Write Beginnings
A good first sentence in a book can hook people to read it. So let's take a closer look at this.
Good Intros
What good opening lines in a story can offer (according to Vendemeer's "Wonderbook"):
- A sense of mystery or atmosphere
- An interesting initial situation
- Immediate tension
- An intriguing statement
- An unusual / interesting description
- A unique point of view (by the Protagonists)
Bad beginnings:
- A flashback
- A dream sequence
- Dialogue
- Viewpoint of minor characters
Starting a story too soon is a common error. It is advised to choose the latest possible starting point in the rough draft of your manuscript.
Examples from Popular Literature
"Here is a small fact: You are going to die."
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
"It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen."
1984 by George Orwell
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
“In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my head ever since.”
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald