/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.15215718]

Is it bad to have a long speech in the first chapter of your novel?

The second half of the first chapter of a novel im writing has a long, very bible like (thematically) oration from one of the main characters. In the following chapters the dialogue is more interwoven with the action, but I plan there to be several more orations, with one in the final chapter to be a perfect mirror and payoff to the one in chapter one, so its all according to the design I have laid out in my mind, but im worried that such heavy dialogue from the start might be offputting to many readers. I suppose thats just an occupational hazard. Are there examples of popular works that start with a long winded orations?

[Anonymous No.15215749]

You should make actions interwoven with speech. Like a paragraph of speech and then a paragraph of action to demonstrate what he's saying is coming true or sum i dunno i dont read books like a nerd virgin

[Anonymous No.15215789]

>>15215749
What kinds of books do you read

[Anonymous No.15215802]

>>15215749
kek

[Anonymous No.15215837]

>>15215749
>i dont read books like a nerd virgin

[Anonymous No.15215889]

>Are there examples of popular works that start with a long winded orations?
I can't think of any novels off the top of my head, but I'm sure it can work. Speeches tend to be gripping. As much as I hate the ideologue, Rand is a decent place to look. She manages to make speeches lasting anywhere from 10 to 70 pages that are about absolute nonsense yet are gripping as hell to read
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ2_ZxveT6U

[Anonymous No.15215892]

>>15215889
Interesting, thanks!

[Anonymous No.15216082]

>>15215718
There aren’t really any rules, just depends if its interesting or not.

[Anonymous No.15216155]

>>15215718
You usually want to avoid that in the beginning; it can be a little daunting and turn off a lot of readers.

[Anonymous No.15216265]

>>15216082
Bullshit. Zoomers dont have the attention span