Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The First Paragraph

My former agent, Nathan Bransford, is holding his sort-of-annual 1st paragraph contest. For those of you who don't know, I won that a few years ago. December of 2008. Wow, that was forever ago. Anyway, that serendipitous victory changed my life. I'm not even being melodramatic about that. I am confident that I would not be the writer I am without the guidance Nathan provided on my prize critique.

So go enter if you can. Before I had an agent, I entered a lot of contests. I think they are excellent learning experiences, even if you don't win. Seeing what others are writing, what is successful or not, it's just a good experience all around. And having a chance for Catherine Drayton to look at your partial? Dude. She's awesome. Don't miss out on that.

I actually kind of miss entering, so in honor of this life-changing contest I thought I'd do what I did then—make up a paragraph. Yes, when I entered that contest all I had of that story was...the first paragraph. I wrote it on a whim, since I didn't want to enter the one from my project he, uh, already rejected.

Let's see...a paragraph...

They say a witch lives in the old house under the interstate bridge. Always in the shadows, draped in ivy and sorrow, the house waits for a child too daring for his own good. And inside, the witch sits with her black eyes and toothless sneer. They say she can foresee your death in return for a lock of hair. She can make someone love you for the small price of a pinky finger. And, of course, she can kill your enemy if you give her your soul. Some people think it's only a silly tale to scare children, but it's true. Every word.

Sigh, that was fun. I love first paragraphs.

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31 comments:

  1. Sarah AllenJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    I'm all entered in :) Thanks for this and the encouragement. Great, great paragraph also.

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  2. Josin L. McQueinJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    I also love 1st paragraphs. I have many :-P

    I *love* the description of something being draped in ivy and sorrow. Beautiful language and imagery.

    And, I can attest to NB's great feedback from contest winnings. I won't say I agreed with everything he said, but he's got a good eye and my MS is stronger for the suggestions he made and things he pointed out.

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  3. writergal24January 25, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Wow! That's so cool! I didn't know that.
    I entered the contest too!

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  4. KristanJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    WHOA talk about intrigue. That isn't perchance the opening of SIDEKICK, is it? Either way sounds wicked (no pun intended) cool!

    I actually entered the contest after seeing your tweet yesterday. I figured, Why not? :)

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  5. Natalie WhippleJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Kristan, no, that is no where near Sidekick's opening. Sidekick is contemporary YA 100%. But, it is something I'm considering for my next project.

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  6. Amanda HovingJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    Being newer to your blog, I didn't realize the contest was how your whirlwind began. I think it's a great opportunity.

    BTW, Love this paragraph. All best~

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  7. UnknownJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Wow, that paragraph is AMAZING! If I opened up a book and that was the first paragraph, I would DEFINITELY carry on reading!

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  8. DaraJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    First paragraphs are lots of fun. They're super hard for me though, LOL. :P

    I decided not to enter since none of my projects are close to being completed and are still in crappy 1st draft mode.

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  9. Jenny MaloneyJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    I'm with Josin--*love* the ivy and sorrow.

    And I'll sound off on Nathan's eye too--he knows what he's talking about. My manuscript is a lot stronger because of his notes.

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  10. Steph SchmidtJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    The first line is the easiest for me, but the first paragraph kills me if its not just right. After entering I looked at the other entries and really felt humbled. There is stiff competition there.

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  11. B.E.T.January 25, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Dang o.O I'm already hooked. That's pretty good.

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  12. Debbie BarrJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Oooh, first paragraphs can be so fun! I love exploring a new story, full of new fun ideas and thoughts!

    I entered, but my first paragraph (of this draft) kind of stinks, so I'm not expecting anything from it. But I figured I might as well, you know?

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  13. Cori ChaffeeJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    Wow- you would win all over again with this paragraph! :)

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  14. Tracey NeithercottJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    I'm sucked in! Please write this story. Please?

    I saw Nathan's contest and haven't submitted my first paragraph yet because my story is in now way ready for a critique by Nathan or for Catherine Drayton to read a partial. (You know, in the very rare and unlikely case I win.)

    But since you said you went off of just a made-up paragraph, you've inspired me to enter! I'm guessing the prize is good for whenever you're ready.

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  15. JennJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    What an awesome first paragraph! Ditto the love for the "draped ivy and sorrow"-beautiful imagery. Thanks for the shout out about the contest. I'll definitely be entering. :)

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  16. Suzie F.January 25, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Your paragraph sets a certain mood right away and leaves this reader wanting more. Well done!

    I'm still trying to come summon up the courage to enter Nathan's contest. We'll see.

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  17. UnknownJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    I'm just going to go ahead and say that I'm sad you're paragraph isn't a whole book that I can pick up and read right this very instant. I just finished rereading all my very favorite Grimm Bros and Perrault fairy tales and am SO in the mood for more fairy tales... and yours sounds so beautiful!

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  18. UnknownJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Thanks for posting this. And congrats on winning the contest before. Your talent must know no bounds if you can win a contest like that having only just made up a paragraph. *bows to you*

    I think I'll head on over and enter. I actually just today did a post about Grabbing Your Reader By The Nose with your first 500 words.

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  19. Sophia BronwynJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    I would have loved to enter, but unfortunetly I am 13 ad ny 14. Good luck to everyone else who entered!
    Natalie, that is a great paragraph!

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  20. Sophia BronwynJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    Oops. That's supposed to say "and not" instead of "ad ny".

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  21. SarahJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    That is amazing that you won! Post-congratulations!

    Yeah, I entered. Not hoping for much, but nothing ever happens if you don't try.

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  22. JeighJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    Blurg. Opening paragraphs are the bane of my existence! But I'll probably enter anyway, because you have to at least try, right?

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  23. KathyJanuary 25, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    I entered, despite the fact that opening paragraphs are as hard for me two come up with as titles are. Or almost, seeing as I have an opening paragraph and no title. Sigh.

    Anyway, that's really cool that entering his contest is how your journey started. It makes me want to enter more contests now. :) Gotta start somewhere right?

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  24. Adam HeineJanuary 25, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    You totally hooked me with the end.

    I love the 1st paragraph contest, even though I've never won.

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  25. lotusgirlJanuary 26, 2011 at 5:26 AM

    I think I might enter. Now I just need to figure out which first paragraph to use.

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  26. Paul Anthony ShorttJanuary 26, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Nothing ventured nothing gained. I've entered.

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  27. IliadfanJanuary 26, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    So once you made up a paragraph and won, what did you do? Did you also win a critique? Did you submit something else for that critique?

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  28. Natalie WhippleJanuary 26, 2011 at 7:46 AM

    I wrote the rest of the book, actually. That's kind of a long story, heh. But about two months later I submitted a partial for my prize crit. He requested full. Rejected full but gave detailed notes. I revised. He asked for exclusive revision. Accepted. Worked about 7 more months on several revisions. Then, after all that, came the offer.

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  29. Rebecca T.January 26, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    I have been really waffling about entering, since I only have a few chapters of my rewrite finished. This post pushed me over the edge. Thanks Natalie! I always get a boost when I come over here :)

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  30. Liz CzukasJanuary 26, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    I wish I loved first paragraphs! I hate them so much!!! You do seem to have a flair for it. Good stuff!

    - Liz

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  31. Jennifer Morian FryeJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Love your first paragraph! I wish I'd seen this sooner, but oh well. If it was to be, I would've seen it, right? : )

    I do enjoy your blog very much, but don't know that I have ever mentioned it to you.

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