A Book's First Line
They frequently say a book is judged by its cover, but what else do you, as a reader, look for when making up your mind whether or not to buy and read a book? For many people the story's very first line, it seems, can easily be a deal maker or breaker.
In this post, I take a look at my own approach to writing opening lines, give a few examples from other authors and consider how much those first few words really mean to the reader.
As a writer, I love coming up with the first line in a story. It's often the spark for something new, perhaps even the original catalyst for a story in the first place. And if the pleasure of a really good opening line can be so great for the writer, then it's not a major leap of imagination to appreciate how much it means to the reader.
I look not only for something that catches the reader's attention, but also a sentence that immediately establishes the rhythm of the book. So, The Strawberry Girl starts with "I never 'ad a plan to pretend I wasn't married." and the forthcoming Too Good begins with “There's a bloke I knew ran a shoe shop.” What I hope these both do is tweak the reader's interest, whilst also setting a rhythm of short, straightforward sentences that ensure the writing moves along swiftly and rhythmically.
The following are some examples I particularly like from other writers.
Jane Austen begins Pride and Prejudice with “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Ian Fleming kicks off Casino Royale with “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.”
Both these examples not only grab my attention as a reader very effectively, they also sets the tone for what is to follow in the rest of the book. That's no mean achievement. And notice how short the first three are; there's precious little waste in any of these.
Why not let us know what it is that makes a really great opening line for you and how about sharing an example or two.
For the full version of this post please see http://www.benwesterham.com/a-writers....
Get your free copy of the Ben Westerham starter library here http://www.benwesterham.com/subscribe....
Crime fiction with attitude and humour from 1980s London.
In this post, I take a look at my own approach to writing opening lines, give a few examples from other authors and consider how much those first few words really mean to the reader.
As a writer, I love coming up with the first line in a story. It's often the spark for something new, perhaps even the original catalyst for a story in the first place. And if the pleasure of a really good opening line can be so great for the writer, then it's not a major leap of imagination to appreciate how much it means to the reader.
I look not only for something that catches the reader's attention, but also a sentence that immediately establishes the rhythm of the book. So, The Strawberry Girl starts with "I never 'ad a plan to pretend I wasn't married." and the forthcoming Too Good begins with “There's a bloke I knew ran a shoe shop.” What I hope these both do is tweak the reader's interest, whilst also setting a rhythm of short, straightforward sentences that ensure the writing moves along swiftly and rhythmically.
The following are some examples I particularly like from other writers.
Jane Austen begins Pride and Prejudice with “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Ian Fleming kicks off Casino Royale with “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.”
Both these examples not only grab my attention as a reader very effectively, they also sets the tone for what is to follow in the rest of the book. That's no mean achievement. And notice how short the first three are; there's precious little waste in any of these.
Why not let us know what it is that makes a really great opening line for you and how about sharing an example or two.
For the full version of this post please see http://www.benwesterham.com/a-writers....
Get your free copy of the Ben Westerham starter library here http://www.benwesterham.com/subscribe....
Crime fiction with attitude and humour from 1980s London.
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