Topic Discussion: That One Part You're So So Proud Of

[sarahmaclean]

all authors, and I imagine this to be doubly true of first-time authors, are proud of their books--and incredibly proud of a particular scene/character/moment/line/etc.

it might be the scene that you wrote, threw out, wrote, threw out and wrote again...or the character who you never thought you'd love as much as you do...or the line that made

Comments

[seaheidi]

I love my opening paragraph..I wrote it after I wrote the book and thought the opening needed something else. i love everything about it. i fussed over every word... and i love the way it ties in later.

every part after that pretty much sucks.

KIDDING! (I hope)

[maprilynne]

I have a scene near the end of my book where two of the main characters are in a river. It is still one of the most intense writing sessions I've ever had. I came out of my office from writing that scene thoroughly exhausted and so pleased with myself.

It is also a scene that my agent and editor both specifically mentioned as being stellar.:)

[anywherebeyond]

The one thing, in all its drafts, that has never changed in "Shadowed Summer" is the first, and the last line. I spent ages, ages, ages, thinking about the first line before I wrote it. I wanted, more than anything, to approach the classic perfection that is Daphne du Maurier's opening line for "Rebecca,"

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

I still haven't achieved my "Rebecca" line yet, but I'm pretty damned pleased with

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.

[sarahmaclean]

it's a great line! you SHOULD be proud of it!

[neeshadm]

That is an awesome first line.

[cyn2write]

Ooooh great question. There is a book that I once wrote, that will never see the light of day, with a great scene. The MC figures out her boyfriend cheated on her and is forced to confront him. It makes me cry every time because I think I got it across that the guy feels really bad about what he did, and wouldn't do it again, and yet she's so torn apart that she can't accept his apology. Every book I write, I keep hoping I'll find someplace to insert it, but I never do.

[megancrewe]

Hmmm, this is hard, especially in the midst of revisions. ;) I think what I'm most proud of, and what I'd fight for tooth and claw if anyone tried to take it out, is the relationship between my main character and her (dead) sister. I love the conversations they have, and I feel like I pulled off the bittersweetness at least passably well.