Hi everyone! My name is Jan, and I’m a new contributor here at
Adventures in YA Publishing. Martina asked me to post today and introduce
myself. I live in Oklahoma
with my husband, two kids, two cats, a dog, and my mom. I write YA fantasy,
both contemporary and traditional. I am much better at rewriting and editing,
so I usually spend an ungodly amount of time dragging myself through the
drafting process. One of my favorite things in the world is critiquing, because
I love the process of shaping a manuscript into a book.
Adventures in YA Publishing. Martina asked me to post today and introduce
myself. I live in Oklahoma
with my husband, two kids, two cats, a dog, and my mom. I write YA fantasy,
both contemporary and traditional. I am much better at rewriting and editing,
so I usually spend an ungodly amount of time dragging myself through the
drafting process. One of my favorite things in the world is critiquing, because
I love the process of shaping a manuscript into a book.
Okay, enough about me. Let’s get to the real post: Inspired
Openings. I figured what better way to mark my beginning with the blog than a
post about beginnings.
Openings. I figured what better way to mark my beginning with the blog than a
post about beginnings.
As readers and writers, we all know how important openings
are. They help you decide whether to buy a book or put it back on the shelf.
They help agents and editors decide whether to read on or send a rejection. So
what makes a great opening?
are. They help you decide whether to buy a book or put it back on the shelf.
They help agents and editors decide whether to read on or send a rejection. So
what makes a great opening?
1. Imagery – It paints a picture with words, a picture
beautiful enough that you want to see more of the author’s art.
beautiful enough that you want to see more of the author’s art.
Walking to school over the snow-muffled cobbles, Karou had
no sinister premonitions about the day. It seemed like just another Monday,
innocent but for its essential Mondayness, not to mention its Januaryness. It
was cold, and it was dark—in the dead of winter the sun didn’t rise until
eight—but it was also lovely. The falling snow and the early hour conspired to
paint Prague
ghostly, like a tintype photograph, all silver and haze.
no sinister premonitions about the day. It seemed like just another Monday,
innocent but for its essential Mondayness, not to mention its Januaryness. It
was cold, and it was dark—in the dead of winter the sun didn’t rise until
eight—but it was also lovely. The falling snow and the early hour conspired to
paint Prague
ghostly, like a tintype photograph, all silver and haze.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Laini Taylor
The air in London
was grey. This was no surprise; but the common eye could not see the particular
heaviness of the atmosphere or the unusual weight of this special day’s
charcoal clouds: the sky was pregnant with a potent wind, for The Guard was
searching for new hosts.
was grey. This was no surprise; but the common eye could not see the particular
heaviness of the atmosphere or the unusual weight of this special day’s
charcoal clouds: the sky was pregnant with a potent wind, for The Guard was
searching for new hosts.
The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Leanna Renee Hieber
2. Intrigue – It makes you sit up and ask, “Ooh, I wonder
what that’s about?” So you read on to find out.
what that’s about?” So you read on to find out.
I remember lying in
the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves.
the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves.
Shiver
Maggie Stiefvater
I think I killed a
girl who looked like this once.
girl who looked like this once.
Girl of Nightmares
Kendare Blake
My mother thinks I’m dead.
Obviously I’m not dead, but it’s safer for her to think so.
Legend
Marie Lu
Blue Sargent had forgotten how many
times she’d been told that she would kill her true love.
times she’d been told that she would kill her true love.
The Raven Boys
Maggie Stiefvater
3. Danger – It
makes you worry about this character you know nothing about, because there is
an immediate threat to them.
makes you worry about this character you know nothing about, because there is
an immediate threat to them.
She grabbed the hilt of her knife
and scrambled backward into the darkness, holding the baby close in her other
arm. Beyond the fire, the wasteland was still, as if the wind and even the
stones had frozen in the night to listen, and then she heard it again, a faint
chink, like a footfall in pebbles. Someone or something was out there, watching
her.
and scrambled backward into the darkness, holding the baby close in her other
arm. Beyond the fire, the wasteland was still, as if the wind and even the
stones had frozen in the night to listen, and then she heard it again, a faint
chink, like a footfall in pebbles. Someone or something was out there, watching
her.
Prized
Caragh O’Brien
He didn’t know how long he’d been
clinging there. Long enough for the bone-cold water to drive the feeling from
his legs. Long enough for his fingers to tire of holding his head above water.
Somewhere in the distance, the eerie wail of the hounds quickened his
heartbeat.
clinging there. Long enough for the bone-cold water to drive the feeling from
his legs. Long enough for his fingers to tire of holding his head above water.
Somewhere in the distance, the eerie wail of the hounds quickened his
heartbeat.
He closed his eyes, concentrating on
keeping his hold on the old well’s uneven sides, willing his heart to slow. They
can’t smell you in here. They’ll lose your scent in the stream and they’ll
never find you here.
keeping his hold on the old well’s uneven sides, willing his heart to slow. They
can’t smell you in here. They’ll lose your scent in the stream and they’ll
never find you here.
Lament
Maggie
Stiefvater
Stiefvater
4.
Other – These are the openings that don’t really fit into one of the above
categories. The ones you read and just know the book is going to be great.
Other – These are the openings that don’t really fit into one of the above
categories. The ones you read and just know the book is going to be great.
She’s so lovely, so fragile. Those
haunted eyes. Those rosebud lips . . . they’ll scream so
prettily.
haunted eyes. Those rosebud lips . . . they’ll scream so
prettily.
Poison Princess
Kresley Cole
All children, except one, grow up.
Peter Pan
J. M. Barrie
So, what kind of openings do you like? Share some of your
favorites in the comments.
favorites in the comments.
I am so happy to be a part of Adventures in YA Publishing.
Thanks so much for having me, Martina!
Thanks so much for having me, Martina!
I hope you all have a fabulous holiday!
Jan
