I am restarting my novel Skyburner. And I am in converse within my mind! I am leaning towards last two options... but I cannot decide if they would be a foundation for my story as starting where I did last time.

I will give you some examples of each option:

1) It would start where Viarri is heading home from buying meat in Zuaccanor. She then finds Skyburner's egg and presses on. It is the dead of night and she is weary from hunger and fatigue. She collapses in the middle of the road, unconscious.

2) She and Yathri and Skyburner will be on making their way into Villvantra. (This will be a rather uneventful beginning. But this will be a good natural way to explain the past events without having to do a lot of by-the-way-explaining, because of the conversation Yathri will have with a guard.)

3) This one I really like. You would enter the story in the dead of night, as Viarri, Yathri, Essuada and Htogarh are secretly waiting for Driiad (who was sold as a slave by their father to pay off his debts. They are helping him run away.)

4) Here it will start as Viarri and co. tread the dirt road. Then they hear the men who are pursuing them. So they hide in the ditch. Kinda tense beginning, I would use it to draw the readers in faster, though # 3 should do that just fine...

SO please vote! Help; I need it!

I would say number three is the best starting, not too tense, but exciting enough to draw the reader.

Thanks for voting!

I agree with what's been said and voted so far. Opening a book with an aided escape attempt introduces--right away--relationships with meaning, a stake in a certain outcome, and a situation people will identify with in some way (even though most of us aren't escaped slaves ).

Yes, I liked that one best, too! (As it appears that everyone does. ) There is one problem that I think I can get around... but it would require changing the order that things happen in. The part where Skyburner and Viarri bond is a very essential part of the story and in memories it would not be right. Hmmm... do you think I could have them bond in the prologue maybe?

I also don't want to lose the clip from my signature! - points down - that happens just as they are getting ready to bond.

*Nods* Yes, I went for number three too.

Does anyone know who voted for # 4? I would really like to hear this person's opinion!

You can perhaps include it in a sort of flashback format...lots of books and movies do something like that. I imagine it would be something to research, to make sure you avoid any stylistic pitfalls that might be common.

Hmmm... I was think that I might do that... but I feel like it wouldn't be right in flashbacks. I don't know... we'll see. Thanks anyway Ceph!

Moved to The Forge. Carry on.

Thanks a million!

No problem.