Sometimes beginning a story is scary…where are we going to take it? How’s the story going to end?? AAHH…the pressure!! But Gail Carson Levine in “Writing Magic” gives a fabulous writing exercise in starting a story–mostly by helping us understand a beginning doesn’t have to actually begin at the beginning!! Taking turns reading chapter 5, Lolly and I ended the chapter by doing a writing exercise.
The writer will have write three different beginnings, starting at three different points–
1) The first starting point is the moment the competition begins.
2) The second starting point is before the competition begins…when the main character discovers there’s going to be a competition.
3) The third starting point is the moment the character begings to prepare for the competition.
All of that said–because Lolly is such a great sharer–let’s read her three different beginnings:
#1 (one)
Hi! I’m about to start a competition on who can eat the most salad in five minutes. I’m very excited because I love salad. It’s like my favorite food. It’s fresh and crunchy.
#2 (two)
Oh my gosh! I hate math. I just got out of math class and after that I always check the flyers they have hung up on the bulletin board. OMG!! There’s a salad eating competition. I love salad!! I eat it practically every day of my life.
#3(three)
Ok, it’s Tuesday night during summer break. I have not eaten salad for a couple days or really anything. I’m starving and the reason is I’m so craving food and salad for the big race.
After much contemplation, Lolly decided if she was to keep on writing, her second entry was the best and she could write a story from that beginning…
