Writers struggle with where and how to begin their stories for the same reason many writers begin in present story time and immediately flip to a flashback.
The moment the protagonist loses her innocence or footing often takes place years before the real story time begins.
In order to prevail at the Climax, the protagonist must rediscover the beliefs, skills, knowledge, or experience lost in her back-story.
I use The Kite Runner, Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden as examples on Step 16 of the Plot Series: How Do I Plot A Novel, Memoir, Screenplay?Click here to read more.
wow, great links! I love this whole vlog revolution : )
Great post- the lost skill can fall under invisible or visible backstory.
The invisible backstory (what burnt your protagonist decades/years/months before the story begins) is what a writer should leave off the page, as contrasted with visible backstory (what also burnt your protagonist before the story began but is referred to/ mentioned frequently)
Thanks, Erica! I do, too. Yet another learning tool, especially helpful for people who do better hearing the information than reading the book.
I like that, eeleelee. Thanks!