A Lesson on Openings and Setting from DARK LIFE
Posted by annastan on June 30th, 2010. Filed under: A Closer Look, Books, Craft.One of the things that makes speculative fiction so fascinating is setting. Often you want to give the reader a sense of the setting right away, but how can you do that without boring her? Well, as I was reading Dark Life by Kat Falls yesterday, I realized she does this very well. First off, she starts with this opening line:
I peered into the deep-sea canyon, hoping to spot a toppled skyscraper.
Already we start to get a sense of the world. The scene that follows shows the main character interacting with the environment so we see more of the dystopian world he inhabits and we also see him in action. If you’re interested, you can go read the opening pages on Google Books.
Often we’re told to start with action, but we need to also give a sense of the character; otherwise readers watch things happen to a person they don’t care about yet. Trying to work in setting while also pulling readers in is a challenge, but it’s vitally important if the world is unlike our own.
Something that Falls also does well is create suspense by introducing danger and mystery right from the beginning. Even though we might not know everything about our main character yet, we see how he handles stress and thinks on his feet. The one thing I wasn’t sure about in the opening pages was the gender of the main character, but you can’t always fit everything in, right?
June 30th, 2010 at 9:05 am
That’s a great opening line! And we wonder why opening are so hard! Everything we’re supposed to fit in!
June 30th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Gosh. That first line is clever and the cover of that book is uber-intriguing. I am totally in the setting overload issue right now. But, I keep repeating something outloud, “It’s only the first draft.”
June 30th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Oh, boy, I haven’t heard of this book, and you’ve got me hooked. What a great opening line and sense of intrigue. Thanks!
June 30th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I like that opening line! I actually like stories more that start with tension. I think it’s more compelling. Sometimes starting with too much action is confusing; you’re wondering, who is doing what here, what is going on, and why? which can be annoying. Like that opening line, tension sets up the characters, the setting, and what the character wants. Then the reader knows the basics and is more committed to the action!
June 30th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Laura P, there really is so much to fit into a beginning. No pressure, right?
Jon, it’s an interesting read so far. Your “only the first draft” mantra is a good (and necessary) one. Just keep going!
Tricia, I’m only a few chapters in but so far it’s totally my kind of book. I hope you enjoy it!
Laura M, I completely agree. It’s easy to confuse action with tension, but if there’s no tension then we won’t care about the action. It’s hard to do but so necessary.
July 1st, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Those openings are so hard. I read so many that have action but I can’t relate to at all since I don’t yet know the characters.
July 1st, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Never underestimate the value of your opening line. ANd I agree, that one is killer!
May 24th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
I love this book! The opening is great and intresting. It made me think about the time period the book is set in.