Writing Excuses 10.17: Q&A on Beginnings

We've talked about beginnings this month. Now we'll answer some of your questions on the matter. Here are the questions: * What are there differences between the beginnings in different forms? * How do you begin in media res when you're not writing action? * What's the biggest mistake that can be made when plotting the beginning? * I see a lot of big-name author beginnings that aren't all that strong. Why should I spend time making my beginning awesome? * How do you balance the need to have something happening right away against the need to have the reader know something about the characters? * In creating a character, where do you start in the development process, and what do you begin revealing first?