Mantaspook
26-08-2006, 06:10 PM
Whenever I write a story I try to get a ‘hook’ in my opening, something that will pull the reader in, I wonder if other writers do the same so, thanks to the wonder of the internet, I’ve done some research and would like to share these gems with you.
“Never begin a book wiht a poor first line because you will never get the publishers attention.” - Mmmm, not an auspicious start.
"A good first line also sets tone, establishes place, even defines an arc that it takes the next 20,000 lines to complete. A first line is a promise between an author and a reader. It's also a seamless part of the rest of the work."
"A good book cover makes you want to pick it up. End of story." More often than not, however, a gripping first sentence or paragraph prevents you from putting it back down. The opening hook. It's a simple concept, reading is linear, time is finite. What keeps a reader reading is the opening hook."
“An opening hook often makes the reader ask a question and then delays answering it.”
In conclusion an opening line’s most important function is ensure that you read to the whole paragraph, the opening paragraph must ensure you read page one and the first page must make you want to read page 2 etc.
Some good opening lines
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." - A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens
"Lot ninety-seven," the auctioneer announced. "A boy." - Citizen of the Galaxy, by Robert A. Heinlein.
”In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis, the Bible.
And here’s how not to do it (Worse opening lines) (http://www.joke-archives.com/oddsends/worstopeninglinesofbooks.html) although I thought the “Mike Hardware” quote was hilarious, but maybe that’s just my sense of humour.
Has anyone else out there got a great opening line that you want to share with us?
“Never begin a book wiht a poor first line because you will never get the publishers attention.” - Mmmm, not an auspicious start.
"A good first line also sets tone, establishes place, even defines an arc that it takes the next 20,000 lines to complete. A first line is a promise between an author and a reader. It's also a seamless part of the rest of the work."
"A good book cover makes you want to pick it up. End of story." More often than not, however, a gripping first sentence or paragraph prevents you from putting it back down. The opening hook. It's a simple concept, reading is linear, time is finite. What keeps a reader reading is the opening hook."
“An opening hook often makes the reader ask a question and then delays answering it.”
In conclusion an opening line’s most important function is ensure that you read to the whole paragraph, the opening paragraph must ensure you read page one and the first page must make you want to read page 2 etc.
Some good opening lines
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." - A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens
"Lot ninety-seven," the auctioneer announced. "A boy." - Citizen of the Galaxy, by Robert A. Heinlein.
”In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis, the Bible.
And here’s how not to do it (Worse opening lines) (http://www.joke-archives.com/oddsends/worstopeninglinesofbooks.html) although I thought the “Mike Hardware” quote was hilarious, but maybe that’s just my sense of humour.
Has anyone else out there got a great opening line that you want to share with us?