Writing Excuses 10.17: Q&A on Beginnings

We've talked about beginnings this month. Now we'll answer some of your questions on the matter. Here are the questions: * What are there differences between the beginnings in different forms? * How do you begin in media res when you're not writing action? * What's the biggest mistake that can be made when plotting the beginning? * I see a lot of big-name author beginnings that aren't all that strong. Why should I spend time making my beginning awesome? * How do you balance the need to have something happening right away against the need to have the reader know something about the characters? * In creating a character, where do you start in the development process, and what do you begin revealing first?  

Om Podcasten

Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Daniel Wells discuss writing techniques in a fast-paced, 15-minute format.