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Is any of this overwritten? unclear? boring infodumping?
Q. From the first page of my novel, which I should really stop fussing over so I can move on and write the rest of it: Jason Larkin sat on the porch of the house in the cliff. His feet dangled into the empty wind that sang across the bluffs. Far below them, a brown pelican settled onto the old boathouse with ungainly grace. Jason looked out over the beach to the tossed waves, spotting seals. It was his great-uncle s home he balanced at the edge of, only seven miles from where he d lived for all twelve years of his life, yet he had never been here until this week. Mr. and Mrs. Larkin were out of town, gone halfway across the world on what must have been their millionth business trip. The neighbors who normally looked after Jason were at a… [cont.]
Asked by KG - Sun Nov 15 15:11:06 2009 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Let me tell you what you are doing well, first: You are using your words well, and I do not feel that you are overwriting at all. And your descriptions are well done and clear and easy to understand. And, your dialogue comes off as authentic, real speech. Those are very important skills. Now my suggestions: First off, forget the first few pages and write the novel, all of it, without much stopping to rewrite. It will do you a world of good in developing your writing skills. If this is your first draft, and you have an outline or good idea of where your story is doing, the mass of fiction-writing wisdom is to write it straight through and discipline yourself not to fuss with the first page or chapter. The first page IS important,… [cont.]
Answered by Bill - Sun Nov 15 15:48:47 2009