Friday Question – Introduction

Posted on 07/05/2019 by Andrew Reynolds

I’m writing a story.  A novel. A book. A thing that won’t go away. A story that must be told.

I have a question of you.

What would you think of a book that begins?

Perhaps there is no story more difficult to tell than the one that changes all.  Such a story gains its own life and becomes more than it was.  Each person who is touched by the story adds their own part to the narrative, forever changing it and sending to places it has never been.

            How to tell such a story?

            You can’t, because once you tell it, you change – you become part of the narrative as the story bends slowly to you.  The story is transient, ephemeral, ever decaying and ever growing.

            The author of this tale is both you and I.  It is told the way my children will learn about my life – in fragments, images, and with the ever evolving re-understanding of my past.  It is a story reflected in a shattered crystal, multifaceted, fragmented, and yet a reminder that perfection once existed.

Would you turn to chapter one?

About Andrew Reynolds

Born in California Did the school thing studying electronics, computers, release engineering and literary criticism. I worked in the high tech world doing software release engineering and am now retired. Then I got prostate cancer. Now I am a blogger and work in my wood shop doing scroll saw work and marquetry.
This entry was posted in Writing and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

47 Responses to Friday Question – Introduction

  1. aginggracefullymyass says:
    07/17/2019 at 11:16 am

    I REALLY like the 4th paragraph. That was the hook for me. Now this is coming from someone who has never written a thing beside my blog, but I think that should be first. It startles you and then you find yourself nodding in agreement. And wanting to know more. Hey – you asked…

    Liked by 1 person

  2. George says:
    07/11/2019 at 11:59 am

    Absolutely. I can usually decide in the first few lines whether I will like a book or the writing style of the author
    For me, I would stop after to ask the question of how to tell such a story. The hook before the first chapter, or second. But that’s just me.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Diane Henders says:
    07/10/2019 at 8:43 pm

    Yes! Your writing style is lovely – the mystery and the story-telling rhythm draws me in immediately.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Mama's Empty Nest says:
    07/08/2019 at 9:42 am

    Ummm……..YES!!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Carol Balawyder says:
    07/07/2019 at 11:33 am

    Yes, I would. You have told us that the story will change the reader and so I am curious as to what the story is. Good luck! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Andrew Reynolds says:
      07/07/2019 at 1:27 pm

      That’s the question – what story? I actual wrote this for one book, but am now thinking of using for a different book. The question is, “will my story meet this promise?”

      Liked by 1 person

  7. ParentingIsFunny says:
    07/06/2019 at 11:53 am

    Yes, of course, although this line threw me a bit: The author of this tale is both you and I.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Annika Perry says:
    07/06/2019 at 7:42 am

    Andrew, a resounding YES! 😀 I’m hooked … how much have you written of the book? Do you know where it is going? Very exciting.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Andrew Reynolds says:
      07/06/2019 at 7:46 am

      I have written the first and last chapters, have a chapter outline, character studies and a bunch of research. It’s almost done – all I have to do is write it.

      Like

  9. JoHanna Massey says:
    07/06/2019 at 6:21 am

    Yes.
    Write on Andrew, Write on.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. G. J. Jolly says:
    07/06/2019 at 4:34 am

    Yes, I would read on. It makes it especially personal.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. dorannrule says:
    07/05/2019 at 10:28 am

    Yes. And will you begin Chapter 1?

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Theresa Henige says:
    07/05/2019 at 9:58 am

    Beautiful writing. I always read the book jacket first, then the 1st paragraph of the 1st chapter, so… if I am interested enough by your book jacket to open the book, your intro would definitely compel me to read more. Have a great day.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Allan G. Smorra says:
    07/05/2019 at 9:56 am

    Well done, Andrew. Don’t stop now.
    Ω

    Liked by 1 person

  14. ShariLynn says:
    07/05/2019 at 8:17 am

    I am intrigued!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Donna Cameron says:
    07/05/2019 at 8:12 am

    Yes, though you’ve now set the expectation that chapter one will immediately take hold of me and not let go. When that happens, I’m hooked. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Jacqui Murray says:
    07/05/2019 at 7:58 am

    Very unique. No one will stop reading because they fear it’s something they’ve already read ten times. How it fits–not sure of the genre. If it’s like your poetry–maybe literary fiction–you’re spot on!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Andrew Reynolds says:
      07/05/2019 at 12:11 pm

      I wrote this for a post-apocalyptic novel I’m working on, but it might get moved to a poetry book I am working on. I was aiming for a literary style for the novel, but we’ll see where it ends up.

      Like

  17. Chris Sarantopoulos says:
    07/05/2019 at 7:01 am

    Yes. You start with a strong hook. To be honest, this entire excerpt is strong.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Teressa says:
    07/05/2019 at 6:22 am

    Yes. Absolutely.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Relax... says:
    07/05/2019 at 6:13 am

    Yes.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Deb Farris says:
    07/05/2019 at 5:56 am

    Yes, yes, yes! Beautiful! Why even the introduction pulses with life!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.