title: Start Your Novel: Six Winning Steps Toward a Compelling Opening Line, Scene and Chapter
author:  Darcy Pattison 
description: Published in nine languages, children&apos;s book author and writing teacher <b>DARCY PATTISON</b>has been published with Harcourt, Philomel/Penguin, Harpercollins, Arbordale,and Mims House. Her books received recognition for excellence with starred reviews in Kirkus, BCCB and PW. Twice her books have been honored as NationalScience Teacher&apos;s Association Outstanding Science Trade books. <i>The Journey ofOliver K. Woodman</i> (Harcourt) received an Irma Simonton Black and James H. BlackAward for Excellence in Children&apos;s Literature Honor Book award, was named aNotable Book in Language Arts, and has been reprinted in a Houghton Mifflin textbook.<div><br />In 1999, Darcy created the highly acclaimed Novel Revision Retreat and has since taught it across the United States; alumni of that retreat include Kirby Larson with <i>Hattie Big Sky</i> and Caroline Starr Rose with May B. Darcy is the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor&apos;s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children&apos;s literature. </div>
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  ![Cover](images/Dhalgren.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Dhalgren
  
  
    
  
  
  ### Samuel R. Delany
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Bellona is a city at the dead center of the United States. _Something_ has
  happened there… The population has fled. Madmen and criminals wander the
  streets. Strange portents appear in the cloud-covered sky. Into this disaster
  zone comes a young man — poet, lover, and adventurer — known only as the Kid.
  Tackling questions of race, gender, and sexuality, _Dhalgren_ is a literary
  marvel and groundbreaking work of American magical realism.
  
  
  Text is full. The unclosed ending sentence can be read as leading into the
  unopened opening sentence, turning the novel into an enigmatic circle.
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Dhalgren
  
  
  ## by Samuel R Delany
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _This book about many things_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _must be for many people._
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Some of them are_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Joseph Cox, Bill Brodecky, David_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Hartwell, Liz Landry, Joseph_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Manfredini, Patrick Muir, Joh