I am finally happy with the beginning of my young adult novel. I’ve been struggling with the framing device of the protagonist telling the story to his grandson, which is my homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs, as I mentioned in an earlier post. Typically for me, the solution came when I just followed the natural path of the story. In this instance, it was something I’ve never done: Use the second person.
I never considered using the second person so overtly. I guess it is the framing device used in The Princess Bride, although I haven’t read the book, so I don’t know for certain. But the way my book starts feels a lot like the beginning of the movie version.
Anyway, I find it interesting that in the two novels I’m writing, I’m using atypical structures. In this novel, I’ve replaced a pure narrative with a second person conversation. In my mystery novel, I’m alternating chapters in different time frames. Both were done to fulfill the demands of the story, not because I like to experiment. I’m not an experimental stylist—I”m a slave to the story!
Anyway, here’s the beginning of my young adult novel. I think it works well.
The story begins with your great great grandfather’s cane, with its arcane carvings and its shiny brass tip. Yes, that means he was my grandfather, and yes, this is the same one, and no, you can’t touch it. Not yet, at least. Now no more questions for now. I haven’t even started.
