The HEA Cafe

Hi from Lyn.

I’m beginning the new year and beginning a new book. This will be the second in my upcoming “Texas, Star of Destiny” series for Avon Inspire.

I’m a part plotter and a part pantster. I plan out the broad outline of my plot and go deep into my two main characters, all their conflicts and then I start writing. (That’s the plotter me.) The rest–secondary characters and plots–come as needed. (That’s the pantster me.)
But man, are those first few chapters HARD. I’ve found a good rundown of all the ways to start a book in a chapter in PLOT AND STRUCTURE by James Scott Bell. And I’ll often reread it as I did Sunday afternoon to perk up all those little gray cells.
Then I just keep trying different launching points until one finally clicks. So Beginnings are my sore point. I sometimes feel like a scientist trying to get a rocket launched and all it does is topple off the launch pad.

This time I think it only took me one 5 page false start to stumble onto the right launching point. On Monday, I had to drive my daughter to get her drivers license renewed (she waited till it lapsed) and then to a doctor’s appointment. We had a long wait and I talked over why I was unhappy with the beginning of my new ms. It really helped me to talk it over with her.

The next day I was able to write 8 almost sensible pages. Lift off!

What a great feeling.

I’d really like to hear what any others of you do to make starting easier. Please?

Lyn