Weekend Writing: Writing That First Line

We've all been there: You're sitting at your laptop, staring at a blank page on the computer screen, and you have an idea for a new story. However, you're left with a blank page and you have no idea how to start writing the story.

You want a compelling first line to attract your readers, but you don't know where to begin. The first line is often the hardest line to write because it's so important. It's the first thing your readers will read. They will judge the story by the first line and decide if they should continue reading. In the span of a line or two, you must convince your readers that your story is worth their time.

Scary, right? That's a lot of pressure for one writer!

Opening lines are the bait for your readers--the "hook" of the story. So, how do you hook your readers? How do you captivate them to continue reading your work?

Let's begin by looking at some of the most beautiful first lines in literature. Sit back and review these lines. You'll be able to see why these authors captivated their readers, and continue to do so decades later.

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"
(photo/rebloggy.com)

"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 

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." - George Orwell, 1984

"It was a pleasure to burn." - Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities 

"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins." - Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita

These opening lines offer questions: "The clock striking thirteen? How is that possible? A pleasure to burn? What? The worst of times?" The selected lines also pique curiosity. They entertain, add interest to the context, and have readers wondering what the rest of the story is going to offer.

(photo/Yeah Write!)

Set the mood at the beginning. Establish how the story is going to feel. When it comes to writing the first line, consider the mood you want to convey throughout your story. Is it adventure, hope, romance, horror, or something else entirely? Your opening line can preview the mood for your readers, and let them know what they can expect to read for the rest of the story.

Some writers have questions about the proper form for the story: Should it be a question, a bold statement, or a piece of dialogue?

All three ways are appropriate choices, so don't stress about choosing the "right" one. Here's what I recommend: Write out different versions of the opening line, using all three forms, and then determine which one feels the best for your story. After all, writing is all about feeling and sensing what works best for your story, the characters, the situation, and most importantly, what works best for you, the writer.

Writing opening lines is an art form. It's a hard task, but if you make an attempt to establish the mood, tension and curiosity of the story, your readers will want to continue following your story.

And, remember this: No one else can write that first line for your story. Only you can, so enjoy it. It's yours. 

Write on.

-KJL-

(photo/Ethos3.com)