How to Start a Story | Reedsy Live

Have you ever wondered why some stories dazzle instantly while others fail to capture your attention? What makes a book unputdownable from page one?
In this class, author and editor Oksana Marafioti will reveal techniques that help create effective story beginnings.
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[@oracleofaltoona]

Just started listening to this presentation and I can already tell that Oksana has it all. She is succinctly going over some basic information at the beginning and , for someone like me who is already familiar with this info, her approach is fresh and interesting. I am really looking forward to her info on openings! Thank you Oksana and Reedsy.

[@kit888]

00:01 Viewers join in 05:00 Presentation starts 06:00 Learn by reading books and watching movies 07:00 Three act structure 10:50 Act 1 basics - where to open, how to open, what to put in, how to close 11:20 How to get a story started Introduce desire, danger, decision Establish type of story, genre Start with a day that is different, start with an arrival, start with a fight 14:10 01 Where to open: Change Change is trouble, trigger for continuing consequences, set off chain reaction, build conflict, lead to intolerable state of affairs (protagonist can't obtain desire) Formula for conflict. Existing situation + affected character + consequences = desire+ danger Stronger desire and danger to it = stronger beginning Start just before, during, or right after change. Building the beginning around change - situation, change, character, consequences Don't make the problem too easy Opening with change: potential problems - too far before change (bored by backstory), during change (lacks context/perspective), too far after change (need to explain a lot later) 21:15 02 How to open: first paragraphs Make reader want more information Open with a theme, striking character action, setting of tone, play with narrative time frame, introduce narrator's voice Can be ignored in first draft First lines - unique hook, unanticipated, deviation from routine, a change about to happen, inordinate attention to commonplace 28:05 03 What to put in Create a story world, start with blank reader's mind Pinpoint the significant Create significance by association Use symbolism Where am I? What's going on? Who am I? 38:45 A bit more about beginnings Have a goal Threaten the goal 41:15 04 How to close beginning, when does beginning end? Protagonist commits to face the danger This decision links to story's core, follows through to end of story 44:20 Q&A

[@inzerinzer5425]

Thank you

[@CharlieHorse4363]

Not all heroes wear capes ☝

[@chetanjoshi7183]

Thanks. I learned a lot. Had ideas bursting to life in my mind while I was watching.

[@MrVijayl]

Unfortunately, I missed it online so had to turn to recorded version. What a wonderful session that was! Oksana emphatically forwarded her ideas. Superb. Her repeatedly making it clear that those were just guide lines and that every newcomer need not to abide by them, appealed to me. Thanks Martin, for such an informative session. Many thanks to Oksana.

[@johngrahamwilson1649]

Thank you for your generous and open-hearted account of how to open a story.

[@magiliciouskitchenbybarbar89]

Perfect presentation about an enormous topic! Thank you

[@mariannechristensen3847]

Wonderful session! I watched the video and it took me a looong time, since i made lots of notes, had lots of flash backs to ideas etc. Thank you so much for this!

[@ronaldwatson3862]

Great presentation with lots of useful info - Thank you Oksana!!!

[@RoseyReadsAndWrites]

So helpful. Thank you!

[@dianegingras3707]

Hello I am from Quebec Canada

[@MrColinhvc]

Hi from Napier New Zealand

[@CrystalStHill]

Thank you!

[@scottbroadbent6402]

It is my contention that any story that splits the story into a 25%/50%/25% division is a story in 4 Acts, not 3, where the middle two acts are combined into one, especially so if you have anything significantly happening at the midpoint. Even Shawn Coyne and the Story Grid recognizes the 4 Acts in their Quadrants. Dan Harmon's Story Circle also follows four Act structure as well. Hero's Journey has the Ordeal typically happening at the midpoint. To be a 3 Act story, your Acts would have to be evenly split into thirds, not quarters. Just because a story has a beginning, middle and end, doesn't mean it's three acts. An Act can have a beginning, middle and end, a scene can have a beginning, middle and end, a series of books or movies can have a beginning, middle and end, etc. Thinking of a story in terms of 4 Acts makes a story much easier to write, because you eliminate the mushy middle. If Act I and Act IV were easy to write because they are only 25% of the story, the same now applies to II and III.

[@fangcao4414]

Crystal from England 🙏🙏🙏

[@dcle944]

I have never had problems starting a story, but never known how to end it :-(

[@CrystalStHill]

Hi from Crystal in MA

[@CrystalStHill]

Is self publishing hard?

[@BettorsChat]

how do you reply in the live feed?

[@michaelbrown3899]

Are comments edited first before being displayed?

[@ultimate4416]

where can I find the transcript?

[@kit888]

44:45

[@michaelbrown3899]

I am finding it annoying that the presenter has developed a habit of saying something, then constantly asking "Right?" or "Alright?" Surely she does not present her writing with this 'tick'.

[@optionselleck2860]

Spoken language is very different to written language. She is presenting this as a lecture and therefore including the audience with "right?" as a way to sort of engage the listener. It's probably not worth complaining about to be honest, it's like the old saying goes "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all, right?"

[@kit888]

Could have been phrased more diplomatically, but a valid observation.