tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post8703237108101741625..comments2024-03-26T11:32:56.196-07:00Comments on Revising & Editing: How to Create a Compelling Opening Scene by Nina HarringtonNas http://www.blogger.com/profile/08341843048288374472noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-16669139610342407002017-05-03T09:36:23.697-07:002017-05-03T09:36:23.697-07:00Awesome, awesome advice. I'm on board with all...Awesome, awesome advice. I'm on board with all of it. I just put a book down in the middle because though the conflict was good, the characters bored me. Yikes. *shrugs* It happens, eh? That tension has to be ongoing throughout the story.Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-74549987865048763782017-04-24T22:51:58.550-07:002017-04-24T22:51:58.550-07:00Hmm, all this has to be in the first few paragraph...Hmm, all this has to be in the first few paragraphs? or at least the first chapter? What if the story is more literary, without all the life and death drama?<br /><br />This sounds great for an action packed story. Thank you for the step by step advice. I'm saving this to refer back to in the future.<br /><br />Hi Nas; thank you for visiting my blog recently :)dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-7922465730935045862017-04-24T07:35:47.983-07:002017-04-24T07:35:47.983-07:00You do wonder if successful authors get a "pa...You do wonder if successful authors get a "pass" at some point where they can publish just about anything. <br /><br />I like the advice here. Practical, easy-to-follow ideas.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tamaranarayan.com/2017/04/t-is-for-tuskegee-study-of-untreated.html" rel="nofollow">T is for the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis</a>Tamara Narayanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03725262301091012950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-70546040607361914852017-04-24T05:47:01.692-07:002017-04-24T05:47:01.692-07:00Great tips! Personally, my openers have always bee...Great tips! Personally, my openers have always been my strongest. I've always been good about dropping that hook straight in there...the problem is continuing with a compelling story from there. I'm too much of a Fire-Teller. :/H.R. Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01462784064936801201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-60183523990376071872017-04-23T13:06:30.198-07:002017-04-23T13:06:30.198-07:00Awesome way to lay out the steps. It can be hard ...Awesome way to lay out the steps. It can be hard when we pick up a book and don't fall right into the story. Especially hard when it is an author we usually enjoy. <br /><br />Thanks for the tips, Nina! :) <br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-8032258147615762182017-04-20T01:51:43.596-07:002017-04-20T01:51:43.596-07:00I always worry when I see things like "raise ...I always worry when I see things like "raise the stakes" -- I start fretting that I'm not doing right by my characters and that their motivations aren't clear.<br />But I really like your 10 step process -- it works for even the shortest scenes!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-90114731089239211172017-04-20T00:59:52.195-07:002017-04-20T00:59:52.195-07:00You are most welecome!You are most welecome!Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-41939362154535293262017-04-20T00:59:28.250-07:002017-04-20T00:59:28.250-07:00Thank you for your kind comments Denise. I don'...Thank you for your kind comments Denise. I don't think of this as a formula at all. It is the backbone of story telling which has been around since cavemen and camp fires. <br />This happened, and then THIS happened, and then THIS HAPPENED - conflict, response, action. <br />In short romance novels, we have to create a fast paced story and engage readers as soon as possible. Hope that helps! NinaNina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-80257384579424684392017-04-20T00:56:06.305-07:002017-04-20T00:56:06.305-07:00Thank you Susan. I have studied story structure fo...Thank you Susan. I have studied story structure for years and really think it makes a difference. All the best!Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-27545248056432772212017-04-20T00:55:25.789-07:002017-04-20T00:55:25.789-07:00You are most welcome Sandra.You are most welcome Sandra.Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-14432133523073228202017-04-20T00:54:49.255-07:002017-04-20T00:54:49.255-07:00Totally agree. So many books, so little time. We m...Totally agree. So many books, so little time. We make a a promise to a reader when they pick up a book. Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-35603301036341931312017-04-20T00:52:52.329-07:002017-04-20T00:52:52.329-07:00Thank you Hilary. I love chatting about story stru...Thank you Hilary. I love chatting about story structure! Delighted that you found it interesting.Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-65575976213634438622017-04-20T00:51:59.645-07:002017-04-20T00:51:59.645-07:00Thank you Crystal. I am a bit, okay, a total story...Thank you Crystal. I am a bit, okay, a total story structure geek. You can find more articles and free video training on structure over on my website - http://ninaharrington.com/Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-82852153298009625892017-04-20T00:50:02.966-07:002017-04-20T00:50:02.966-07:00Thank you Liz. Delighted that you found them usefu...Thank you Liz. Delighted that you found them useful.Nina Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059911356809359862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-66137955595563084702017-04-19T19:46:33.578-07:002017-04-19T19:46:33.578-07:00This is great, Nina, but I do think there's a ...This is great, Nina, but I do think there's a formula to writing, and you've explained it to us. Without each of these in place, we toss the book across the room. I'll check out some more of your work. Thank you.<br /><br />Hello Nas!Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-62924324992055984102017-04-19T17:39:32.765-07:002017-04-19T17:39:32.765-07:00Hello, Nina. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.Hello, Nina. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-44721412018510966202017-04-19T17:18:21.408-07:002017-04-19T17:18:21.408-07:00You really nailed this! Every bit of it speaks to...You really nailed this! Every bit of it speaks to successful writing!Susan Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834094675218254410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-10935396172496312682017-04-19T17:11:29.744-07:002017-04-19T17:11:29.744-07:00Very helpful! Thanks for this.
Hello, Nas;)Very helpful! Thanks for this.<br /><br />Hello, Nas;)Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-83167742633385144012017-04-19T15:49:53.355-07:002017-04-19T15:49:53.355-07:00You are so right. If I don't care about the c...You are so right. If I don't care about the character then I am likely to put the book down - and fail to pick it up again.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-64262752633926490362017-04-19T13:39:56.251-07:002017-04-19T13:39:56.251-07:00I could spend all day on this post, just absorbing...I could spend all day on this post, just absorbing the information. Great stuff!Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-55169470471946717422017-04-19T07:57:47.920-07:002017-04-19T07:57:47.920-07:00Hi Nas - what an interesting post by your friend N...Hi Nas - what an interesting post by your friend Nina - she sounds a great person to know and learn from ... I'll be checking out her site .. thanks for this - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-9428179803005187472017-04-18T19:21:01.974-07:002017-04-18T19:21:01.974-07:00Great post. So many books do fall flat because the...Great post. So many books do fall flat because they don't hook the reader. Great tips.Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.com