Topic ID: 30961
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Jamie_rocks
Senior Writer
Gender: 
Age: 13
Joined: 27 Apr 2008
Posts: 225
Reviews: 30
Country: America
478 Points
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject: Question |
 |
|
| OK, I'm writing a story, and it has a lot to do with the main character's traumatized past. I guess It's basically an opinion thing, but should I start off with her as a child so the readers start off knowing, or just jump into her as an adult and explain the childhood as it goes along. Please someone reply. |
_________________
If life hands you lemons, make grape juice and let everyone wonder how you did it.
If you need a review, PM me or check out my topic in the "Will review for food" forum.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Firearris
The YWS Vampire
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 100
Joined: 10 May 2007
Posts: 1421
Reviews: 96
Country: The land of red and black.
488 Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hmm, I think it would be more interesting if it started as an Adult, then piece by piece, the past is revealed. It makes it more interesting and would make me want to read more of it to find out a bit more of her past. ^_^ If it starts as a child, it gives it all away.
Does this make sense? PM me if anything doesn't make sense, or if you have other questions. ^_^
~Arris |
_________________
I'll wait for you,
I Promise. ~ZME |
|
| Back to top |
|
Icaruss
Disgustingly Honest.
Novelist
Gender: 
Age: 17
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 437
Reviews: 109
Country: Peru.
565 Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
I do a lot of jumping back and forth in my stories. Most of my favorite books ("La Ciudad y los Perros", "La Casa Verde", both by Mario Vargas Llosa) build their stories by presenting tiny pieces of a huge picture, until it starts to come together. It makes the book more interesting, I think. It's like a mystery. You don't know why a character acts a certain way, and then you read why, and it's like: "Oh." Or you don't know why a certain part of the book is important, until you read another part that's somehow related to it, and you go: "Oh."
Vargas Llosa takes this to an extreme, by actually using different names for flashbacks (a character named Bob, for example, can be referred to as The Boy in some sections), which makes it harder to tell who it is the narrator is talking about until everything falls in together, and then it's beautiful. |
_________________
He said, "My friend, Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?"
I said, "My friend, John, Brigitte Bardot,
Anita Ekberg, Sophia Loren."
(the country'll grow) |
|
| Back to top |
|
Shafter
The kid who can't grow up
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 19
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1094
Reviews: 55
Country: In a constant state of copy-editing
300 Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I agree, start with the adult life and show through different plot devices, such as flashbacks (handle with care!) and hints at her past. "Poison Study" is a good example of this (and an all-around good novel). And remember, the traumatized past means nothing unless the character is believable and sympathetic in the present. |
_________________
Got YWS?
Over 18? Join The Writers Society today!
http://www.thewriterssociety.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
kitty15
Your friendly neighbourhood kitten
Epic Novelist
Gender:
Age: 18
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 4843
Reviews: 1306
Country: England
1593 Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I agree that starting with your character as an adult would work best but it might be interesting to have a prologue of when the character was a child, just to build a little suspense. |
_________________
Lest hope corrupt your foolish heart,
quick cast her out and let depart
the acrid whims of angel's wings
which clutch at twisted puppet strings. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Gahks
Tsar of the Subjunctive
Speaker of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 16
Joined: 25 Jan 2008
Posts: 718
Reviews: 119
Country: Wherever I happen to be.
428 Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Yes, agree with Firearris: a fractured narrative like this would be far more suspenseful and generate greater interest. |
_________________
"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." William Faulkner.
Check out my music site: www.finetune.com/user/gahks
My site: www.freewebs.com/bethywriters |
|
| Back to top |
|
Jamie_rocks
Senior Writer
Gender:
Age: 13
Joined: 27 Apr 2008
Posts: 225
Reviews: 30
Country: America
478 Points
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| OK, thanks, now I can finally start. |
_________________
If life hands you lemons, make grape juice and let everyone wonder how you did it.
If you need a review, PM me or check out my topic in the "Will review for food" forum. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Kang227
Writer
Gender:
Age: 17
Joined: 12 Jan 2008
Posts: 90
Reviews: 8
Country: United States
319 Points
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Three options here, most have been suggested already. I'd agree that fractured narrative is your best bet for suspense. Dramatic irony (where the audience knowns what's going on but the character doesn't) is extremely hard to pull off, especially when it's your central theme. |
_________________
Ahh...um...no. Not really, no. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
