Update on a beta reading critique that changed my opening chapters

A published author I swapped with said my first three pages were 'backstory dumping disguised as action' and told me to cut 80% of the exposition. So I moved all that history into chapter 4 and started with my character actually doing something, which made the whole first act flow way better. Has anyone else gotten a harsh critique that totally reshaped how you approach a key part of your writing process?

3 comments

3 Comments

xenaf5123d ago

AGREE. I used to be all about frontloading info but this approach makes so much more sense lol

mila_murphy2123d ago

Wait till you try withholding the ending, that's the real game changer.

stellanelson23d ago

But doesn't withholding the payoff kind of cheat the audience out of understanding the bigger picture? If you don't show your hand early, @mila_murphy21, you're basically gambling that people will stick around long enough to care about the ending. I've seen too many stories fall flat because the buildup went too long without giving anything solid to hold onto.