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My writing teacher said to always start with a character's hands, and it finally clicked for me.
I tried it for a detective story and described her cleaning a revolver, which instantly set the tone better than any backstory. Anyone have other weirdly specific starting points that work for them?
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roberts9511d ago
That "start with the hands" thing is brilliant for a detective... it shows action right away. My weird one is starting with a character's feet. What shoes they're wearing, if they're tapping, or if they're standing in a puddle. It tells you about their mood and their whole situation without saying it.
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martinez.kim10d ago
Feet tell a whole story.
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logan_ellis10d ago
Yeah, the shoes detail is huge. You can tell if someone's rich or broke, careful or messy, all before they even speak. A character in worn-out work boots tells a different story than someone in shiny new heels.
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