Charlene Sands

Hi all, I’m Charlene Sands and for the past 9 years I’ve been writing Westerns for Harlequin and Desires for Silhouette.


I’ve made quite a few mistakes along the way and one of them is that I didn’t always start my story in the right place. Here’s some tips and insights from my very own “rookie” mistakes.


Writers often start their story off with explanation. Too much back-story stymies a good story. Back-story is important, but it must be woven into the plot like a fine thread – a little at a time. Think of a way to tell the least amount of information and still have the story make sense.

Bombarding the reader all at once will not progress the romance. Tell your back-story through dialogue, introspection in bits and pieces. It’s a way to hold to reader’s attention and to make them want to find out more and it allows the writer to throw in a few surprises in the end. Start your story with action or dynamic dialogue. Have something important happening at the beginning that directly relates to the main characters.

What works well is starting your story in the middle of the scene with accusations flying or buildings being blown up. The heroine finding a man on her doorstep, a virtual stranger to her, bleeding and unconscious is a better way to start off than for instance, showing the altercation that leads to him being shot, dragging himself out of danger and landing him at her feet. Don’t take all the mystery out of the story (even if it’s not a mystery) by answering all the questions.


The reader/editor could easily become bored if all the facts were laid out in front of them initially. Leave room for speculation, for doubt. Worry the reader and make them wonder the “why” of the situation. Why did he get shot? Who is he? What is his relationship to the heroine? How did he end up on her doorstep? These questions help to make the story a “PAGE TURNER”. They will snare the reader’s interest and make them want to read on. And often times, you, as the writer, don’t have to answer these questions right away and you also don’t have to answer them all at once. The writer can drop hints, foreshadow and “play” with the scenario a bit, before all truths come out.

Think about the James Bond movies. They basically all start the same way. We usually see 007 in the midst of some incredible chase scene using every stunt and vehicle imaginable. Bond in action. The beginning scene is usually the culmination of a case he’d been working on, and one we as the viewing audience know nothing about. But there’s action, catching our attention, snaring us in, captivating us with all the incredible special effects.

The next time we see Bond, he’s with “M” his boss and he’s learning what his next assignment is. How boring would it be for us, the viewer, to have the film start this way – with a discussion, or conversation with the powers that be, explaining to Bond how they expect him to risk his neck, one more time?
In romance, of course, we can’t write a beginning scene that has nothing to do with the actual story, but the idea is the same. Capture the reader’s attention, draw them in, make them want to continue reading.

Where to start the story takes a good deal of thought. Authors often obsess about it and write the beginning several different ways to see which one works best. Think it through and try to make the beginning as dynamic as possible. No one knows your story better than you.

Here’s the opening scene in my 2006 National Readers Choice Finalist, Like Lightning. I’d always wanted to start a story this way, and when I went to our National convention, I heard Desire Senior Ed, Melissa Jeglinski say she liked to read a manuscript that surprised her. Well, this was a false opening, a surprise and the perfect place to start this story: “I do.” Trey Walker uttered the words slowly, both awed and a little bit frightened. In a million lifetimes, he’d never dreamed he’d say these words. Especially not to Maddie Brooks, the auburn-haired beauty standing beside him, her wide eyes filled with gratitude. They stood under an arbor of lush traveling vines in the small garden area behind his house at 2 Hope Ranch. “I do too,” she offered, as a gentle breeze blew by, messing her hair enough to give her down-home girl appearance a sexy edge. Trey swallowed hard, intrigued by the young woman who’d be living with him for an unforeseen length of time. In truth, the petite green-eyed female scared the hell out of him with her innocent looks and wholesome demeanor. She was the exact sort of woman Trey avoided – the kind that said “KEEPER” in big bold capital letters. But damn it all, if Trey hadn’t needed her or rather if 2 Hope Ranch hadn’t needed what she had to offer, Trey would never have agreed to this. “So you agree to the terms?” She repeated softly, her voice a mere whisper on the wind. “I do, Maddie. There’s no need to sign a contract. My word is good as gold.” For the first few paragraphs we think the two are getting married. But it’s not the case. They are entering into a business agreement. And my plan, which worked out great, was to end the story, in exactly the same way, almost word for word in those first few paragraphs. And this time – they were getting married. HEA
Could I have shown the events leading up to them embarking on their business arrangement? Yes. Would it have been effective? NO. It wasn’t dramatic enough. And, I wanted to surprise the senior editor. BTW— This story sold quickly on the basis of this one chapter. I believe it had a lot to do with how this story began and how it developed from there. Do you recall reading any dynamic openings? Did they stick in your mind? What’s the best opening line you’ve ever read?
Charlene is a partner on the Petticoats and Pistols blog. http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com/
Her just released Western Weddings anthology with Jillian Hart and Kate Bridges is in bookstores now.
Grace Lander returns to Springville to pick up the pieces of her life and become the town's schoolmarm. Single father Caleb Matlock's kiss may be just what Grace needs to mend her heart and make a home!
Find out more about Charlene at http://www.charlenesands.com/