tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post7020174748687862176..comments2023-10-18T09:50:12.721-04:00Comments on Fresh-scraped Vellum - A blog devoted to historical and fantasy fiction: “Beginning” of the Week #12Joseph Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-34251887906033636362012-05-01T21:09:08.265-04:002012-05-01T21:09:08.265-04:00Baron, I agree with your point about conflict. As ...Baron, I agree with your point about conflict. As I mentioned above, a lot of the authors in the 60s and 70s, for some reason, focused their opening passages on character description. It goes on for several more paragraphs too in Deryni Rising.Joseph Finleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-20273964176402618262012-05-01T10:58:46.435-04:002012-05-01T10:58:46.435-04:00I like the tone (or perhaps just the writing style...I like the tone (or perhaps just the writing style), but I don't see the hint of conflict here to make it a great beginning.Baronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17879189147655538840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-3355329495845155772012-05-01T07:18:08.109-04:002012-05-01T07:18:08.109-04:00BJB - thanks for the comment. I suspect this may ...BJB - thanks for the comment. I suspect this may become a trend with some of the vintage beginnings. I'm not sure the elements of a great beginning were top of mind to many fantasy authors back in the 60s and 70s, who had a tendency to start their stories with a character's physical description. Look at Beginning #11 if you want another example.Joseph Finleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-43663822126257100412012-04-30T23:17:16.253-04:002012-04-30T23:17:16.253-04:00Sorry, but this beginning doesn't work for me....Sorry, but this beginning doesn't work for me. It just seems wrong. I don't think "catlike grace" gives a false impression of mass. The opposite, rather. And what's the technicality -- that he isn't big? Also, if he isn't big, I wouldn't think he command instant respect in his world. Maybe I'm being overly critical. But if I've got several disagreements or questions with just the first few sentences, the book hasn't started on the right foot with me.BJBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368732448714328754noreply@blogger.com