So, I have this really awesome story idea that my friend made... and it's brilliant and I could really lose myself in writing it! The only problem is... starting it... I'm not quite sure /how/ to start it... if you could give me any tips... that'd be appreciated. (It starts off in the time of war...)

Edit:

A bit of the introduction's outline/ basic concept;

It takes place during a time of war.
Weapons are of deep importance to the people.
Though in order to get the best weapons,
the people decided to bind the weapon to living creatures; it grows inside the human body.
Though only certain people can carry them and only the best warriors in the country have to right to wield these special weapons. (They are called Knights)
Knights get to choose the person that gives birth to the weapon, they're called Bearers.
The Bearers live in a place near the country capital and is protected by the army.

If you're stuck on how to start it, you should consider what kind of mood you are aiming to set. Whenever I write, I think of the kind of "atmosphere" I want to offer first as well as the setting time-wise. If it's a more modern setting, you'd approach it differently than a fantasy setting where things are more archaic... and... uh... I'm probably spewing random things now.

To get the point of it all, just take into consideration the overall view of your story now and decide on the type of impression you want to make upon your readers and yourself. Also, I think if you gave people a brief outline of what your story is about, it'd help a lot more in determining how to write that introduction of yours. :)

Hope that helped!

Originally Posted by Mitsuko-sama

If you're stuck on how to start it, you should consider what kind of mood you are aiming to set. Whenever I write, I think of the kind of "atmosphere" I want to offer first as well as the setting time-wise. If it's a more modern setting, you'd approach it differently than a fantasy setting where things are more archaic... and... uh... I'm probably spewing random things now.

To get the point of it all, just take into consideration the overall view of your story now and decide on the type of impression you want to make upon your readers and yourself. Also, I think if you gave people a brief outline of what your story is about, it'd help a lot more in determining how to write that introduction of yours. :)

Hope that helped!

Thank you for your help... I guess I shall post a bit of the outline then...

No problem. I'd love to offer some suggestions if you do. Don't mind me if I seem overbearing; I just love writing and helping people with some things.

Originally Posted by Mitsuko-sama

No problem. I'd love to offer some suggestions if you do. Don't mind me if I seem overbearing; I just love writing and helping people with some things.

No, not at all! I was really hoping for someone like you.
I edited my post and placed the outline there.

Well, I just read your outline, and it does seem quite intriguing with the concept of Bearers and Knights. So I'm assuming this is a fantasy genre, right?

If that's the case, I'd suggest you go for something a touch "archaic" if you're comfortable with writing in that style for a little bit. Now depending on the mood you want to set, I'd recommend different courses of action. For example, if you want to convey the gravity of the situation in the war, you may want to start out opening up in the midst of a battle scene or right after it had ended.

I hope that can get you started on a few ideas.

Oh, don't forget that the time of day (or night) sets a mood too!

Originally Posted by Mitsuko-sama

Well, I just read your outline, and it does seem quite intriguing with the concept of Bearers and Knights. So I'm assuming this is a fantasy genre, right?

If that's the case, I'd suggest you go for something a touch "archaic" if you're comfortable with writing in that style for a little bit. Now depending on the mood you want to set, I'd recommend different courses of action. For example, if you want to convey the gravity of the situation in the war, you may want to start out opening up in the midst of a battle scene or right after it had ended.

I hope that can get you started on a few ideas.

Oh, don't forget that the time of day (or night) sets a mood too!

Thank you, I'll have to give it a try. x3!

You're welcome! :) Feel free to PM me if you need further help; I wouldn't mind helping you expand more on the introduction if needed.

If you've got a setting where people are at war, I highly recommend milking the conflict for all it's worth. You can use the situation of the world as a whole to provide external conflict, drawing in readers from the beginning-- but don't forget to pay attention to conflicts between characters and within characters, too. The best war-oriented fiction takes care to highlight the plights of those affected by war, not just the nuts and bolts of war itself.