I'm having some trouble deciding.

[outlawmojo]

What's everyone's opinions on origin issues?

Should I do an origin in the first issue, or should I break it up into pieces over a few issues?

I know its all a matter of preference, but I was wondering what everyones take was.

[Lee Nordling]

Originally Posted by outlawmojo

What's everyone's opinions on origin issues?

Should I do an origin in the first issue, or should I break it up into pieces over a few issues?

I know its all a matter of preference, but I was wondering what everyones take was.

It depends on a million different factors.

Anybody who tells you one is better than another is applying that question to THEIR work, and the opposite could be equally true for YOUR work.

If REALLY know your thematic goals, then you'll know when is the best time to start your story.

Remember, the inciting incident--the point where your protagonist's life switches from what it was to what it will be (at the end)--is the story element you need to front load as early as possible.

There ARE exceptions, "Rocky" being a great one, but when you postpone your inciting incident in order to establish the nature of your protagonist's life, you are in danger of boring your readership/audience.

If your story is thematically about something OTHER than how a character "got their powers," "became a werewolf," "was jettisoned from dying planet," etc., then the origin story undercuts your theme.

This is pretty simple to answer WHEN you know why you're writing what you're writing.

--Lee

[Steven Forbes]

One day, I hope to be as smart and succinct as you, Lee.

-Steven

[Lee Nordling]

Originally Posted by Forby

One day, I hope to be as smart and succinct as you, Lee.

-Steven

Succinct???

(Lee the Blabbermouth glances quickly over his shoulder to see if there's another Lee standing behind him.)

Actually, I appreciate the compliment; thanks!

I think it's more experienced than smart; I keep collecting new perspectives as I go, and with my mileage, that's a LOT of perspective.

The BEST story structure teacher IN THE WORLD is John Truby (truby.com). (Robert McKee is great...but doesn't hold a candle to Truby.)

Buy his classes--he hasn't published a book yet--and listen to 'em a half dozen times until the lessons sink in, and you'll know most of what I know about story. Even better, he's the ONLY story structure teacher whose work I could actually WRITE from and have a sense that I finally knew what I was doing.

Nope, I don't get a commission for sales.

--Lee

[Steven Forbes]

Actually, I plan on getting those when I get some extra money! (This summer, it's looking like.)

Everyone, listen to Lee! Buy John Truby!

-Steven