tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post1492152138551947036..comments2024-03-28T23:20:45.447-04:00Comments on Girlfriends Book Club: Where to begin? by Brenda JanowitzWriter Wenchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730769794553260336noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-5899441609253897852011-03-24T17:00:16.959-04:002011-03-24T17:00:16.959-04:00Tart and soul, you are so right! That *is* where ...Tart and soul, you are so right! That *is* where the good stuff is. Well put!<br /><br />Marilyn, yes! I think that's what I love: the possibilities! But you're right-- the book has got to sing as a whole, and a lot of that has to do with the middle and end.<br /><br />Ellen, I'm so glad you are starting a new book! I can hardly wait to read it. Love the packing metaphor. When I pack for vacation, I always forget at least one thing. But the nice thing about writing is that you can always go back and fix what you've left out!<br /><br />Susan, it *is* so much fun to be at this stage! I hope you are enjoying it!!Brenda Janowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341902606434073240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-80261439567315697962011-03-24T16:18:41.255-04:002011-03-24T16:18:41.255-04:00I'm about to start a new novel, too, and I'...I'm about to start a new novel, too, and I'm envisioning all sorts of beginnings! It is fun to be at that stage, isn't it? But I agree, it gets tougher after that! I think the middle is the hardest, perhaps (but it's a little different with every book). Like Lauren, I tweak the beginning a lot...heck, I tweak the first half of the book a lot! ;-) Love this, Brenda: "Beginnings are really important, but finishing is the hard part." Perfectly put!Susan McBridehttp://susanmcbride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-31507401894634513092011-03-24T16:12:32.338-04:002011-03-24T16:12:32.338-04:00I loved seeing this post today, Brenda, since I...I loved seeing this post today, Brenda, since I've just started a new novel! For me, the beginning offers its own unique challenges, and is very, very hard. Unfortunately, I put a lot of pressure on myself to make it perfect before moving on. It like the part of a journey where you're packing your suitcase to leave, and the success of the whole trip depends on making all the right choices about what to pack and what to leave home. Not easy when you don't know what weather lies ahead!<br /><br />Then again, if you ask me this question in a few months, I'm sure I'll say the middle is the hardest part. :)Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794791220323089387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-91476161820271562392011-03-24T14:27:00.388-04:002011-03-24T14:27:00.388-04:00Brenda, I love the limitless possibilities of the ...Brenda, I love the limitless possibilities of the beginning...so many ways it could start, so many fun lines and new characters to introduce...but I know I've rarely chosen the right way to open until I'm in the middle or even at the end of the book ;).Marilyn Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05303846770348840645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-61008144268459188092011-03-24T12:34:35.682-04:002011-03-24T12:34:35.682-04:00The beginning of writing a book is like the beginn...The beginning of writing a book is like the beginning of a love affair - passionate, intense, exciting and filled with moments when you can't wipe the smile off your face. But once you get into the middle bit of writing an entire novel, like making an intimate relationship stick, the sparkle wears off and the work begins. But that's where the good stuff is, isn't it?Tart and Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05778685047307590457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-20535971329638945862011-03-24T11:45:30.273-04:002011-03-24T11:45:30.273-04:00Karin, yes, you are right: those beginnings are s...Karin, yes, you are right: those beginnings are so, so important. I guess that's what makes them so much fun!<br /><br />Laura, I so agree about those 300 pages being killer.<br /><br />Saralee, great metaphor! That is soooo true!! Can you please write my posts from now on?! :)<br /><br />Lauren, your comment had me rolling in laughter. Yes!! True, indeed!!<br /><br />Melissa, don't you hate that the feeling has to end?! I'm sure your latest will rock!Brenda Janowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341902606434073240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-7640487991695032412011-03-24T11:35:29.291-04:002011-03-24T11:35:29.291-04:00I am in the yippy-skippy new love beginning stage ...I am in the yippy-skippy new love beginning stage of a new novel. I know it will come to a screeching halt sometime soon. Great post!!Melissa Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15015632413658296141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-65286575212048009052011-03-24T09:31:17.131-04:002011-03-24T09:31:17.131-04:00I love the beginnings and endings. Like with life ...I love the beginnings and endings. Like with life - and body image! - it's the saggy middle that provides all the problems.Lauren Baratz-Logstedhttp://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-52270923524819724332011-03-24T09:13:10.437-04:002011-03-24T09:13:10.437-04:00I love the beginning of a novel too! It's like...I love the beginning of a novel too! It's like dating (or what I remember of dating). The relationship with the characters is untested and you and they/them are on their best behavior (or their worst, which is even better, lol) and you just don't know how their story will unfold. Best part is you're not sick of them yet because they haven't kept you up nights worrying about their outcome. Great post as usual Brenda... you always strike the right chord of honesty and humor.Saralee Rosenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01595673591577424238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-61379810170120587242011-03-24T08:49:50.642-04:002011-03-24T08:49:50.642-04:00Karin said what i was thinking, great post & r...Karin said what i was thinking, great post & rewrites! I usually know where it starts and I have a definite idea about where it ends up. But gosh, those 300 middle pages are just killer!Laura Spinellahttp://www.lauraspinella.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-17190351092924834862011-03-24T08:23:37.210-04:002011-03-24T08:23:37.210-04:00Great post, Brenda. I love to wrote beginnings but...Great post, Brenda. I love to wrote beginnings but I think they're hard because they must accomplish so much. I usually do more re-writes to my first few chapters than other.Karin Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13526466399023966816noreply@blogger.com