Ever hear the phrase The Early Bird Catches the Worm? The writer’s twist would be:
The First Line Catches the Reader
They--the seasoned writers and professionals--say that the first line of any story is the one that gets the reader’s attention and keeps them reading. Of course. Makes sense, right? But I’ve been finding that many indie authors are overlooking this very important lesson. I can’t tell you how many indie books I’ve been asked to read where the beginning of the book just totally didn’t do it for me. The only reason I continued on was because of my obligation to the author who asked me for an honest review. Often, much to my surprise, these book find their momentum and completely thrill me.
I work a daily exercise that I created for myself called First Lines. Each evening, after I’ve met my daily word count on my current novel, I open a little blue notebook titled NEW IDEAS and leaf through the hundreds of ideas that I’ve jotted down. I pick whichever one resonates with me at that particular time and then open another little notebook, this one red and titled FIRST LINES, and write that idea at the top of a blank page. Then I sip my coffee with my eyes closed and let the stories unfold.
I have so many favorite parts of my writing day, and this is one of the best. Though not every new idea pans out, I get to watch many mini-movies that I alone created, even though I’m the only one who will ever see them. Of course, there are those I feel the world should see, too. That’s the New Idea I’ll work a First Line for. I work it, then work it again. I play with it over and over until I think it’s the best it can be. That’s it. I don’t go any further with that story other than the first line. That's for another time in another notebook titled FIRST PARAGRAPHS. :)
Here are a few examples of some first lines. It only seems fitting that I add mine. :) I think it's a good, anyway.
She'd been rescued, that's what they said, only she didn't feel rescued, she felt captured. -- Dee Ann Waite, The Consequential Element (2013)
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. -- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
A screaming comes across the sky. -- Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow (1973)
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. -- Dodie Smith, Capture the Castle (1948)
Check out these links for more ideas:
http://americanbookreview.org/100bestlines.asp
http://review.gawker.com/the-50-best-first-sentences-in-fiction-1665532271
Do you have a list of First Lines? What are some of your favorites, either written by you, or by an author you admire?
Keep on scribbling!
Dee
Learned long ago how critical the first line is. Second, is the last line, but that's another story. Here are my two favorites and my newest. Can't wait to see what happened to put Claudie in that position.
I’ve heard that Los Angelinos don’t trust air they can’t see; I believe New Yorkers don’t trust air they can’t hear.
Gee, I wish horsewhipping hadn’t gone out of favor.
Still rattled, Claudie stood rooted behind the overturned chair.
Excellent timing, thank you for posting this. I just rewrote my first line and first paragraph on one of my novels.
Good advice, thanks for posting. It's also important to introduce the conflict as soon as possible. Not just grab the readers' attention but get them to wonder what's gonna happen next and then read on.
I write very short hybrid stories/poem so I really have to have a good first line. I find that since my pieces are short the last line is also important. Here are a couple of examples.
Snow crystals flutter about her capped head like butterflies.
The April wind was initially my friend as I began my morning bike ride down a narrow country road in northern South Dakota.
She slept for 12 hours, but the dream of her dead daughter has left her, once again, trembling and filled with pain.
I once wrote an answer to one question on an application to an MFA program by using first lines from favorite books. and one of those lines was definitely "It is a truth universally acknowledged. . . . "
Great article!
In Sweden we all read "Gösta Berling's Saga" by Selma Lagerlöf - the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. The book's first sentence is perhaps the most famous first sentence in Swedish literature:
"Finally, the vicar was in the pulpit."
I got into politics to change the world. I got out of it when politics changed me.
Opening line from "Going Braless," the prologue to my journalistic memoir Living Large In Limbo: How I Found Myself Among the World's Forgotten, about my recovery from a mid-life loss by working in the Middle East with Iraqi and Palestinian refugees. Looking for an agent!
Love these openers! Fun thread....
Kelly Hayes-Raitt
The first line in my newest title The Widow Maker
"I killed my first human being at the age of twelve. I can remember it like it was yesterday."
Not sure if I should have started off with back story but I was trying to avoid a prologue.
Thanks, Dee Ann. I hope the rest of my readers will feel the same. ( :
Looking at the 1st line of my chapter 3, I am struck with the thought, I should have a stupendous 1st line for each and every one of my 19 chapters. Something for the 2nd edition. Switching deftly to third person: Does the patient beat the battle and if so how? The Dawn Phenomenon published 2015
Pamela, just read your first chapter. I really like your writing style. Smooth and easy to get into. To be honest, I love the second line of your first paragraph better than the first. It's a sure catcher for me.
"The others were paddling along placidly, their snorkels angled from their heads like tiny smokestacks."
Then follow it up with the first... "Lauren lifted her head to see if anyone else might be searching for something."
Just a thought. Loved the ending of the chapter. I want a bracelet like that! I bet her world travels will be awesome.
The rest of Chapter One is posted here :)
http:/
Love that first line, Rebecca! Already I'm into Millie, feeling sorry for her dull life, but now anxious to see just what it is that spices it up. :) Nice hook.
Wow, G.E., absolute right. Poor health causes disease. You have a great mindset. I'm sure you'll beat this battle, and help others to do the same. People will appreciate this from you, I'm positively sure of it. There are so many great stories coming out about how diet and exercise have actually cured what was once thought as incurable diseases, even so much as reversing heart disease. Best of luck to you.
Karen, loved the idea of if brainstorming a blast of first liners as an exercise! What a great idea. I'm going to do that, too. Can't wait! Sure to be one or two good ones to come out of it. :)
Hi Pamela, thanks for stopping by. Great first line. Now I'm curious...what are they looking for? :)
Thank you for your empathy. Dee Ann Waite My first line did evoke an emotion in you; therefore, I would call it a success. ... It is from my first chapter appropriately entitled: "The Wake Up Call" ... What happens next is unexpected and keeps the reader guessing. I wrote this short book (140 pages) as a memoir, as an example of someone curing an incurable disease without Rx drugs. I pray that it will help others to do the same. I pray that it will ignite a wellness revolution based upon a new paradigm: Disease does not cause poor health. It is poor health that causes disease ( Chapter 3 ). Thanks for your response. G.E.Frazier, CHC
Loved learning about your process. I have an author's daily planner from 2011 that contains ideas for writing prompts and information about the submission acceptance schedules for certain publishers. One of the prompt ideas is writing down a rush of 50 first lines...a brainstorming exercise to see if there is a gem or two to keep among them. I hope to try that one sometime soon.
Thanks for this encouraging post.
Great post. I love writing first lines! Here's the first line from my soon-to-be-published Dreams of Her Own:
"If the Guinness Book of World Records had a category for the world's most boring life, Millie Stephens knew she would hold the record."
First line of my work in progress:
Lauren lifted her head to see if anyone else might be searching for something.
Yes, great first line, Kelly. I'm definitely in as a reader. Love the hook, huh?
So sorry to hear that, G.E. I'm sure writing about it will help not only you, but those in your same situation. I pray that all will work out well and you can get control over your diabetes quickly.
Hi Cate! Love that line from Fear and Loathing in L.A., too. Really brings you in and gives you a feel of what's to come.
Love this 1st line so much, I memorized it:
The moment I decided to leave him, the moment I thought "enough," we were 35,000 feet above the ocean, hurtling forward, but giving the illusion of tranquility. "Just like our marriage...." I could have said, but why ruin it now?
-- Meg Wolitzer, The Wife
Kelly Hayes-Raitt
First line from my first book, The Dawn Phenomenon: "You. Are. Diabetic. And your diabetes is out of control." Imagine hearing this from your doctor, unexpectedly, as I just did. - G.E. Frazier