A first line of a story is the baited hook an author hopes will catch a reader’s interest so they will want to read the second line and on and on until the last line on the last page. Some readers will check out that first line before they decide if the book is one they want to read. I’ve even heard of some readers who will read the last line of a book to decide whether to read the book or not. I’ve never done that although I have sneaked looks ahead when I got impatient reading a book or perhaps just worried things weren’t going to turn out the way I hoped.
You might not do that and instead just read the story as the writer intends one page at a time. And that starts with that first sentence. I’ve written several posts in the past about first lines. In fact, I wrote a first lines post last January, Story First Line Fun. Maybe it’s something about being the start of a new year. In that post I suggested some random first lines. When I read them over just now, a few of them had me wondering what might happen next.
I’m captivated by great first lines and always try to come up with good first lines for my books. Another post I wrote back in 2013, “There Has to Be a First Sentence,” I shared some of my first lines.
One of them I like that I quote in that post is the first line of Small Town Girl.
It wasn’t a good thing to be in love with the man your sister was going to marry.
At that time I was writing my Shaker book, The Innocent. Here is the first line I’d come up with then.
When she saw the two men coming, she took the shotgun down from over the door.
That first line eventually became this.
When she saw the two men riding down the lane toward her house, Carlyn Kearney lifted the shotgun down off the long nails that held it over her front door.
I’m not sure I improved it other than adding Carlyn’s name. But it’s not a bad first line. It gets something happening right away. Even better, the first line of the next paragraph introduced her dog, Asher. Asher was a great dog character. I might as well share it too, don’t you think?
Beside her, Asher quivered as he watched the door with his gray-specked fur ruffed up on his neck and a low growl in his throat.
Love my dog characters. 🙂
In last year’s post on first lines, I was working on my book that releases in May, In the Shadow of the River. I shared the first line I had at the time.
Juliana Reed woke with a start when her mother jerked her out of bed with a shushing sound.
That sentence got some more work. In fact, I even changed my character’s name. I think I may have changed her name three times before I settled on Jacci. But here is the first line as it will be in the book when it comes out for readers. And it’s a first line that really needs a second line to help it grab more interest.
Jacci Reed’s mother shook her awake, then put her fingers lightly over Jacci’s lips.
“Shh. We have to get off the boat.” Her mother’s eyes were wide in the light of the lantern she held.
I’m hoping readers will be ready to find out why they need to get off the boat. If the idea of the story does catch your interest, you can get a great deal of 40% off and free shipping by pre-ordering it from Baker Book House. I’m excited for you all to ride some rivers with my characters.
But back to first lines. I’m working on a new book now. I’m heading to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains for another story. I’ve still got a lot of words to write, scenes to share, but I do have a first line written.
When Mira Dean left her rooms for church on Sunday morning, she had no idea that she would hear a proposal of marriage before she returned for her midday meal.
Whether that first line sticks, I won’t know until I reach the end of the story and do edits. Even then I might change it if my editors think it could be better. That remains to be seen. But this is the first line I have right now. I do think she will stay Mira. Whether that last name gets changed if she considers that marriage proposal may still be up in the air.
Do you look at the first lines of books to help you decide whether you want to read the story or not? And whether you do or not, do any of these first lines catch your interest?
As always, thanks for reading.
Comments 22
I love all your first lines, they do grab my attention. I think you can usually tell if a book is going to be good by the first few pages.
Author
Thanks, Connie. I’m glad you think my first lines might pull a reader into my story. I agree that you can tell a lot about the writing in the first few pages of a book, but I’m usually willing to give the story a chance to unwind and pick up speed over a few chapters.
Covers are important to me as they can draw me in to read what’s inside. I always read from beginning to end. I’ve never cheated. 😂
Author
I’m impressed that you’ve never taken a peek ahead in a book, Lucy. That’s really great and as Donna Jean said, why bother to read a book if you look ahead to see what happens. Can’t say I’ve never cheated and sometimes once I see it’s not turning out well, I might put it down and not pick it back up. I used to think I had to finish every book I started, but now I have so many stories I want to get to that I put a book aside if it doesn’t grab me. But, I’m always sorry if someone says that about one of my books. Truth is, some books do get better as you keep reading. I appreciate you and other readers giving my stories a chance by reading on.
Titles are usually what catches my eye when I am looking for a book to read. Sometimes the cover will catch my eye if it is displayed just so. If a title catches my fancy, I will usually flip to the back or inside cover for a summary before making that final decision.
