Beginning the Journey

An author’s first problem is where to begin the story.  An author’s last problem is to find out if the story begins in the right place.

For Crossroads, I expected the story to begin and end with Derek and Nate standing under a street light and making the decisions that would start or complete the action.

By the second draft, I knew that would be as if the brothers dropped from outer space; where did they come from? Why here?  Is this a chance meeting, or is there something behind it?  Why weren’t they together in the first place?

So I backed up. First I backed up too far and added stuff that didn’t matter either to Derek and Nate or to you, the reader.  Delete key.

But before Derek reaches that lighted spot, I must show you where he comes from and why he’s coming now.

Then Derek and Nate can get together.