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Question: Help with teenage writing!.!?
Okay, so I'm writing a book, and I need introduction tips, and conclusion tips!. also, I have trouble with making parts of my writing longer!. Tips are good!. Thanks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
What kind of book are you writing!? Is it fiction!? Give me an idea of what kind of piece it is, and I'll try to give you some ideas!. :)

One thing I can say right away is that you want your opening sentence to "hook" the reader!. Lots of times, people pick up books that look interesting, and they might read the first few lines!.!.!.and if they're not immediately hooked, they'll put that book down and move right on to the next one!. You don't want to just throw a random SHOCKER out there, but you do want to make sure your opening sentence makes the reader want to know what happens next!.

There are all different ways to craft an enticing first sentence, but here's one example (from James Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues") -- and I've included the entire first paragraph, actually, because it all continues to build off that first intriguing sentence:

"I read about it in the paper, in the subway, on my way to work!. I read it, and I couldn't believe it, and I read it again!. Then perhaps I just stared at it, at the newsprint spelling out his name, spelling out the story!. I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people, and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside!."

Most readers are, by now, not likely to put this story down AT LEAST until they figure out WHAT ON EARTH, what unbelievable thing, the narrator has just seen in the newspaper!. And, of course, the next step is to make sure that by the time you DO let them know, you've got them interested enough to keep reading a little further, a little further!.!.!.until, hey, they're reading all the way through to the end, because you've got 'em!.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that it's better to SHOW than TELL in your writing!. In the little excerpt above, Baldwin's narrator doesn't simply say, "I was shocked by what I read in the newspaper!." Instead, Baldwin SHOWS the reader the narrator's reaction: he repeats himself (something people who are stunned commonly do), he reads the same news story multiple times, he simply stares at it for a while, etc!. Don't just TELL the reader what's happening; let the reader see/feel/hear what's happening!. Instead of telling the reader, "Bobby was angry," show the reader that "Bobby jammed his fists into his pockets and stomped out of the kitchen," etc!.

And I have one last question for you: What do you mean when you say you have trouble making parts of your writing longer!? Www@QuestionHome@Com

You mean character's introductions!?
His long gold hair dance with the breeze that comb the hills!.
The dark of the night was trap in her black eyes
Her countenance fair as the snow in the tallest mountains
Mix them with the scene or the situation!.
The horror evident in her eyes of blue!.
Don't just say He had long hair and blue eyes!. Or The man knew well his job and the workers knew better that to cross him!. (someone intimidating but genius)
To make parts longer added things like what do you see through your character's eyes!.!.!. what do you smell!.!.!.
Hope it help,

Anna del C!.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
and "Trouble in the Elf City"Www@QuestionHome@Com

Don't have any!. I am terrible at writing and can offer little, if any, advice you may use in creating a literary masterpiece!. I'm sorry I can't really help but maybe you should consult a school counselor for further guidance!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

wow a teenager that knows how to spell!
Its refreshing to see! Unfortunately I have no tips but I just had to mention thatWww@QuestionHome@Com