tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post4718922016793795069..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: The First ParagraphNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-5039313675347936222011-01-28T08:37:57.274-08:002011-01-28T08:37:57.274-08:00Love your first paragraph! I wish I'd seen th...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? : ) <br /><br />I do enjoy your blog very much, but don't know that I have ever mentioned it to you.Jennifer Morian Fryehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03331899710605393958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-29589255575236479802011-01-26T08:59:39.017-08:002011-01-26T08:59:39.017-08:00I wish I loved first paragraphs! I hate them so m...I wish I loved first paragraphs! I hate them so much!!! You do seem to have a flair for it. Good stuff!<br /><br />- LizLiz Czukashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656897969180818333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-89230215213577950172011-01-26T08:09:11.447-08:002011-01-26T08:09:11.447-08:00I have been really waffling about entering, since ...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 :)Rebecca T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11994380364321336824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-24176821275980785862011-01-26T07:46:26.754-08:002011-01-26T07:46:26.754-08:00I wrote the rest of the book, actually. That's...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.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-53303656916602195282011-01-26T07:29:21.994-08:002011-01-26T07:29:21.994-08:00So once you made up a paragraph and won, what did ...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?Iliadfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18275409183452982688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-39684906116009950692011-01-26T06:42:22.853-08:002011-01-26T06:42:22.853-08:00Nothing ventured nothing gained. I've entered....Nothing ventured nothing gained. I've entered.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-83529107177583357082011-01-26T05:26:02.176-08:002011-01-26T05:26:02.176-08:00I think I might enter. Now I just need to figure o...I think I might enter. Now I just need to figure out which first paragraph to use.lotusgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663641163048764869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-82653624315998893422011-01-25T17:06:14.924-08:002011-01-25T17:06:14.924-08:00You totally hooked me with the end.
I love the 1s...You totally hooked me with the end.<br /><br />I love the 1st paragraph contest, even though I've never won.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-79114264362294359512011-01-25T15:55:49.085-08:002011-01-25T15:55:49.085-08:00I entered, despite the fact that opening paragraph...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.<br /><br />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?Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04742911245060876005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-46654293579258630582011-01-25T14:16:01.238-08:002011-01-25T14:16:01.238-08:00Blurg. Opening paragraphs are the bane of my exis...Blurg. Opening paragraphs are the bane of my existence! But I'll probably enter anyway, because you have to at least try, right?Jeighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09171703860855673581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-31953950095932446382011-01-25T14:13:21.996-08:002011-01-25T14:13:21.996-08:00That is amazing that you won! Post-congratulation...That is amazing that you won! Post-congratulations!<br /><br />Yeah, I entered. Not hoping for much, but nothing ever happens if you don't try.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15981159884498574786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55593037297750121722011-01-25T13:37:58.344-08:002011-01-25T13:37:58.344-08:00Oops. That's supposed to say "and not&quo...Oops. That's supposed to say "and not" instead of "ad ny".Sophia Bronwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10416174202743941631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-40457286321356497902011-01-25T13:36:35.762-08:002011-01-25T13:36:35.762-08:00I would have loved to enter, but unfortunetly I am...I would have loved to enter, but unfortunetly I am 13 ad ny 14. Good luck to everyone else who entered!<br />Natalie, that is a great paragraph!Sophia Bronwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10416174202743941631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-134112609977225982011-01-25T13:02:24.915-08:002011-01-25T13:02:24.915-08:00Thanks for posting this. And congrats on winning t...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*<br /><br />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.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07995267172282765794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-33884120171490559252011-01-25T12:44:10.348-08:002011-01-25T12:44:10.348-08:00I'm just going to go ahead and say that I'...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!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733854662944058955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-623674403642475042011-01-25T12:33:10.165-08:002011-01-25T12:33:10.165-08:00Your paragraph sets a certain mood right away and ...Your paragraph sets a certain mood right away and leaves this reader wanting more. Well done!<br /><br />I'm still trying to come summon up the courage to enter Nathan's contest. We'll see.Suzie F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09560250678212373878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-6109608573920592132011-01-25T12:14:37.147-08:002011-01-25T12:14:37.147-08:00What an awesome first paragraph! Ditto the love f...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. :)Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07835079187093517851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-72612585069238009462011-01-25T12:02:39.122-08:002011-01-25T12:02:39.122-08:00I'm sucked in! Please write this story. Please...I'm sucked in! Please write this story. Please?<br /><br />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.)<br /><br />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.Tracey Neithercotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539278941411542797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-25503736539014015192011-01-25T12:02:33.797-08:002011-01-25T12:02:33.797-08:00Wow- you would win all over again with this paragr...Wow- you would win all over again with this paragraph! :)Cori Chaffeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14000965736033345894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-62700623965236347322011-01-25T11:58:24.134-08:002011-01-25T11:58:24.134-08:00Oooh, first paragraphs can be so fun! I love explo...Oooh, first paragraphs can be so fun! I love exploring a new story, full of new fun ideas and thoughts!<br /><br />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?Debbie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03119207763941673358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-56914601338625649342011-01-25T11:58:01.715-08:002011-01-25T11:58:01.715-08:00Dang o.O I'm already hooked. That's pret...Dang o.O I'm already hooked. That's pretty good.B.E.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18417710549192614366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-4058834355696066832011-01-25T11:51:44.729-08:002011-01-25T11:51:44.729-08:00The first line is the easiest for me, but the firs...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.Steph Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975939582442193113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-40006898099560766182011-01-25T11:51:26.417-08:002011-01-25T11:51:26.417-08:00I'm with Josin--*love* the ivy and sorrow.
A...I'm with Josin--*love* the ivy and sorrow. <br /><br />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.Jenny Maloneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11926410487968278887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-44890363344054554722011-01-25T11:15:15.681-08:002011-01-25T11:15:15.681-08:00First paragraphs are lots of fun. They're supe...First paragraphs are lots of fun. They're super hard for me though, LOL. :P <br /><br />I decided not to enter since none of my projects are close to being completed and are still in crappy 1st draft mode.Darahttp://inthewritemind.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-22530528837626878442011-01-25T11:12:33.430-08:002011-01-25T11:12:33.430-08:00Wow, that paragraph is AMAZING! If I opened up a b...Wow, that paragraph is AMAZING! If I opened up a book and that was the first paragraph, I would DEFINITELY carry on reading!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.com