The best pulp-fiction writers hone beginnings and endings to their sharpest edge. Surprise and wit, among other things, are in their aresenal. ....Many writers do not find the first sentence to their book until they edit, because only then, on reading their draft, do they discover that the beginning is hiding on page 3 or 4. We need to think harder about not just the first words of a book or story, but of a chapter, section, or even paragraph that we are writing. Beginnings occur all through our work, again and again. To edit is, in part, to check if each beginning is sound, or if you've allowed in throwaways.Top - Susan Bell in The Artful Edit
What it Means to Me:
I am struck by this advice from Bell - especially the part reminding the reader that beginnings occur all through our work. I think I will go back and make sure I've paid attention to that. I usually (in the three books I've revised) begun much further in than my original manuscript. I try and remember that the first couple of drafts, I'm telling myself the story. Paring down the fluff at the beginning of each section is a good idea - perhaps it is like when we first turn on the engine to our old beater car - it needs to clear its throat first and so do we - but we don't need to leave it on the page.Hope this is helpful - just go through and check all your beginnings! I'm going to. Tell me how it goes.