First Words

This week’s answer for https://saltedcaramel670.wordpress.com/tag/blogginginsights/

The first words of any story direct the reader to whether they are going to enjoy the story or not. In Home Truth’s, the first line was ‘Don’t go Please . . . Oh God no, please don’t . . .’ A few lines later – my five year old son had a syringe in his hand. I know from that first paragraph I was going to enjoy reading that book. Another called, ”A Murder Inside”, Nell Lewis was five foot six inches tall, but the bottom of the heavily barred, high window was above her head.” I can tell a lot from that first line.

The first line in my book ”The Day I had been waiting for had finally arrived.” I’m not sure whether it is as good as the two I have mentioned, but hopefully you get a sense of my main character. The first line is important because it shows what the story is going to be about, or you can get to know the character.

They say never start with the weather, or someone waking up. I’m not sure if that is true, but I do know, if it is done well, then that doesn’t matter. We had a competition to write a first line in my writing group. We found that Sci-Fi type books weren’t popular, and any dramatic openings were in the top percentage.