It can be quite overwhelming when an author is facing a completely blank page at the beginning of a novel. I know who the characters are and have lived with them for awhile in my head. I’ve sketched out at least a modicum of what is going to happen in the story. But here I am waiting for them to come to life on the page, to introduce themselves to each other and launch the plot into conflict.
Some authors like to start with a day in the life, showing the character enjoying life as they are used to before they reach what we in publishing call the inciting incident, or the moment when things change. While I don’t lean toward a day in the life, I sometimes use it. Generally, however, it’s only a page or two before I jump into the real conflict. Here’s an example:
The only thing on Noah Sanders’ mind was having time to dig into a piping hot bowl of Cookie’s hearty beef stew to warm his cold bones and freezing extremities. He stretched his sore muscles as he settled down next to the roaring fire inside the ranch bunkhouse to eat his delicious, rich mix of meat and veggies. He’d worked hard all day out in the crisp Gilead, Kansas winter, herding cattle from one part of Walker Ridge Ranch’s vast expanse of land to another to count heads to keep them from straying and from overgrazing in any one area.
Other authors, including me, generally like to start our novels off with a bang. I struggle long and hard over my first lines. I throw my characters right into the middle of the mess. I don’t want readers to be able to put the book down. The inciting incident doesn’t have to be a literal bang, either. For example, in my latest book for Harlequin, my opening line is:
“So, what have you got for me tonight, Trace?” Shannon McAllister asked. “You said something about a goat?”
It’s not exactly a smoking gun, but what’s the deal with the goat?
Have you ever watched readers peruse the shelves at your local Walmart? Often they’ll pick up a book, read the back cover copy, and then turn to the first page. I want readers to be able to pick up one of my books and not put it back on the shelf.
What about you? Do you prefer a day in the life, or the moment things change? If you’d like to share a favorite first line, that would be great, as well.
~~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! This retiree and reader enjoys the moment things change. Two first lines that reflect that are: Valerie Comer’s A Green and Vibrant Hope and Merrillee Wren’s Puppy Love and Christmas Cookies.
First line of A Green and Vibrant Hope: Rain would it ever end. Arleigh O’Neill eyed the bucket under the leak in her living room ceiling. Book was released May 2023 when parts of the country was receiving torrential downpours. Story was a page turner.
First line of Puppy Love and Christmas Cookies: Dumped just like that. Without warning. Definitely had my attention – why? who? where?
As a retired high school English and Creative Writing teacher. Attention grabbing opening lines in a story, essay, news article are important. Thanks for the fun blog. Looking forward to reading first lines. Stay cool. After yesterday’s much need rain in SW Michigan plus the smoke from the Canadian Wild Fires, staying indoors because of the high heat index. Best wishes. Happy Writing those attention grabbing opening lines.
It honestly doesn’t matter to me, as long as the first line draws me in. It can be conflict, it can be anything!
I kind of like knowing what’s going on with the characters, before the bang. I like to feel the characters out and see who they are and what they are about.
It can be both, the first line could be a mixture of both. I love it when a book grabs me with its first line and paragraph. Thank you for sharing this, I enjoyed it. Have a great weekend.
I think I like both too, it depends on the story – sometimes it’s nice to get a real sense of the character and feel you know them a bit before things start happening, but it’s always intriguing to have a first line that makes you ask questions and want to read more!
Great opening lines! I love reading both Val and Merrillee!!!
I think for me it may also have to do with the author. If it’s one of my go-to authors, I trust that they will give me a good story.
I was thinking that maybe partially that may be for those who more enjoy longer novels than most of the ones I write. That gives the author more time to set the stage.
Have a lovely weekend, Alicia! Here’s to finding wonderful new first lines.
Agreed! I think as a writer I try to feel out what the story needs.
I like the moment that changes things. but it depends on the story.
One I remember without remembering the actual lines was from Zero visibility by Sharon Dunn. It set the scene. it was a LIS and it was in a snow storm with zero visibility and they were driving and you knew there was major trouble ahead. It made me keep reading til 2am in the morning. I still remember that book and its over 11 years ago.
You mention the start to a Gilad story I hope that means we will get to read your story at some stage.
I have had immense health issues over the past few months, but yes, you’ll get that Gilead story as soon as I can get it to you. Thanks for asking!
It all depends on where the story ends up going. It is not a one or the other question for me. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Both cases, in reading and in writing. Sometimes it is worth starting in media res – when someone’s lover was kidnapped, when a girl ran away from a sieged monastery (or was stolen from the monastery together with the silverware and other valuables), when someone moved to a new town. In other cases, taking things a bit chronologically is necessary, to establish the setting and the characters.