Quote Originally Posted by Chakramaster View Post
That’s a big one to struggle with. Starting out mid climactic scene only to backtrack, starting from the very beginning, starting after something big has already happening and just explaining. It’s tough. I still don’t know how I’d start mine. I’ve only thought on major events mainly. Not how to lead up to those points. It’s easier to think of awesome things that WILL happen versus how it all began.
Yeah, it's the same with movies. You have to hook the viewer/reader in FAST because attention spans are short. While it may seem necessary, don't do a lore buildup right in the very beginning. If something out of the ordinary doesn't happen within the first few minutes of diving into it, people will look elsewhere.

I made that brutal mistake with the novel I'm still trying to get published. Knocked out like five pages worth of introductory/exposition material just to jump ahead to where the story gets wild. I haven't tried submitting it again since then, but I'm waiting for a colleague of mine to give the red-lined version a look through first. I changed the ending around as well since the original submission.

Man, trying to get something published is BRUTAL. It feels like most places don't even want to try it unless you're famous, you have already published something in the past, or you know someone on the inside.