Starting in the middle . . .

Scott Adams' Dilbert speaks to the business world rather than the world of creative writing, but this comic makes a great point for writers regardless. Don't start your story at the beginning!

Ok, ok. James Michener was an exception. He could start from the very beginning, much like 'the man who could not summarize' and make it fascinating. But book after book on writing advises us to start in the middle of the story, where the action is.

I'm taking this advice to heart. I promise that when I write a romance, I won't spend six chapters telling readers about my hero's childhood. I'll jump right to the moment the future love of his life pulls him over for speeding.