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101 Best Beginnings Ever Written: A Romp Through Literary Openings for Writers and Readers
Barnaby Conrad follows up his acclaimed 101 Best Scenes Ever Written with 101 Best Beginnings Ever Written. Readers will continue their delightful romp through literature guided and instructed by Conrad’s insights and annotations. For writers and readers, the first part of every story is the most important. Conrad has identified twelve types of beginnings, providing captivating examples such as Ambrose Bierce’s opening sentence to his short story “An Imperfect Conflagration”: Early one June morning in 1872 I murdered my father—an act which made a deep impression on me at the time. Writers will learn how to start their stories with forceful, compelling prose that hooks readers from page one; casual readers will delight in the cleverness of the various authors’ opening lines and in Conrad’s insightful comments.
- GenresWriting
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Barnaby Conrad
65 books12 followersBarnaby Conrad, Jr. was an American artist, author, nightclub proprietor, bullfighter and boxer.
NB: Father of writer Barnaby Conrad III.
Washington Post obituary:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/20...
NB: Father of writer Barnaby Conrad III.
Washington Post obituary:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/20...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 25, 2018
I’ve been trying to think of a more engaging way to begin one of my own manuscripts, and this book, along with a two-hour brunch with my talented plot-pointing, character-crafting girlfriend, came to the rescue. After absorbing Conrad’s deluge of varied and magnificent openings, I am left with no shortage of ideas. It’s almost overwhelming to be hit with one great intro after another, as nearly each one proves enticing enough to put Conrad’s mere sampler down and chase down the stories in their entireties, but therein lies the very purpose of this collection. I recommend this book to any writer looking for possibilities, as well as any reader looking for a deeper appreciation of how writers pull off such magical engagements.
June 25, 2017
Mr. Conrad has a humorous way of teaching good beginnings with hilarious examples.
"101" is good for people honing their writing skills but it also works for people who are interested in finding out about the beginnings of books they may or may not have heard of but might want to read.
"101" is good for people honing their writing skills but it also works for people who are interested in finding out about the beginnings of books they may or may not have heard of but might want to read.
July 18, 2013
After reading this book, I added it to my suggested reading list for students in my memoir-writing classes. I have long advised students to begin their stories with action or something interesting that entices readers to stay. Paying attention to fiction is a great way to learn to write better nonfiction.
Capturing the reader’s attention straight off is the premise of Conrad’s entertaining and practical book, a premise he defends by showcasing beginnings of selected novels and short stories published during the past 300 years. “A well-drafted opening—maybe just the first sentence—immediately tells the editor that he is dealing with a good writer.” The opening does not have to be shocking, startling or amazing, he says, but it does need to tantalize and intrigue the editor, and thus the buying public, to read further. Conrad cautions, though, a great beginning cannot hide a poorly written story.
The subtitle of his book is A Romp Through Literary Openings for Writers and Readers! Romp: to play or frolic in a lively or boisterous manner. Conrad does, thoroughly enjoying his takes on classic and popular literature from a kaleidoscope of authors including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Elmore Leonard, Robert B. Parker, Anna Quindlen, Mark Twain, and Edith Wharton. Conrad’s observations are credible, as he was author of more than thirty fiction and nonfiction books, and “chauffeur-secretary-verbal punching bag, and protégé” of Sinclair Lewis, first Nobel Prize winner from the United States. Beginnings is the middle of Conrad’s Best series. The others are 101 Best Scenes Ever Written (2006) and 101 Best Sex Scenes Ever Written (2011).
Although 101 is in the title, Conrad's examples easily are three times that. Some of his insights:
“At last we get to a human being. Dare we hope for a story?” On Charles Dickens’s Bleak House.
“As most professional writers urge: ‘Forget the adverb; get the right and vigorous verb!’” On F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night.
“Z-z-z-z.” On Sebastian Faulkes’s Birdsong.
“… readers always empathize with victims of perceived injustice.” On Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.
“John Grisham knows the importance of beginning fast, and he likes to have the reader believe that his fiction actually happened.” On Grisham’s The Appeal.
“Stories aren’t written; they’re rewritten!” On Jack London’s "To Build a Fire," first written in 1902 and rewritten in 1908.
“Readers invest emotion in characters in trouble.” On Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage.
Conrad maintains much classic literature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries would not get the attention of today’s editors and publishers because of stilted language and ho-hum starts. His advice for today’s authors: “Get to something happening! Or about to happen! Start closer to the climax! Conflict! Never use exclamations!!!!!!!! (in your fiction, that is!)”
At least 101 other list makers would disagree with Conrad’s selections of best beginnings. He speaks to the limits of his choices by declaring them to be basic and by suggesting readers visit a library or bookstore and read first pages of novels to discover their own best beginnings.
Conrad categorizes his list into twelve chapters: Characterization, Setting, Setting—Plus Character, Dialogue, Seemingly Factual, Interrogatory (questions), In Medias Res (Latin for starting a story in midpoint), Generalization, Author to Reader, Action, Epistolary (letters), and Emotion.
In chapter thirteen, Conrad fesses up to the existence of “many wonderful beginnings that seem to thumb their nose at being categorized.” In the last chapter, fourteen, you get your money’s worth alone, with rapid-fire entries of more than 200 well-known beginnings from such enduring authors as Tobias Wolff, Pearl S. Buck, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Willa Cather, Zane Grey, and J. R. R. Tolkien. I’m disappointed Conrad doesn’t comment on works of authors in the last chapter and does not list them in the index.
