Here's my very favorite, because has everything you'd want--action, voice, unanswered questions and hook:
"The telephone bell was ringing wildly, but without result, since there was no-one in the room but the corpse."
--Charles Williams, War in Heaven (1930)
FYI: Williams was a member of The Inklings (the writing group that also included Tolkien and Lewis) who wrote these very trippy and intense supernatural thrillers back in the 1930s. Lewis's That Hideous Strength is heavily influenced by Williams's style.
What's your favorite first line? What do you admire about it?
Categories: beginnings
Ha! I love that first line. It's SO good. The book's pretty decent too, though it gets a bit obscure and esoteric at the climax.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite first lines are the ones I always point to as great examples: The Old Man and the Sea, and 100 Years of Solitude.
What a great first line! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember any stellar first lines I've read, but I agree: writing first lines is a killer!
That is truly a great line.
ReplyDeleteBeginnings are hard--I agree!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that a great first line. Both intriguing and very well-written.
ReplyDeleteI can't actually remember many first lines, but the P&P one has always stuck with me. I'm not quite sure it'd work in current publishing environment, though.
"The wind howled and the flames roared, but the books, as they died, merely fell silent."
ReplyDeleteLIBYRINTH by Pearl North
I'd love to write an opening as powerful as that.
You're right beginnings are a bear! After editing so much of my book, I'm ready to junk the entire first chapter...I'm still thinking how I can infuse the nuggets I need later in the book. Maybe even a dreaded prologue.
ReplyDeleteWow, love that line too. It makes me want to read the entire book. I have a hard time writing that beginning sentence as well. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little bit the opposite. I love writing first lines, it's just the rest of the novel that I don't like. :-)
ReplyDeleteSimon: How awesome that you like Williams! I like All Hallows' Eve best of his stuff I've read so far, but how can you not admire this kick-a$$ opener?
ReplyDeleteTalli: there's no real formula--it has to hint at what's unique in the particular manuscript. I think that's what's so hard. I write in present tense, so I can't use so many typical hooks.
Holly: Williams is a great writer worth checking out.
Elle: Indeed! but I still hope to solve my opening problems enough to participate in your blogfest. :)
Sandy: Ooh, yes, the "It is universally acknowledged...must be in want of a wife" opening. Several of my writing books hold that up as an example, but I agree that type of opening only works for certain genres.
ReplyDeleteTricia: nice! very atmospheric.
Tamika: I did junk my first chapter when I started this rewrite. Now I'm trying be sure I've properly set up for the inciting incident in just a few paragraphs (rather than 15 pages!).
Bethany: Williams's books are great page turners for being "classics." I recommend them!
Lois: there's the rub, huh? The one-liner that seems provocative doesn't necessarily translate into a story idea one wants to explore.