Although it's only one sentence in an entire manuscript, the first line might be one of the most important sentences in a whole book. It plays the role of having to catch the reader's attention, not only to keep them reading but to keep them excited throughout the opening scene or chapter while the story builds towards an inciting incident. It's even more important in a short story, where the reader likely has no knowledge of what the story is about, and a first line might be the make-or-break when it comes to catching an editor's attention.
by Reedsy
Because a first line is so small, just a single line, there's no one way to craft a strong one. Instead, there are many (maybe infinite!) routes a writer could take. What's most important is that the line catches a reader's attention and makes them want to read on, no matter what way you're able to do that. A first line is a lot like a title in some ways. It's one of the first parts of the story the reader sees, and although it's often not instrumental in the way the story inevitably plays out, it plays a huge role in drawing in a reader's attention and can be eye-catching in an endless number of ways.
The Golden Rule: A first line establishes something, whatever that thing may be, that makes the reader want to read on.
The Don'ts:
- familiar or lackluster imagery
- dialogue
- cliche actions (waking up, a dream)
- confusing imagery or sentence structure
- the mundane or familiar
The Dos:
- mystery or conflict
Examples:
"Lydia is dead, but they don't know this yet." —Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
"When killing a nun, it is important to bring an army of sufficient size." —Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
- strong and vivid imagery
Examples:
"The women in the river, singing." —Arcadia by Lauren Groff
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." —Neuromancer by William Gibson
"The pearls were missing from the upstairs bureau." —Amy-Sue Wisniewski
- voice
Examples:
"They're like worms. What kind of worms? Like worms, all over." —The Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin
"The day Somebody McSomebody put a gun to my breast and called me a cat and threatened to shoot me was the same day the milkman died." —Milkman by Anna Burns
"Any day nobody's trying to kill me is a good day in my book." —Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
- set up an interesting character
Examples:
"I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces." —The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
"There once was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." —The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
- set up an interesting relationship
Examples:
"Before my wife turned vegetarian, I'd always thought of her as completely unremarkable in every way." —The Vegetarian by Han Kang
- a surprise or contrast
Examples:
"It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." —1984 by George Orwell
- an interesting moment
Examples:
"When the lights went off, the accompanist kissed her." Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Ask yourself what the most engaging aspect of your book is as a whole and try to hone in on that in the first line.
What's most important is to establish something, whatever that may be, that makes the reader want to read on.
Avoid starting with anything mundane or cliche, or a sentence that only confuses the reader rather than create intrigue.
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