Looking Back at Harry Potter (the movies at least)

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Yep. We're blogging about Harry Potter on "H" Day. Whattaya know?

As you may or may not know, I’m a writer who’s been at war with her WIP since 2008-ish. With my WIP, I’m always in two stages - safely plotting out my next moves, like I’m at headquarters, or charging at it head-on and trying to write out a new version, like I’m in battle. Over the weekend, I returned to the battlefield, hammering out a shiny, new first chapter after a week or so of plotting.

And what did I turn on for inspiration for beginning a story? The first two Harry Potter movies of course. Not just because Post-Potter depression is finally healing (the remedy: Hunger Games mania, woot!). But because the boy wizard series has always been one of my favorite examples of a perfect mix of world building, characterization, and complex plotting. Why not see how it began, and so simply too?

The horror of the blank page. The cure: Harry Potter?

Now that I’ve looked back, here’s some things I’d seen in the movie version alone. Things to think about when you’re at the beginning of your own story.

1. It happens quick. While we might have a few chapters in the book version between Privet Drive and Hagrid knocking down the door, the ordeal happens in a blink of an eye in the movies.





Sure, J.K Rowling offers enjoyable world building and back-story, but we learn enough in short film scenes scenes. Harry in closet and cooking eggs, miserable. Dudley counting presents, spoiled. Harry sets snake on Dudley, something else. And cue: Hagrid and the letters.

A lot of times we forget that we have to be quick. Readers sometimes have short attention spans. As much as we want to get the flowery descriptions upfront, and show off how awesome of writers we are, sometimes just getting to the point works too.

2. Characters always start out exaggerated. Hermione doesn’t talk as sharply and snobbishly as she does in her first scene on the train. Not even Draco can keep his smirk during the series.





Every character starts with an initial, dramatic version of themselves…a version that slowly changes or gets more detailed. So when it comes to characterization, especially in a series, there’s no need to hammer out a three-dimensional personality by page two.

Some of the best characters are multi-layered. The fun comes in peeling off those layers.



3. There will be questions. If your character is thrown into a fantasy world completely unlike their own…there’s going to be a ton of questions actually! Yet, every once in a while there’ll be an urban fantasy, usually YA, story where a character learns about a whole new world, a whole new species of creatures, a whole system of magic and power.



Are they curious? Do they walk around with stars in their eyes or questions marks over their head? Not so much. One thing Harry gets right in both the books and movies is, despite how humble or polite he is at first, he asks a lot of questions. He’s actually a bit curious about this entire otherworld of creatures he’s part of now.

Not that he asked this many questions...


Those are a few things. What can you think of in terms of classic movie/movie series beginnings? Or even book beginnings?

Later.

OPENING A STORY IS LIKE OPENING A DOOR (Lessons From High School English)

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Hello, strangers! It’s time to bring back another short-lived segment - LESSONS FROM HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH. Today’s topic - story openings! *cheers from make-believe class*



As writers, there is nothing we sweat out more than the beginning. The first words, the first paragraph, the first page. It’s because it’s also the first glimpse into our imaginations, our first time exposing our imaginary friends (“characters” they’re typically called), and the world’s first taste of either a flop or work of genius.

There is no cookie-cutter way to open stories. No formula one can follow to spit out a flawless opening line that will make agents shudder. Us writers are always flailing for the “best of times” or “worst of times”, or just a simple “call me (insert name here)”. Uniqueness is the key.

So, as we all struggle to carve our own sculptures of fictional art, how about I fill you in on the sort of stuff we’re learning in class?

HOW TO OPEN A STORY ACCORDING TO MY LITERARTURE CLASS NOTES (Pros/cons/examples all of my own making).


1. Start with Dialogue - I.E… “It is rather dark and stormy tonight,” I said.
Pro: Bam, voice is introduced, without even trying.
Con: “So, I’m totally talking about something that the reader has no clue about, and doesn’t care about to be honest.”

2. Interjection - I.E… Oh, no! Dark and stormy clouds are gathering outside!
Pro: Immediately ignite some action and emotion.
Con: Do you really want to be one of those writers who starts off their tale with an exclamation point? REALLY!?!!!

3. Onomatopoeia (absolutely ADORE that word) - I.E… KABOOM! Thunder had now entered our already dark and stormy night.
Pro: They demand the attention of le reader.
Con: Maybe a bit too demanding, and can easily weigh in on the “corny, cheesy” scale.




4. Immediate action - I.E… The flash of lightening bounced across the field, heading straight for mine and character two’s car.
Pro: Makes the reader feel immediately involved in a story.
Con: Some readers aren’t ready to take it fast, or keep up with a such a brand new story.

5. Character’s thought - I.E… “Why is it so dark - and stormy - tonight?” I pondered to myself.
Pro: Gives the reader an immediate first impression of your character.
Con: Not an entirely realistic way to start a story, unless it’s a think piece - not many adventures begin with a “hmm” moment.

6. Foreshadowing - I.E… As dark, thunderous clouds overcast our town, I knew something was off.
Pro: Gets the reader interested in the events going on.
Con: If done wrong, you could come off as a *cough* TEASE *cough*

7. Contradiction - I.E… Our peaceful town was usually one of sunshine and smiley faces…but as clouds gathered, I knew today would be different.
Pro: Instantly points out the strangeness of the situation in your story
Con: Can too easily come off as corny, much better for short stories.

8. Moral - I.E… They say every cloud has a silver lining…but what sort of metaphor is it when the cloud is dark and stormy?
Pro: A central theme gets your reader thinking, and prepared for your story’s message.
Con: Distracts from the introduction of your story, if it’s not that important.

Did any ways stick out to you? How many ways have you tried before, or considered trying? Which ones come off as corny to you? Which ones make you think of stories you’ve read before?

Anyhow, there’s a lesson here, and it’s this: forget EVERYTHING you’ve learned about the first page (well, not everything, keep the basics like grammar and how to hold a pen). Rules and “tricks” aren’t always vital to your story. After all, YOUR story is what matters. It’s like every novel has a gazillion doors, all locked…except one. You can try opening the others, but once you find the right one…you can just walk right in.



In this one door, your story will be introduced, with the right voice, mood, vibe, and attitude that will make it stand out, and be its own. Not just some rip-off of your favorite writer or TV show (totally didn’t do that once…well, fine, but I was young, okay?).

And when you find that door, remember that not every reader who enters it will fit. Personally, my favorite opening line of all TIME (“The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit” - Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld) is one that typically grosses people out. But according to SSF, Westerfeld’s sorta a misunderstood genius, so there you go. I love it. Others don’t.

Okay, writer friends. I somehow managed to poke fun at my literature class and compare story openings to doors in one blog post. Accomplishment of the week! So, see you all next week?

One last note though….there is one rule.

Never.

Ever.

EVER…



…Start your story with a “dark and stormy night”.

Later!