How to Write a Strong First Line

Although it's only one sentence in an entire manuscript, the first line might be one of the most important sentence in a whole book. It plays the role of having to catch the reader's attention, not only to keep them reading, but to keep them excited throughout the opening scene or chapter while the story builds towards an inciting incident. It's even more important in a short story, where the reader likely has no knowledge of what the story is about, and a first line might be the make-or-break when it comes to catching an editor's attention.

Because a first line is still so small, just a single line, there's no one way to craft a strong one. Instead, there are many (maybe infinite!) routes a writer could take. What's most important is that the line catches a reader's attention and makes them want to read on, no matter what way you're able to do that.

A first line is a lot like a title in some ways. It's one of the first parts of the story the reader sees, and although it's often not instrumental in the way the story inevitably plays out, it plays a huge role in drawing in a reader's attention, and can be eye-catching in an endless number of ways.

In this video, we're starting with a list of common first line errors, and what to be on the lookout for when revising your first line. As well, we'll cover a list of possible strategies for a strong first line (with examples!), but the possibilities really are endless.

What's your favourite first line?

TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:28 - The golden rule of first lines
1:41 - Common first line errors
4:26 - Techniques for a strong first line
4:52 - Mystery or conflict
6:00 - Imagery
6:49 - Voice
8:44 - Character
9:19 - Character relationships
10:20 - Surprise or contrast
11:03 - A striking moment or action

RELATED VIDEOS:
First Line Frenzy: An Editor Critiques Your Book's Opening Line [webinar]: youtube.com/watch?v=5c-1SlOKPN8
How to Write a Novel Opening: youtube.com/watch?v=kduvE1643Rs&t=24s
How to Start a Short Story: youtube.com/watch?v=8b2myOwEHz0&t=54s

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