First Impressions
I’ve had quite a few blogs and written plenty of stories in my time, and one thing remains constant: the first words are almost always the hardest. Whether you are facing a blank post box, a blank screen, or a blank piece of paper, coming up with those first words tends to be a struggle.
I don’t know a writer who hasn’t sat down, stared for a bit, and then asked, “Where do I begin?” The perk of being a writer is you can begin wherever you want - beginning, middle, or end - as long as you make a good first impression. Otherwise known to writers as “the hook.”
With the rising popularity of speed dating and the now 40 seconds you have to make a first impression with someone face-to-face (I say about 20 seconds), finally the world is getting a taste of what writers have had to face for ages. The hook can make or break a story, and it can serve to either intrigue the reader or bore them senseless.
While few have perfected the art of a good hook, me not being among them, I hope this serves as a good hook for you to come back and read my future posts. I’m hoping to post in the order similar to how I learned about fiction writing, which is still an adventure I am exploring. I hope to create a guide for the new and perhaps a little reminder of where you’ve come from for veteran writers.
Cheers, mates.
PS. As with any of my blogs, if you want me to take a look at anything relating to what I’m blogging about, just point me in that direction, and I’ll be more than happy to give my two cents.
October 26th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Great to meet another fiction fanatic. I guess most every writer’s life long ambition is to write “that” novel. I know mine is. For years I’ve just been tinkering with all kinds of crazy ideas for characters and stories. My problem, horrible work ethic, and the fact that I keep finding blogging companies willing to hire me.
I’m looking forward to your site, and glad we’re both part of the 451 team.
If you’re into TV come on by my sites:
http://www.watchingtheoffice.com
http://www.watching24.com
Aaron.
October 26th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Aaron. We all have our hang-ups for writing. I have weird things about specific pens and whatnot.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:02 am
[...] you may have guessed it, Long Relationships has a new writer. I’m not new to 451, but I am new to the Dating and Relationships [...]