How to Write a Strong First Line

Although it's only one sentence in an entire manuscript, the first line might be one of the most important sentence in a whole book. It plays the role of having to catch the reader's attention, not only to keep them reading, but to keep them excited throughout the opening scene or chapter while the story builds towards an inciting incident. It's even more important in a short story, where the reader likely has no knowledge of what the story is about, and a first line might be the make-or-break when it comes to catching an editor's attention.

Because a first line is still so small, just a single line, there's no one way to craft a strong one. Instead, there are many (maybe infinite!) routes a writer could take. What's most important is that the line catches a reader's attention and makes them want to read on, no matter what way you're able to do that.

A first line is a lot like a title in some ways. It's one of the first parts of the story the reader sees, and although it's often not instrumental in the way the story inevitably plays out, it plays a huge role in drawing in a reader's attention, and can be eye-catching in an endless number of ways.

In this video, we're starting with a list of common first line errors, and what to be on the lookout for when revising your first line. As well, we'll cover a list of possible strategies for a strong first line (with examples!), but the possibilities really are endless.

What's your favourite first line?

TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:28 - The golden rule of first lines
1:41 - Common first line errors
4:26 - Techniques for a strong first line
4:52 - Mystery or conflict
6:00 - Imagery
6:49 - Voice
8:44 - Character
9:19 - Character relationships
10:20 - Surprise or contrast
11:03 - A striking moment or action

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[hatezis]

I really like Gibson's first line in Neuromancer: "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel"

[andrejparunovic]

"I find it difficult to drink next to dying children." - Earth and Mars, by me

[IndianOutlaw]

'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.'

[manymusings]

My favorite first line comes from Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.
"Any day nobody's trying to kill me is a good day in my book."

[vnuiee]

I think Gone Girl’s first line “When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.” first line is an example of a great strong and intriguing first line that sets up a relationship and draws in the reader and makes you go “huh?” :•)

[luciddreamer]

"When killing a nun, it is important to bring an army of sufficient size."

[anactualtemplarknight]

*_"Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice."_*


- Gabriel Garcia Marquez. _One Hundred Years of Solitude._

Arguably the best opening line for any book ever, certainly my favourite book of all time.

[brycesonflowers]

My favorite first line is from the book of 1st Kings: "David was now very old and no matter how many blanket covered him, he could not keep warm!"

[leomeza]

“I’m a rich man, a poor man, and a liar.”

[angelareed]

Gosh, I literally did the first one 🤦🏻‍♀️ now I know why agents have declined. Thanks for this info

[Alkemisti]

When I read _1984, _ I didn't think much of the thirteen o'clock expression. That is the European (at least Nordic) way to say that it's one PM.

[gothicwriter]

Great video. You can't beat: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
Add to that the last line of the book (A Tale of Two Cities) "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."
You'd have to go a long way to beat them.

[deepakm]

I'm planning to start my novel with a 'stream of consciousness', (an adolescent girl's thoughts as she's journeying by train) and I'll need to ensure its intriguing and not confusing! I had been pondering over the opening for a while and got this idea while watching this video! Thanks!!! And thanks for all the amazing content! They have been of great help!

[mystic_tacos]

I have SO many favorite first lines from books, but this is the first one to jump to mind. Probably since I just finished reading the series recently. “The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed” The Gunslinger by Stephen King

[tarikbouchnayf]

At some point in the future, we see a lot of great writers thanks to you! we can't thank you enough for these inspiring advices

[amy-suewisniewski]

A first line I found striking was from Lauren Oliver's "Broken Things":

"Five years ago, when I had just turned thirteen, I killed my best friend."

It was the reason I bought the book, and the whole first chapter had me hooked.

A first line feom me currently is "The pearls were missing from the upstairs bureau". Who knows if it will make it past edits, but so far I like it.

[luckychery]

“The Past Is A Foreign Country; They Do Things Differently There”

[agnel]

"When they killed Mark I didn't look away, I wanted to see him die after what he did to sophie".
What do you thing guys???

[nomochord]

The first line for my new WIP is "The silence rang in my ears, until the sirens went off."

[writerdannyraye]

This was so helpful! Thank you so much! I have been stressing so much about my first line that it has consumed me for two weeks. I feel much more confident after this. Thank you!! ☺☺🙏🙏