Book first lines

If you consider yourself a capital-R Reader, put yourself to the test with this guess the book quiz. We triple dog dare you.

She had heard his excuses before, thousands of times, but this time she was sick of them. She had never known that a human body could twist into that position. The bookcases tilted at a precarious angle over the sleeping infant. He was a brave man except when it came to small, tight spaces like […]

How I start a first chapter A lot of writers put a performance pressure on themselves to create a perfect first line and an impeccable first chapter. Perfect chapters come from repetitive drafting and editing. There's no need to get it right on the first try. When writing your first chapter, all you have to do is write a great hook, introduce the characters, and give them some conflict to deal with. If you write everything well, the rest is history. #writing #writingadvice #writer #write...

This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the first line of your novel had better kick arse. Whether you are looking to snare an agent, a publisher, or a reader, your first line is all important. Leaving aside […]

The first lines of a book often set the stage for the reading experience. While there are many books which are worth the effort of plowing on even when the start is a bit slow and unattractive, there are others which have beckoned me with opening lines so artful that I could not help devouring…

The opening line of a book are like the curtains swooping up, revealing the stage as the author ushers you into the story and also another world. An opening line forms the first impression. It is the opening line that grabs your attention and hooks you into the story! There are some amazing opening lines that fill the reader in you with curiosity and intrigue to find out more. Here are 23 opening lines of books that will make you want to read them now…

So, chapters. It occurred to me the other week that I’d yet to talk about them here on Well-Storied, despite the fact that I’ve been running this show for well over two years now. How could I have skipped something so crucial to the structure of a good novel? I'll be honest. For a long time, I really didn't consider chapters to be all that important. Chapters give your novel structure, sure. But over the years, I've come to realize that that's not all they do... Chapters also create a…

These are some of our favorites, the best first lines of books, with explanations why these sentences rank among the very best.

The first lines of your story will hook the reader or make them put your story down. Here's how to start a story with the details and events that matter.