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The writers sat, quills poised, waiting for the signal to begin.
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"Get started," a voice whispered.
So they started. Some wrote frantically, knowing it was their chance to hook a reader or lose them. Some chewed on their quills, wanting to get it exactly right, fully aware that this was make-or-break. Acceptance or (shudder) rejection hinged on what they created in the next few moments. They imagined an editor tossing their manuscript into the dustbin, breathing the single word - "Phooey".
A few weren't writing at all. They had their eyes closed, deep in thought, seeing the intricate web of words they were about to weave in their mind's eye. It had to be sticky enough to pull readers further in to the story. It had to inspire, encourage the reader to read till the end. It was the most important thing they were going to write - all of them wanted readers, after all! Come to think of it, are there writers who don't want readers?
In sharp contrast, a handful of them looked very calm. They seemed to be aware that they had time to play, confident that their audience wasn't going to walk out (close the book) all that quickly. One writer was even seen to be packing up, not having written anything at all. "Do away with it, I say!"
What were the writers doing?
They were penning the opening sentence!
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This 'story' was inspired by a recent in-and-out I set up. It is made up of the various responses I received.
The responses I worked with to create the story are given below. While most agree that the opening sentence is very important, some seem to feel authors have more time than that, to hook a reader. And one author wants a ban on opening sentences! 
cookie_writer: It is the opportunity to grab the reader and capture their interest from the start."I'd had more than my fair share of near-death experiences;it wasn't something your ever really got use to."An opening sentence I have read recently.
Adriana Noir  : Very! It can set the tone for the entire story and is your chance to hook a reader or lose them. I always liked 'A Tale of Two Cities' start. "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." It made me wonder how it could be both!
Dad : It's important, but only if you wish to have readers. How about: "The score was 20-0, and we hadn't even touched the ball yet. It was gonna be a long football game. Even the cheerleaders wore sour looks with their miniskirts and pompoms."
Davy Kraken  : A memorable opening sentence is a definite plus, but not essential for me to continue reading. Even the first paragraph doesn't have to grab me, but I'd like something to stand out within the first couple thousand words.
Steev the Friction Wizurd : The opening sentence is make-or-break for me. I've rejected many a book just from reading the first sentence. Authors know how important it is, so if they can't write a good one then phooey on them.
"They threw me off the hay truck about noon." __The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain (And look how great his title choice was! He was one of the first of the "page-turner" writers.)
Happy May 2024! : For me, it's the most important sentence of a story. "I was sick--sick unto death with that long agony; and when they at length unbound me, and I was permitted to sit, I felt that my senses were leaving me." E.A. Poe
J. A. Buxton  : I think of that first sentence as a spider trying to weave interest sticky enough to pull readers further into my web of words. Judity, a bug lover like Grissom
Jimminycritic : I usually spend the rest of the book trying to shake off the opening sentence. I say we get rid of the opening sentence! The best opening sentence is usually short and objective; or is it objective and short?
Stan Stanley : "If I had foresight,to what would happen; I often wonder if I would have still agreed to the deal ..."
Humming Bird : An attractive opening sentence inspires, encourages the reader to read till the end
Please click on the link to see all the responses. A huge THANKS to the authors of WDC for their insights!
Thanks,
Sonali
PS - Please add to the in-and-out, if you wish to! |
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A huge "Thanks" to all the readers who responded to "For Authors Newsletter (October 21, 2009)"
LJPC - the tortoise Hi Sonali! What a super newsletter! I loved all of it, but some of it really struck me as insightful, like your response to Ben's comment about how some peole always use excuses for what they do or don't do! And Sherri's comment about people who's arrival excites and who's departure delights was very clever.
This was a really fun newsletter,thanks for sharing your thoughts and everyone else's.  Laura
mARiā StressedAtWork : This was a very wonderful newsletter!!  The ideas you said about the things we submitted... so cool!!  Thank you very much for adding my entry here.  ~mARi~
Adriana Noir : LOL what a fun newsletter to read and very unique! I had a blast reading through these different perspectives. Thanks for sharing. 
Catherine Hall : I really enjoyed reading this newsletter. I've been scribbling away for enough years to have invented really good well-rounded characters which I couldn't use because I couldn't come up with a story idea. Now you've given all of us a reference to help us find foils for our characters. Thank you.
Tadpole1  : I really enjoyed your newsletter. Thank you. Tadpole1
First Light : I loved this newsletter because it gave me a new method with which to come up with interesting conflicts and plots! |
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For Authors: February 10, 2010 Issue [#3496]
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