Comments on: Beginnings…

By: Yvonne Walus

Yvonne Walus — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:31:48 +0000

Here’s another POV: that of a busy literary agent or editor. Those guys don;t exaggerate when they say they receive hundreds of queries a day! They are super-busy. So, to my mind, your one-paragraph pitch is the most important piece of writing in the entire novel, because it’s what gets you the request for a partial or a full.

After that, by the same reasoning, your synopsis and your first line / first paragraph, becomes the most important part of your writing. The reader you’re trying to hook is not the person browsing at Borders, it’s the guy/ess who decides whether the book gets published… )))

By: Carol Ericson

Carol Ericson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:36:47 +0000

Stacey, I love a great first line too. I wouldn’t say I agonize over my first lines, but I do go back and change them frequently. I agree that they tend to set the tone for the book. I love those first-line contests! Of course, it doens’t mean the rest of the book will be any good, but they’re a lot of fun to read.

By: Donna Marie Rogers

Donna Marie Rogers — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:50:23 +0000

Oh, yeah, I kept it. That was for There’s Only Been You.

I have a budding songwriter on my hands. All night Miranda kept running in to sing me the song she’s been working on, then everytime she added a line, she’d run back in to sing it all over again…LOL

By: Stacey Joy Netzel

Stacey Joy Netzel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:08:32 +0000

Silver, so true on the chapter ending hooks! I’m always working on those. Yep, my daughter’s got quite the imagination and she’s an amazing artist for her age.

By: Silver James

Silver James — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:48:12 +0000

When I catch lightning in a bottle, I leave out chocolate and wine for the Muses! Usually, though, I’m happy if the first page hooks the reader. That’s my goal. First page, then first chapter. After that, I want to end each chapter on a hook so that the reader, even if they can’t continue, at least can’t wait to get back to my book!

Great topic, Stacey, and congrats on raising a budding novelist!

By: Stacey Joy Netzel

Stacey Joy Netzel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:33:01 +0000

Thanks for all the comments and for each of you who’ve stopped by! Sorry I’ve been missing all day, but had my RWA chapter meeting and then head home to make/eat dinner.

So good to see I’m not the only writer-agonizer/reader-relaxed person out there.

Jill–yes, definitely love Karin Tabke’s first line contests! I was lucky enough to come in 4th in her second one (I think it was the second) and my wonderful cp, Donna Marie Rogers won first in the same contest. Those are nail-biting, nerve-wracking times, but oh so much fun!

Kris, I agree with the “It was a dark and stormy night…” opening being great.

Donna, thanks so much for the MR compliment. I must’ve relaxed some on the first lines–the ones in there aren’t all that grabby. Oh well. I still like your Easter Bunny first line, but can’t remember if you kept it??

By: Donna Marie Rogers

Donna Marie Rogers — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:45:04 +0000

I do think the first line is important, but probably more so as a writer. As a reader, it’s never been a deal breaker. It’s usually the author’s voice that sucks me in…though a great first line can’t hurt.

And not that I’m partial or anything, but Mistletoe Rules is a fantastic holiday read.

By: Mary Jo

Mary Jo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:45:26 +0000

Hi Stacey,

I guess I’m in the minority. When I write my first draft I just write until I get to the end. With revision, I pay attention to my first page which often comes to me in a flash of clarity once I finish the first draft.

Then it’s just a process of hooking the reader. But that could be like fishing. Sometimes you get a strike and sometimes not, I guess. It depends on the fish–or the reader.

By: Kris Kennedy

Kris Kennedy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:55:16 +0000

Hi Stacey & Jeannie~

I LOVE great first lines! But I definitely don’t put down a book with a forgettable one. I keep reading. I probably need to be hooked in some way by page 2–either the language/prose, and intriguing character, or questions getting posed about what’s going to happen next.

(I have to say, I love the opening line, “It was a dark and stormy night.” I don’t know why it’s so maligned! It’s wonderful to me. )

What a great post!

By: Nan

Nan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:32:23 +0000

Oh, boy, you nailed it. Yes, I have to admit I labor over the first line far too much. In my first book I must have sweated over it and rewrote it dozens of times. I’m still not sure if I totally like it or not. I wanted to set the tone, place the reader in the setting all in the first paragragh. Funny, only one person has ever commented on my achieving my goals. The rest of the books in the series were no where near as hard to come up with opening lines. As a reader I don’t find it important. By the end of the first chapter I just want to be hooked into the rest of the story.