▼

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.

at

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)

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. writergal24January 25, 2011 at 10:47 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  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? :)

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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~

    ReplyDelete
  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!

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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?

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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. :)

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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!

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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!

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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?

    ReplyDelete
  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?

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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.

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

    Nothing ventured nothing gained. I've entered.

    ReplyDelete
  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?

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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 :)

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete