Considering I write about cowboys and rodeos, you might be thinking that I’m referring to how long a cowboy has to stay on a bucking bronco or bull. But not this time.
Apparently, eight seconds is the length of a human’s attention span. Eight measly seconds. According to a study done by Microsoft and recorded in Time Magazine, that’s less than a goldfish. http://time.com/3858309/attention-spans-goldfish/
As a reader, I choose books based on the author, the cover, sometimes (but not often) the title, the blurb on the back of the book—and by scanning the first page. Anyone else flip the book open and start reading right in the middle of Walmart? Or “look inside” on Amazon?
As an author trying to reach readers who are used to texting and tweeting, I know I don’t have much time to catch a reader’s interest before he or she closes my book and puts it back on the shelf (literally or figuratively.)
That’s why first lines are so important, and why I sometimes spend days getting those first few pages just exactly how I want them to be.
Today I thought I’d share some of my favorite first lines from contemporary romances, both from other authors on this blog and from some of my own.
“What, Jas—you’re going to be in charge of marketing instead? In case you’ve forgotten, you hate people.”
~~Valerie Comer
“You did what?”
Deirdre McIntyre held the phone away from her ear as her best friend Lisette screeched.
“I bought it. You should see it, Lis. It’s amazing.”
~~Elizabeth Maddrey
“Kaci!”
In the ensuing heartbeat, a crash of unfathomably deep silence pulled her down, down, down into it and away from reality . . .
“Someone call 911!”
~~Staci Stallings
Cole Bishop didn’t know who’d originally coined the phrase “Home is where the heart is,” but whoever it was, she should be shot.
~~Deb Kastner
Rachel Perez was looking for a man, not a monkey.
~~Deb Kastner
And finally, from my newest book available May 22:
Angelica May Carmichael had been duped.
By her own grandmother.
~~Deb Kastner
Just for fun, share the first lines from your favorite books or the first line of the book you’re reading right now!
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
Hi Deb, I love these first lines! The grandmother in your upcoming release sounds like a piece of work! An intriguing opening for your story. :)
I have ‘That’s Amore’ by Marion Ueckermann open in my Kindle app, and I love the first line in the prologue:
No parent should ever have to bury a child, let alone all of them.
Hi Deb! Wow! All I could think of is how scary this fact is. Explains most of the drivers on the road. I expect this short attention span in my 15 month old granddaughter. No wonder people no longer read novels. I feel bad that being 65+ I prefer to read novellas, because my attention span has decreased and my eyes can no longer do an all nighter reading.
Unless it is an author I am familiar with, book covers catch my eye, then I read the blurb. If it is an unfamiliar author, I then read the beginning page to see if the story, the writing style catches my interest.
“Lucus Ruiz Morales hadn’t expected a big brass band to great him, but having someone at least answer the door would have been nice.” Joy of My Heart: Romance from the Heart (Arcadia Valley Romance) by Lee Tobin McClain
“I’ pregnant.” A Royally Beautiful Mess (Crowns and Courtships) by Carol Moncado
“NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE to bury a child, let alone all of them.” That’s Amore: That’s Love (A Tuscan Legacy by Marion Ueckermann
Thanks to all the wonderful Inspy Romance authors, who struggle writing the first sentence to capture your readers attention. Three excellent releases this week (see above). Advice I gave my high school English students. Told them if you cannot hook me with your first paragraph, your essay is BORING. They often had good ideas but where amazed when I tweeted them to be an astounding, attention getting paragraph. Best wishes and happy writing.
Hi Deb:) Man, 8 seconds?! As a teacher that makes sense!
The books I am reading at the moment have been mentioned by Narelle and Renate (don’t we all have good taste!!:) so I won’t repeat them.
If an author is new to me, then I download a sample onto my Kindle if the blurb/cover has caught my attention. If the author is familiar, then it is almost an automatic purchase/download. I have appreciated being introduced to new authors here; I read very quickly (but regularly reread books), so love finding new authors/books.
Blessings:)
Thanks for including A Heart Restored! I love all the first lines I’ve seen mentioned so far. I think most authors put a good bit of thought into that first paragraph.
8 seconds…I wonder if it’s lower for little boys. As a mom of two, it sure feel like it sometimes :)
“I’m pregnant” – A Royally Beautiful Mess – Carol Moncado
That captured me because i felt the fear and disappointment in the character’s voice. Then my crazy mind thinks ” HOW SCANDALOUS – this is going to be good!!!” :)
Hi Deb,
I love your LI first lines, they really hooked me right off the bat. The others were good too!
I’m currently reading A New Shade of Summer by Nicole Deese. The first paragraph, that can be read in 8 seconds or less :)
Considering my allegiance to classic rock, I couldn’t claim an eclectic taste in music. But I was definitely not a fan of the wannabe bohemian band currently droning through the speakers in my operating room. My vet techs found far to much pleasure in pushing my personal preferences to the limit.
I just finished A Royally Beautiful Mess and That’s Amore. I enjoyed both. I , too, look at cover, author, title. I also look at publishing house and scripture copyright. I prefer Christian authors so it will be “clean”. I do read first page and have been hooked by more than one first paragraph or first line.
starting: Chasing the Wind by Paula Scott – first line – “Peter looked at his cards on last time.”
I really understand the 8 seconds of memory. i am with my dad right now who is totally confused and that is about right. 8 seconds on only one particular subject.
Do you think the internet has given us a short attention span?
I just finished “That’s Amore” – already mentioned above a couple of times.
I agree that if a book hasn’t grabbed my interest by the end of the first chapter, I rarely keep reading!
Oh my goodness. That creates an immediate emotional response, doesn’t it?
I love “I’m pregnant.” Slam dunk.
Isn’t this just the best blog? I love being a part of it with all these lovely authors.
Ha ha. My grandson can go from zero to sixty in far less than eight seconds, and then turn around and do something completely different.
Those words bring me to a specific place and time. My daughter was a teenage mom and I’ll never forget those words coming out of her mouth. But praise God, my grandson Boo has been one of the biggest blessings in all of our lives.
That’s really cute, and as an ECLECTIC lover of music, I had an emotional response to her thoughts.
I prefer Christian authors as well. Even if the books are sweet and not overtly Christian, you can trust that you’ll have a safe read.
Intriguing. What kind of cards? Playing cards? Is he getting ready to make a bet? Or are they get well cards and he is about to die?
Between the Internet and cell phones, I think. I find myself zipping from email to Facebook during my writing breaks and always have my phone beside me. It’s really scary when you start to think about it. I wonder what the next few years will bring (coming from someone who lived pre-computers and cell phones.)
Hi Margaret,
I can almost always tell if I’m going to like a book by the end of the first chapter, but I have a terrible time putting one down. I have this unstoppable urge to read to the end, especially if I paid good money for a book.
“Shirley Hollister pushed back the hair from her hot forehead, pressed her hands wearily over tired eyes, then dropped her fingers again to the typewriter keys, and flew on with the letter she was writing”.
“The Enchanted Barn” by Grace Livingston Hill.
I love Grace Livingston Hill. I read all of her books when I was younger.
Don’t forget good ol’
“It’s a truth yniversally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a fortune, must be in want of a wife”.
Jane Austen
Also, I find that Teri ablwckstock grabbed me pretty easily within three or so paragraphs in her Restorstion Series
I love Carol! And A Royally Beautiful Mess was fantastic. Start to finish.