| Some Great First Lines |
In a review of Alice Sebold's new novel The Almost Moon, the reviewer quoted the first lines of her new novel as well as a previous novel. In her first novel, it took her two lines to kill off the heroine: "My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." -- The Lovely Bones What great first lines! They draw you into the novel right away.  In her newest novel The Almost Moon, Sebold gets to murder within the very first line: "When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily." Another great first line. It juxtaposes a cliche (when all is said and done) with a simple statement of murder. Incredibly dramatic in an understated way. Would you continue reading if you had read these opening lines? How does your book (fiction or nonfiction) stack up in drawing readers into your book? Labels: Alice Sebold, first lines, novels, opening lines, The Almost Moon, The Lovely Bones |
posted by John Kremer @
9:37 AM
2 comments |
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Open Horizons, P.O. Box 2887, Taos NM 87571 Phone: 575-751-3398 Email: John Kremer Copyright © 2008 by John Kremer. All Rights Reserved |
2 Comments:
First, I have to say I loved The Lovely Bones. It is a poignant story with a memorable protagonist whose story is sweet, sad and one I won't soon forget.
As an author of mainly suspense, I believe that first lines are crucial. A lot of thought goes into mine. In a study awhile ago (sorry I don't have the info but I'm sure you could find it on a search), it claimed that many bestselling classics began the first sentence with a pronoun. I also believe that first lines hook the reader and give them a sense of what's to happen.
In my new unpublished suspense thriller Children of the Fog, my first line is:
She was ready to die.
In my 2007 bestseller Whale Song, my first line is:
I once feared death.
In my 2005 thriller The River:
"She always leads with her heart," a voice croaked.
In my 2004 paranormal suspense Divine Intervention:
It always began with the dead girl in her closet.
It seems death is often a precursor to a Cheryl Kaye Tardif novel, but then again, I do write suspense, mystery, thrillers, and I always seem to be killing someone off. :)
First lines have such an impact on a reader. They can be dry and boring, describing the weather, the traffic or scenery, or they can throw you into the action or situation or make you go 'What?'. That's what I like to do. Toss you in and have you want to read further to make sense of that first line.
While teaching various writing courses over the years, I have always taught the Four Firsts.
1. first sentence
2. first paragraph
3. first page
4. first chapter
Each of these 'firsts' should leave you wanting more! As an author, if I accomplish this, I feel I am on a roll. :)
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
www.cherylktardif.com
Cheryl,
Your first lines are weak because they don't have a strong contrast.
Sebold's have a strong contrast, making the reader question, how could anyone kill such a positive girl?
When you start with a pronoun it doesn't mean anything if what the pronoun refers to is not described or hinted at.
Don't make your reader work in the wrong way trying to figure out your meaning.
Contrast, contrast, contrast!!!
Don't teach writing. Do it!!
See www.thewritersinterface.com
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