tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post7985782453341449186..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: First SentencesElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-28406192249368884002010-02-25T13:50:37.925-08:002010-02-25T13:50:37.925-08:00The ANNA KARENINA opening line is the legendary on...The ANNA KARENINA opening line is the legendary one.<br /> I think closing lines are much more important than the closing ones. Sometimes a good closing line can cover up all the bad things in the book making you remember just the last sentence and forget about the weak parts in the novel.DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-55149410275099005872010-02-25T04:27:33.371-08:002010-02-25T04:27:33.371-08:00These are indeed some great classic first lines. L...These are indeed some great classic first lines. Liked yours, too. The opening sentence in my last novel, Owen Fiddler, is:<br /><br />His first thought was he had to puke--right now.<br /><br />Hey Elspeth I like your "10 Writing Rules" post so much I did one of my own today on <a href="http://theoldsilly.com" rel="nofollow">my blog</a> with a shout out and links to your blog as well. The Old Sillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661188622348794193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-9924391241811913092010-02-24T16:52:35.845-08:002010-02-24T16:52:35.845-08:00Your first line definitely grabs my attention and ...Your first line definitely grabs my attention and makes me want to know more.Mason Canyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935307400882363560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-66937428342355344462010-02-24T16:26:25.321-08:002010-02-24T16:26:25.321-08:00Alan; Dude, it's most excellent? Whoa, thanks...Alan; Dude, it's most excellent? Whoa, thanks. I like the rhythm in those lines of yours. Are you sure the sagging can't be lifted? (wow, I just went to an interesting place)<br /><br />Jemi; There were so many great lines to choose from, I could have made this post pages and pages long! Thanks for being kind about mine.<br /><br />Galen; Praise for me is never redundant. Never. I Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-45566709672472236872010-02-24T15:23:50.907-08:002010-02-24T15:23:50.907-08:00I like your first sentence too. The Orwell quote f...I like your first sentence too. The Orwell quote from 1984 is one of my all-time favorites.<br /><br />My current wip first sentence (at least for today): Lynnette Foster had made a terrible mistake.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-78991288936077238412010-02-24T14:31:30.794-08:002010-02-24T14:31:30.794-08:00Not to be redundant, but, your first line is terri...Not to be redundant, but, your first line is terrific. My favorite first line is from Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."<br /><br />Best Wishes Galen Kindley<br /><a href="http://www.galenkindley.com/blog.htm" rel="nofollow">Imagineering Fiction Blog</a>joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-49708998750561438502010-02-24T14:28:01.650-08:002010-02-24T14:28:01.650-08:00Your first line does a great job. Mine's okay ...Your first line does a great job. Mine's okay at this point, but I'll be searching for something stronger.<br /><br />One of my favourite first lines is from Farenheit 451 -- It was a pleasure to burn. <br /><br />Love it :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-21616552641500985782010-02-24T14:23:43.915-08:002010-02-24T14:23:43.915-08:00That's a most excellent first line Elspeth. I&...That's a most excellent first line Elspeth. I'm sure the rest of the novel is superb, as well.<br /><br />My fav first line (that I wrote, and yes, technically, it's two lines) was for one of my trunk novels.<br /><br />Never killed a cop before. Never had to.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the rest of the novel sagged from there.Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-51987740044822963752010-02-24T13:10:10.226-08:002010-02-24T13:10:10.226-08:00Maryann; It's true - the first paragraph has ...Maryann; It's true - the first paragraph has to live up to that first line. And the paragraph after that, and after that...<br />The beginning of your novel is great - talk about being thrown right into the action! Well done.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-48192428178520956722010-02-24T12:53:28.230-08:002010-02-24T12:53:28.230-08:00I love your first line, Elspeth, and agree with o...I love your first line, Elspeth, and agree with others that the first paragraph should be just as strong. The first line always pulls me in, but the paragraph is what keeps me reading. <br /><br />Here is the first two sentences of my novel, One Small Victory: <br />The car hurtled through the darkness as the wind whipped through the open windows; a cold lash against his warm skin. Mike braced Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-54209929876926611812010-02-24T11:27:30.554-08:002010-02-24T11:27:30.554-08:00MJ; I agree. I think that first paragraph is all...MJ; I agree. I think that first paragraph is all important. Any writer has only got so long before a reader closes the book. I don't get far with any book that starts with whining - unless it's funny.<br /><br />Stephanie; You were able to write a sentence encapsulating the whole novel? I'm in awe.<br /><br />Carol; Thanks. We'll see if it stays. Thanks for the award as Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-62862253827948169462010-02-24T11:16:15.504-08:002010-02-24T11:16:15.504-08:00I like your first line! It works, pulls you right ...I like your first line! It works, pulls you right into the story. I haven't come up with anything I'm happy with yet...<br /><br />One first line I find interesting is: <br /><br />"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come to pass, leaving memories that become legend." <br /><br />I'm not sure how much of a hook it is, but Robert Jordan used it (actually an entire paragraph) Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01603891627784763004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-56755885595786579962010-02-24T11:10:20.518-08:002010-02-24T11:10:20.518-08:00Your first line is great! My current gem is still ...Your first line is great! My current gem is still being polished. Sigh.<br /><br />I have an award for you on my blog.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-45206542448683816712010-02-24T11:10:20.165-08:002010-02-24T11:10:20.165-08:00I love those opening lines, especially Austen'...I love those opening lines, especially Austen's. I agonized over the intro line to Hatshepsut and finally decided on one that kind of encapsulates the whole novel. <br /><br />If only she were a boy.Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-57726695034001343712010-02-24T11:06:33.636-08:002010-02-24T11:06:33.636-08:00I'm not sure it's too important to grab th...I'm not sure it's too important to grab the reader in the opening sentence. Provided the paragraph it's in isn't dull and about how bad a poor white chick is feeling, you can still seize their attention.<br /><br />Then again, there is nothing quite like that spectacular opening sentence, is there? I think we writers place more importance on it than they readers. :)M.J. Nichollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972190103986599079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-70032746818168914652010-02-24T11:03:15.687-08:002010-02-24T11:03:15.687-08:00Margot; Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words! T...Margot; Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words! They mean the world to me. There were so many first lines to choose from - I decided to go with the classics.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-77176203146064505542010-02-24T10:58:38.563-08:002010-02-24T10:58:38.563-08:00Oh, Elspeth! I *like* that first line!! It is deli...Oh, Elspeth! I *like* that first line!! It is delicious!! Now I *really* want to read your book! Hmm... You've chosen some really strong example first lines, too, in terms of famous ones. I happen to really like the first line from <i>Catcher in the Rye</i>, so I'm glad that you included it. <br /><br />I like my own first lines to give the reader a sense of time and place, so I usually Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com