Goodreads Reviewers' Group discussion
First Lines
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There are only so many things you can say to open your story. Yes, you should be careful what you say, but to hang the success or failure on one sentence (even it's a damned unforgettable sentence) is pretty risky. There are a number of things that must be done in the first chapter of a book--and they can be learned. If you've done all of them, and well, you might have a successful book. No telling. You must do what you do in your own way and tell the story as only you can.
If you're submitting a book to an agent or a publisher, you can be rejected for any number of reasons, not always having to do with what you wrote. The thing is not to be discouraged, but to keep writing.
And if you feel your writing is weak right now, you will improve with practice and with study. There are a lot of web sites that offer instruction for free--read them! There are also online classes (you pay for them) and retreats, conferences and classes (you pay for). Almost every public library has a free writers' group where writers share their work and critiques, some better than others.
Never stop looking for help, but remember when all is said and done, it's up to you.
When I was in graduate school, a professor introduced me to something she called the 7 sentence rule. Basically, within 7 sentences (give or take), the reader should have a pretty good sense about at least one (but ideally 2-3 or more) of the following: main character, central tension, a theme, setting. As a creative writing professor, I stress this to my students. As an editor, I usually know if I'm going to accept or reject a piece by the end of the first or second paragraph.My suggestion is to read a few stories or opening chapters and literally circle all the periods and then consider what information each sentence is conveying.
Take this story for example: http://www.all-story.com/issues.cgi?a...
By the end of the first paragraph, we already know one of the primary threads and two characters. Before the first section break, we have some insight into the character of Kim.
Thank you both for responding! This is great information :)
I think the tendency lately is to jump right into action of some sort. The pendulum may swing the other direction in time, but we'll probably never go back to the old-style pages of description. I can't remember any novel opening lines except "Call me fishmeal," the opening of Mad Magazine's parody of Moby Dick. There was an opening line from Heinlein's Blowups Happen, "Put down that wrench!" that was used as an example of an opening hook in L. Sprague deCamp's "Science Fiction Handbook."
I love chaos of some sort as the first paragraph when reading fantasy.It all depends on the genre I think
Segilola wrote: "I love chaos of some sort as the first paragraph when reading fantasy.It all depends on the genre I think"
Yeah, the right opening depends on the genre. The hero's ordinary world can be communicated in a page or two in a mainstream novel. It may take a half chapter to describe a sci-fi hero's ordinary world.
But if every fantasy novel opens with chaos, it soon becomes a cliche.
not necessarily, all depends on how the chaos is presented and depends on the characters too.chaos with vampires would be different to chaos fwith demons
it's how the author shows his artistry
Opening lines are a great tease. They start to ball rolling, but writers shouldn't put so much emphasis on that one line. Readers come to stories for the subject matter, the tone and style. Each reader will have their own preference. As writers, we try to tell the best version of a story. That's all we can do. Tighten up the grammar. Weed out the unnecessary. Drag the reader from scene to scene. As for opening lines I can't remember many that grabbed me. If I had to pick one, I'd say the opening to Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane: Had the man in front of her not already been dead, Chess probably would have tried to kill him.
It's not full of pop and flash, no fancy language. It introduces the lead character, her attitude, and a hint at the genre. Again, it's a tease, some bait on the hook to lure readers in.
Pike wrote: "Opening lines are a great tease. They start to ball rolling, but writers shouldn't put so much emphasis on that one line. Readers come to stories for the subject matter, the tone and style. ... If I had to pick one, I'd say the opening to Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane: Had the man in front of her not already been dead, Chess probably would have tried to kill him. ..."A good example. The reader knows right away that (1) Chess is armed, (2) Chess is facing a zomboid of some sort. (3) We're in the middle of action.
And I agree: Readers come for all the familiar trappings of the genre. Those facets of the story can't necessarily be jammed into an opening sentence. We like some salad before the main course.
For me, it's not so much the first sentence. There are some great ones out there, but I rarely notice because I take more of the first page or first couple of pages to decide whether I'll keep reading. I really like this book about writing beginnings--Hooked, by Les Edgerton. Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go
Liza wrote: "For me, it's not so much the first sentence. There are some great ones out there, but I rarely notice because I take more of the first page or first couple of pages to decide... really like this book about writing beginnings--Hooked, by Les Edgerton. Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go..."Good idea. As the book says, you have to keep the reader hooked all the way through. Hook 'em early and often.
J. wrote: "Liza wrote: "For me, it's not so much the first sentence. There are some great ones out there, but I rarely notice because I take more of the first page or first couple of pages to decide... really..."At the point of each change - book, chapter, scene - there is another chance to hook or lose the reader.
Donald Maass' book The Fire in Fiction has you pay special attention to those lines (sometimes all you have to do is chop off beginnings or endings to get to the real beginning or end). It's a good habit to get into as a writer: plan the reader's experience.
Alicia wrote: "...(sometimes all you have to do is chop off beginnings or endings to get to the real beginning or end). It's a good habit to get into as a writer: plan the reader's experience."Just move chapter headings a few pages fore or aft to create the cliff-hanger. I wrote an entire book where almost every chapter ended with my MC getting himself into more trouble. A good exercise, tho it may never be published.
I am taking a poll to see what authors and reviewers consider their favorite first lines. I am curious to find out if there is a similarity between them.
If you could please- write your favorite first line of a book down, along with the title of the book. But most importantly, WHY. Why did this line catch your attention, why do you love it.
If you have time, maybe there is an opening line you have read that was just horrible and you want to comment on that. Feel free to add both. But please add why you loved/hated this specific first line.
I really appreciate this, Thanks!!
Jessie