From www.barnabyconradauthor.com: Author, artist, and bullfighter Barnaby Conrad (1922-2013) founded the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in 1973 that grew into a renowned annual event, drawing famous authors from around the country. He ran the conference with his wife, Mary, until they sold it in 2004.
Capturing the reader’s attention straight off is the premise of Conrad’s entertaining and practical book, a premise he defends by showcasing beginnings of selected novels and short stories published during the past 300 years. “A well-drafted opening—maybe just the first sentence—immediately tells the editor that he is dealing with a good writer.” The opening does not have to be shocking, startling or amazing, he says, but it does need to tantalize and intrigue the editor, and thus the buying public, to read further. Conrad cautions, though, a great beginning cannot hide a poorly written story.
The subtitle of his book is A Romp Through Literary Openings for Writers and Readers! Romp: to play or frolic in a lively or boisterous manner. Conrad does, thoroughly enjoying his takes on classic and popular literature from a kaleidoscope of authors including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Elmore Leonard, Robert B. Parker, Anna Quindlen, Mark Twain, and Edith Wharton. Conrad’s observations are credible, as he was author of more than thirty fiction and nonfiction books, and “chauffeur-secretary-verbal punching bag, and protégé” of Sinclair Lewis, first Nobel Prize winner from the United States. Beginnings is the middle of Conrad’s Best series. The others are 101 Best Scenes Ever Written (2006) and 101 Best Sex Scenes Ever Written (2011).
Although 101 is in the title, Conrad's examples easily are three times that. Some of his insights:
“At last we get to a human being. Dare we hope for a story?” On Charles Dickens’s Bleak House.
“As most professional writers urge: ‘Forget the adverb; get the right and vigorous verb!’” On F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night.
“Z-z-z-z.” On Sebastian Faulkes’s Birdsong.
“… readers always empathize with victims of perceived injustice.” On Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.
“John Grisham knows the importance of beginning fast, and he likes to have the reader believe that his fiction actually happened.” On Grisham’s The Appeal.
“Stories aren’t written; they’re rewritten!” On Jack London’s "To Build a Fire," first written in 1902 and rewritten in 1908.
“Readers invest emotion in characters in trouble.” On Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage.
Conrad maintains much classic literature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries would not get the attention of today’s editors and publishers because of stilted language and ho-hum starts. His advice for today’s authors: “Get to something happening! Or about to happen! Start closer to the climax! Conflict! Never use exclamations!!!!!!!! (in your fiction, that is!)”
At least 101 other list makers would disagree with Conrad’s selections of best beginnings. He speaks to the limits of his choices by declaring them to be basic and by suggesting readers visit a library or bookstore and read first pages of novels to discover their own best beginnings.
Conrad categorizes his list into twelve chapters: Characterization, Setting, Setting—Plus Character, Dialogue, Seemingly Factual, Interrogatory (questions), In Medias Res (Latin for starting a story in midpoint), Generalization, Author to Reader, Action, Epistolary (letters), and Emotion.
In chapter thirteen, Conrad fesses up to the existence of “many wonderful beginnings that seem to thumb their nose at being categorized.” In the last chapter, fourteen, you get your money’s worth alone, with rapid-fire entries of more than 200 well-known beginnings from such enduring authors as Tobias Wolff, Pearl S. Buck, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Willa Cather, Zane Grey, and J. R. R. Tolkien. I’m disappointed Conrad doesn’t comment on works of authors in the last chapter and does not list them in the index.
From www.barnabyconradauthor.com: Author, artist, and bullfighter Barnaby Conrad (1922-2013) founded the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in 1973 that grew into a renowned annual event, drawing famous authors from around the country. He ran the conference with his wife, Mary, until they sold it in 2004.
June 14, 2016
With all the pressure society puts on writers to have the absolute best ever opening or else, this was an interesting collection of beginnings to get the creative juices flowing. There was a little too much hyperbole (seems like a lot of the authors featured are 'one of the greatest' 'one of the best' etc.) but overall, there was a nice mix of beginnings of different types and eras, not just a focus on one type. At the end, there is a collection of great opening lines. You may or may not agree with Conrad's choices of great beginnings, but you'll get ideas on types to use for your own, like starting with a question or a "historical fact" to give the impression your story is true. It's a book that will make you go "hmmm..."
June 25, 2015
Pretty fun book, a bit like eating the frosting off all the cupcakes in the bakery. I didn't feel like the author particularly added a whole lot to it, but it was helpful to categorize the different types of beginnings and add some commentary. I do think I'll read his 101 Best Scenes book as well.
On frustrating thing, just for me personally, is that it seems kind of hard to read a book of just beginnings because you can't let yourself get sucked into the story the way they want you to -- the rest of the story isn't there! So I found myself holding back just a little bit, mentally. Oh well. (I suppose after a eating a few pounds of frosting, you do actually want a bit of cake to balance it out. :-)
On frustrating thing, just for me personally, is that it seems kind of hard to read a book of just beginnings because you can't let yourself get sucked into the story the way they want you to -- the rest of the story isn't there! So I found myself holding back just a little bit, mentally. Oh well. (I suppose after a eating a few pounds of frosting, you do actually want a bit of cake to balance it out. :-)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews