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Just realized I used to start every story with a character waking up, but after reading a writing book from the library that said it was a cliche, I now try to open with a specific sound or smell instead.
The book 'The First Five Pages' by Noah Lukeman pointed out that opening with an alarm clock is overdone, so for my last piece, I began with the smell of burnt toast and a distant police siren, which felt way more engaging right away... has anyone else found a simple switch that improved their openings?
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kai_park1mo ago
Burnt toast? That's your new opening? (Seriously?)
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danielw881mo ago
What's wrong with burnt toast? It's got a nice crunch, and the char adds flavor. I mean, it's not for everyone, but it works.
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dakota_nelson431mo ago
Burnt toast isn't really about the crunch though, @kai_park has a point... the char is just carbon, not really flavor. Toast should be golden brown, maybe a small hint of dark edges, but full on burnt is just a different kind of bitter.
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