Every story needs a great first line. It is how you hook your reader. It tells them what the story will be about and makes them want to read it.
Some great examples are:
House of Night – P. C. Cast – “Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse I saw the dead guy standing next to my locker.”
The Dark Tower Series – Stephen King – “The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed.”
Percy Jackson – Rick Riordan – “Look I didn’t want to be a half-blood.”
Twilight – Stephanie Meyer – “I’d never given much thought to how I would die.”
American Gods – Neil Gaiman – “Shadow had done three years in prison.”
These first lines of each book tell you as the reader what you have to look forward to in your book. It makes or breaks the story to come.
“First of all, we were drinkin’” was how my husband’s friend started all of his stories. It might have been the only true thing that came out of his mouth, but it was funny. Recently the title of the Enid Writers Club prompt for the month was “And That is How we Ended up Spending the Night in Jail” and this is the story I submitted. You are only allowed 150 words to get your point across, so you need to be concise.
It had been a hot day on the lake and the fish weren’t biting, so we went to the island to slake our thirsts. Finally, after we all took our boats in for the night, we traipsed downhill to the firepit for more libations. It was the weekend.
It wasn’t long before the police showed up. It was a dry summer and campfires were off limits, especially to drunks.
When Bobby flew around the corner on his four-wheeler so he could bring the cop a beer, he ended up in handcuffs. With the attitudes of the day, soon there weren’t enough handcuffs. Reinforcements were called.
But now the line to the one toilet in the corner is long and I don’t know if I can wait.
From the first line we know it was hot and they were drinking to stay hydrated, or just because beer goes with fishing and the lake. But there were consequences. And we know we’d like to find out what happened when not a drop of water had been consumed on a hot day fishing. We were sure that good choices weren’t made.
When I’m writing a book I change my first line many times. I know what my book is about but how do I get that point across to someone who might like to read it.
Be sure to write a great first line, it could make or break your book. Change it as many times as you need to before publication because it is important. Good luck with your writing.
What are you reading, writing, supporting, or creating this week?
Dani, a stressed-out tour boat captain, attempts to save her brother, Cody, from the local drug dealers only to find she and her boat will be their next victim. This time, Cody owes some big money, and the only person he knows to help him is his sister.
Peggy Chambers "Views from the Hammock" site 