The Secrets To
Creating A Great First Sentence

It’s often said that most new writers start their stories at least a couple of pages or chapters too soon. In other words that, given the importance of the opening paragraph, the author would have been better to delete the first few chapters of explanation and description and start instead by jumping in at the part of the story where the action begins.

After all, think about how you choose which book you’re going to take off the shelf. What makes one story leap out at you more than another? Are you like most of us; do you look at the blurb on the back cover then flick to the first page of the story to see if it seems interesting enough to take home?

When it comes to grabbing the attention of a reader, the first paragraph, or in fact the first sentence is where the decision is usually hinged. After all, if an author is droning on about something that seems to hold no spark of interest or intrigue to you, are you going to read on or are you going to put the book back and pick up the next book on the shelf?

It all sounds very logical to say that the first sentence has to grip the reader, but it’s also where many manuscripts fail, and catch neither the reader’s attention – nor the editor’s. After all, a publisher is like any other reader; the story has to hold their attention if they are going to want to spend more of their time on it.

So what are the most proven ways to get the reader’s attention?

The first option is to slowly draw the reader into the world of fantasy, in the same way that many painters draw attention to their masterpieces. Bring the reader’s attention to the picture as a whole, then focus on one specific area. For example, start with a simple description of the party, follow it up with a line or two about a group of people standing near the bay window, then zoom in with a strong description of the eyes or hand movements of the person focal to the scene.

A second option is to start the scene with a hundred and ten percent of action. Bash the reader over the head and drag them into the story by the scruff of the neck. Consider starting with an exclamation, in the middle of a heated argument, or at an early climax of the story.

Obviously it depends on your story and your style of writing as to which method you use, but both of these options can work when used correctly.

If you’ve already begun work on your manuscript and you’re now thinking about beginning further into the story, it doesn’t mean that the details you’ve included in those first couple of chapters have to be discarded. If it’s truly necessary, all the displaced information can be woven into later paragraphs or pages.

For more ideas on how to grab attention and build intrigue, look at the opening pages of your favourite novels and best-sellers. Decide how you are reacting to what you’re reading, then think about how the author has written his work to have that effect on you.


Return from First Sentence to Better Writing

New! Comments