We hear all the time how important first lines are in
hooking a reader’s attention. First lines must provoke curiosity, create
anticipation, and move seamlessly into the sentences that follow. That’s not
what I want to focus on today, but if you’re interested in the elements of good
first lines, check out the following posts:
Instead, I’m more interested in what the “right” first line
gives to the writer.
by sippakorn of freedigitalphotos.net
Recently I found myself having trouble digging in to a short
story I’ve been trying to write. I have a premise, characters, conflict, and
even a rough idea for the plot. Sounds like I should be having no problem
writing the story, right? Wrong.
I’ve started and stopped working on the story over the past
few months, picking it up only to set it back down again. For a while, I
thought my troubles in executing were because I hadn’t let the story simmer in my mind long enough.
Then I realized the real reason. My opening
scene—particularly my opening line—wasn’t strong enough to hang the rest of the
story on.
In the drafting stage, I don’t care about hooking readers.
My only concern is getting to “the end”. And while I know what the shape of
this story should be, my starting point is very fuzzy. Hence my troubles.
Starting points are a fundamental aspect of the architecture
of a story. Everything that comes after the beginning cannot exist in the
reader’s mind without the context the start of the story creates. Similarly, as
a writer, each sentence I write affects the trajectory of the story. Where I
choose to begin can have huge ramifications on what follows.
Even though I’d say 90% of the time I rewrite my first
lines, I still need one—regardless of how imperfect—to help me write my story.
So what makes for a strong first line that facilitates the
writer’s drafting process?
- It should give you an organizational framework that dictates how you tell the story.
- It should pose a question that you as a writer want to answer.
- It must keep you writing.
1 comment:
I do know what you mean. The first line is a good set up for the writer to continue telling the story in a gripping way: setting the tone, posing a question that needs answering, facilitating tension, foreshadowing stakes. But I don't worry too much about this first line until I revise. I like to try and start with something good, but if it's just not coming immediately, I begin writing no matter what.
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
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