that requires research on a subject, and they said they had to leave some facts out. Because they were so bizarre that it would be hard for the reader to believe.
I went to this writing group to hear some success stories, and to make friends. My third hidden agenda was to learn of how people handle the rejection. Most successful writers went through outstanding rejection. Another person in the group said that their story was rejected because the magazine already had other stories that were more memorable. It's all about the audience, right? If you write about a famous actor going to the bathroom, everyone is interested. If you write about a 1 year old going to the bathroom, only another parent with a 1 year old will be attentive for the whole story. If you go to the bathroom.... don't write about it. Chances are even your doctor doesn't want all the details. Just... Don't... My point is, what is common every day life for some of us is entirely new and wonderous to others. I met a lady once that I thought was kind of boring. It turned out that boring was a side effect of leaving a great tragedy behind you. She needed to talk about normal, safe things. So I've just got to stop judging!
I am captivated by the idea of the opening line. It's like a form of marketing. Give the reader something they can believe in. Where do you start?? That's my question. I figured out my first 4 books, if you count this blog as a book. Now I just have to start writing. I like this blog because it takes out the Process of writing a book. Maybe I'm not an author, and playing with words isn't a useful hobby. I don't know any more. I know how to blog. I wanted to share my Costa Rica experiences. If I were to write a book about it, I would start with the line: It all started with a map and a steaming cup of mocha mint coffee.
Which brings me to my other point. This blog is to help my friends feel like they went with me. It's supposed to inspire them to find, believe in, and follow a big dream of their own. But I've taken them through this adventure, and being memorable isn't as easy as it was for the first 4 months. Once we decide to settle down to a semi-normal life, the blog will be over. So it's a good thing we're getting on a plane to Europe in 2 weeks! Because no one wants to read what is essentially my journal. They want to read about crocodiles eating someone's dog. And iguanas being in every other tree. And epic hikes along the rocky beaches in Costa Rica. (Which was yesterday, another sunset hike that blew my mind, and blew out Ron's knee). Where is my incentive to settle down? Maybe then I will get serious about my books.
I should be very involved in the book, the tragedy happened at a place that is about an hour or so from where I used to live in Utah. Men from my town were involved, albeit over 100 years ago. It's a big fat book, and it was recommended by a friend who's family is from the area. My husband's great (how many greats?) grandfather came across the scene afterwards, he helped bury some of the dead. This book is supposed to be amazing because it sets the stage of how this terrible thing could happen. It explains how we can't judge those people, because we never walked in their shoes. That's what drew me in. But it was too comprehensive for me. Too many details.
On the other side of things: someone in my group is writing a book that requires research on a subject, and they said they had to leave some facts out. Because they were so bizarre that it would be hard for the reader to believe.
I went to this writing group to hear some success stories, and to make friends. My third hidden agenda was to learn of how people handle the rejection. Most successful writers went through outstanding rejection. Another person in the group said that their story was rejected because the magazine already had other stories that were more memorable. It's all about the audience, right? If you write about a famous actor going to the bathroom, everyone is interested. If you write about a 1 year old going to the bathroom, only another parent with a 1 year old will be attentive for the whole story. If you go to the bathroom.... don't write about it. Chances are even your doctor doesn't want all the details. Just... Don't... My point is, what is common every day life for some of us is entirely new and wonderous to others. I met a lady once that I thought was kind of boring. It turned out that boring was a side effect of leaving a great tragedy behind you. She needed to talk about normal, safe things. So I've just got to stop judging!
I am captivated by the idea of the opening line. It's like a form of marketing. Give the reader something they can believe in. Where do you start?? That's my question. I figured out my first 4 books, if you count this blog as a book. Now I just have to start writing. I like this blog because it takes out the Process of writing a book. Maybe I'm not an author, and playing with words isn't a useful hobby. I don't know any more. I know how to blog. I wanted to share my Costa Rica experiences. If I were to write a book about it, I would start with the line: It all started with a map and a steaming cup of mocha mint coffee.
Which brings me to my other point. This blog is to help my friends feel like they went with me. It's supposed to inspire them to find, believe in, and follow a big dream of their own. But I've taken them through this adventure, and being memorable isn't as easy as it was for the first 4 months. Once we decide to settle down to a semi-normal life, the blog will be over. So it's a good thing we're getting on a plane to Europe in 2 weeks! Because no one wants to read what is essentially my journal. They want to read about crocodiles eating someone's dog. And iguanas being in every other tree. And epic hikes along the rocky beaches in Costa Rica. (Which was yesterday, another sunset hike that blew my mind, and blew out Ron's knee). Where is my incentive to settle down? Maybe then I will get serious about my books.
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