At 08:34 PM 4/28/96 -0400, you wrote:

Ryan Mathews mentioned in passing:

While I'm at it, someone else brought this up:  Now more than ever, it 
is important to begin your story with a "grabber", something that the 
reader will immediately see on his or her newsreader, something that 
will pique the curiosity and will encourage him or her to read for a 
few pages, during which time you can convince the reader to stick 
around for the long haul.  You have no flashy cover to catch someone's 
eye; only your writing can sell your writing.

Sad, but true.  Unless you have a 'name' (like Ryan Mathews for one), you've
got to do something to grab your audience.

Not with me...I'll read anything once...and I don't even NOTICE who wrote it
most of the time(Unless I happen to see a name I recognize from the list:)

Since I write BGC, I can make it easier for the audience to find my story -
I send the finished version to alt.fan.bgcrisis (it's not against the rules
there).  Then I've got it into their computer via their newsreader.
Hopefully, they'll open it up, and then the opening 'grabber' will, well,
grab them ;)

Good idea...wish there was an alt.fan.Devil-hunter group...

For example, I'm 
beginning ACADEMY DAYS right in the middle of an action sequence, at 
the end of which the plot premise has been established, as well as the 
style and tone of the story.  Hopefully it'll work.  Only you can tell 
me.

What's "Academy Days" going to be about?

I'm gonna read it just 'cause it's not Ranma :)

Aaron Stolz-astolz@direct.ca E-mail me anytime! I'm on for HOURS on end all the 
time, so you might even get a reply soon after you send it! *******************