When I start reading a book for the first time, I turn past the Table of Contents, read any introduction that might be present, give a cursory glance to any dedication and with a sense of excitement (and a little trepidation) I finally turn to page 1. Here is the sweet spot. This is where the magic will start to happen or where my sense of dread will envelop me as I realize I’ll have to slug my way through a chapter or two before either giving up or finishing the book.
Proven through time
Think about the classic books through time. The timeless ones are that way because of the story to be certain, but the ones we know, the ones we remember have one great thing in common:
A fantastic and memorable first line
“Call me Ishmael”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
“It was a dark and stormy night” Trivia! Name the original author that this beaut is normally attributed to.
Here’s the lesson
I can’t understate just how important the first line of your writing is for your reader. Other than the title, it is the single most important tool you have to bring the reader into your world. And that is really the goal, isn’t it?
You cannot be passive here. Your first line has to cook. It has to rock. It has to turn the reader upside down and shake all of the change out of their pockets.
This concept is not just for your fiction ventures, either. Anything that you want people to read needs to reach out and grab.
Interesting note
Today I received the latest feed from one of my favorite places on the web, Blogging Without a Blog. The post today was about how readers of your blog don’t really read it. They scan, comment (hopefully) and move on. I think there is quite a bit of truth to this. (Raises his hand. “Guilty as charged, your Honor.”)
This makes the first line that much more critical. If you’ve got ‘em by the throat at the first line, then it will be easier to take them through to the end.
I’ve noticed
I just completed a call for submissions for flash fiction to be published in an e-book over at Smashwords. there were about a dozen submissions and I think that about 75% of them had pretty good openers. This tells me that folks do have a grasp of the concept. I’m happy to see that.
If you’re not already on board, it’s high time you stepped on the opener train. Put great thought into that first line.
George, as I was scanning this I was thinking “Wow, this is even more important when writing on the web or for a blog, where the average reader spends only seconds looking at your content – you need a hook to grab them!” Luckily I scanned this a second time and saw that you covered that.
As usual, great advice and something I need to work on with my blog postings.
Matt
Matt | Small Biz Bee´s last blog post..Four Reasons Your Customers Don’t Buy From You
What I will attempt to do in this comment is to write a few sentences to describe to you why it is important to have an opening sentence that is compelling. That is my main point, but there are other points, too, but the first one is the most important. So I will tell you why it is that I think that it is so. If you do not have a first sentence that is good then people maybe might think sometimes that you are not a very good writer and find something to read by somebody who is a good writer. Or maybe watch tv. There is a lot of competition these days! So always be writing good.
;-p
Tracy´s last blog post..Where do all the millions of dead birds go?
Matt and Tracy,
LOL. You are so funny. I love you guys, I really do. It’s nice to know I can always count on the TM readers to send a ray o’ sunshine to my day.
And Tracy, I might just cut and paste your *comment* on IHMMB for giggles…
Still lol…
George
Hi George,
First, thank you for the link love. It’s very much appreciated.
As everyone mentioned on my post today (in the comments), they scan. Thus, what you said about having a “grabber” for the first line, is very true.
Another thing about having a good first line is (with a blog), if someone is reading blogs in a reader, the reader also shows the first ten or so words of the blog post. If they’re not “catchy”, chances are, visitors won’t click through.
P.S. I didn’t scan this post.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..The Secret Is Out – Our Blog Posts Are Not Being Read
Barbara,
I’ve not made it over to comment yet, but I will – it really is a great post. Your point about readers is well taken and emphasizes the importance of setting the hook immediately.
This post wasn’t initially inspired by the scan post at BWAB but I found as I wrote it the points you had made were in the back of my mind – subheaders and short paragraphs seemed like a good idea.
Scan my post? Perish the thought!
George
Hey George – wasn’t Snoopy the Dog the first to use that opening line in a novel? And here’s another famous one you didn’t mention: “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
Yep; opening lines can make or break good writing. Over time I’ve come to realize I can generally make a better opening line by writing the rest of the article or story first! Then and only then can I craft it to direct folks thoughts where I want them to go in that opener. Still practicing, of course…
Lookin’ forward to reading the rest of those flash fiction stories!
Robert Hruzek´s last blog post..Problogger Book Winner #3!
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I find the opening line very intimidating and so often plan to come back to it when I figure out what I am trying to say.
Fred H Schlegel´s last blog post..Community Creativity: “Let’s Put On A Show”
Robert,
Hey, That’s a good guess! Schultz did do a snoopy series with that title, but you have to back another 120 years!
Writing the rest of the story first is a great tip and one I would encourage folks to try. This is especially true if you have a tendency to stare at a blank page for hours, waiting for that inspired first line.
Matt should have the ebook published today, I’ll let you know asap!
George
Hi Fred,
Thanks for stopping by. I’ve done the same thing on occasion while waiting for the muse…
George
My favorite way to “grab readers by the throat” is to tell a story — and I’m learning that it’s probably the #1 way to lead into an article in print magazines. Web writing is way different, unless you’re less concerned with SEO strategy and more concerned with entertaining the writers you do have.
I’m guilty of skimming EVERYTHING — unless it’s a book about writing
Back to writing: learning to write a great lead is a muscle, and it needs to be exercised! The more you deliberately practice it – in emails, letters to your mom, letters to the editor, and even blog post comments – the stronger it gets….
Thanks, Moose-man!
Laurie
Laurie PK´s last blog post..Amazon Advertising Tips for Writing Blogs and Websites
Your concept is right, but you’ve got to help me out with “Call me Ismael.” To me, this is not a good opening line, it’s simply memorable. Convince me otherwise
Yolander Prinzel´s last blog post..Contracts for Clients
Laurie,
I love the muscle analogy.
Folks, If you don’t want that muscle to atrophy (slowly die) then take Laurie’s advice!
George
Yolander,
Hehe. Ok, you may have gotten me here.
With that said, it is a great opening line *because* it’s memorable. Now would that line make me want to read the whole book? Probably not, but maybe.
Good point!
George
@Tracy
I read your comment the day you posted it, and started cracking up. I came back today to see if it was still funny, and started cracking up all over again…just wanted to say thanks, I need a good chuckle today!
Matt
Matt | Small Biz Bee´s last blog post..Is Your Business Rocking Like Denny’s?