Author
Titles are very important in catching a reader’s eye, Robin. That’s why authors and publishers work hard to come up with the right titles for their stories. I’ve written a blog or two about titles. Maybe I should check those out and do a remake. Usually I have a working title. Sometimes my title sticks and sometimes the publishing committee helps come up with a better title. The title, In the Shadow of the River, is a rework of my working title. When the Meadow Blooms was the title I picked for my last book. I have a similar working title for the book I’m working on now. Where the Bluebird Sings. We’ll see if it sticks.
I have never, as far as I remember, read a first line of a book before purchasing it, but after reading your blog I just might start doing that. I always trust your books to be good, clean, interesting, informative, etc, (and a few other authors, too), but I have started in the recent past reading negative reviews from other authors because I got burned too many times getting books that were not as “clean” as the synopsis sounds and I will not read them.
The first book I read of your’s was one of the Shaker books and that got me hooked on them and all of your books.
I enjoy your blogs, too. Thank you Ann.
Author
Sometimes when I’m reading reviews on Amazon, Ann, I wonder how anything ever gets sold. When I read those negative reviews, I’m ready to decide maybe whatever I’m looking at might not be right for me after all. But books are different simply because people have such different interests and like such different stories. But you can find out about the language or violent or sexual content that way when you prefer cleaner reads. We are blessed with a number of Christian authors who write beautiful books.
I hope you will continue to think my stories are some you can trust to be good reading and the kind of reading you enjoy.
As to those first lines, they can be fun to read just to get an idea of what the author has come up with to let you get a quick glimpse of what’s to come.
I very seldom ever read the first line or the end of a book. I start on page one and read to the final page, I don’t want to know how the story ends. Why even bother to read it if you know the ending. Anxiously awaiting your latest book to arrive in my mail box that I ordered last week.
Author
You are the right kind of reader, Donna Jean. One who takes the story as it comes. I just get so impatient sometimes while I’m reading. I want to know what happens before I get there. LOL. Best to read the way you do though.
Thank you so much for pre-ordering my book. That is such a help to an author and gives a book a great start if people order it early.
I Love reading the back of the book to let me know what the story is about I Lovee reading any genre and I Love the cover of your book’s Can’t wait to read these books Have a Blessed week!
Author
You are my kind of reader, Sarah. I like most genres myself and have jumped around writing in a few different ones. I’ve been blessed with readers who have followed me through my family stories, my historical ones, my mysteries and now I hope they will like a little Showboat suspense.
I hope you’ll enjoy my stories when you get a chance to read them.
Well, I’m certainly looking forward to reading more about Jacci and Mira! I love riverboats and you probably know how much I enjoy a good Appalachian story. Those first lines intrigue me. I usually read the synopsis first and if it sounds interesting, I read the first paragraph. I’ve even come across a few books that dragged me through the first chapter, standing in front of the bookstore or library shelf. I have a feeling these books will grab me like that.
Have a great week Ann. 🙂
Author
That’s fun, Lavon. Maybe that’s why many really neat bookstores have comfortable chairs so you can sit down and read some story before you buy the book. I love a bookstore that has that sit down and read feel.
I’m like you in reading the back cover first. I like looking at the covers too. Of course, the author’s name can be a big draw for me if I’ve read other books by that person and liked them. If I didn’t like the previous books I read by the author, I might still look at the book but it will have to be a very convincing back copy.
I’m glad you found my first lines intriguing. I have a lot more to figure out about Mira’s story, but I am intrigued by her what happens next.
Yes, I read the first line or even the first paragraph. Both of your new books sound awesome. You really have me wanting to know how Jackie and her mother are going to get off the boat and why!!
Author
You find out why the hurry pretty soon, Linda, but other parts of the why take a little longer. I do hope you enjoy riding the rivers with my showboat people.
I always read the first line when choosing a book. I usually read the entire first page or at least the first paragraph. I also look to see what tense it’s written in and seldom choose a book written in the present tense. For some reason, that just bugs me. The first line has to be a humdinger before I’ll read a book written in the present tense. I’m looking forward to your next book. It’s bound to be a wonderful story as usual, Ann.
Author
I appreciate your confidence in my storytelling, Lee. That’s encouraging as I’m going down a new story trail. Present tense can be a difficult way to write a story and hard to carry off successfully. I considered and actually started writing my Shaker book, The Refuge in present tense. I liked the idea of my readers being right there with my Shaker widow, Darcie. But it didn’t seem to work well. So instead, I wrote Darcie’s part of the story in first person but not present tense, and the other characters in third person. Seemed to work that way. I do like writing in first person although I don’t have many books that way. It can be limiting since you can only share what your character can know or see.
I don’t always look at first lines, but there are some first lines that have enticed me to read more! This is certainly the case with these that you’ve just mentioned. In the Shadow of the River has a beautiful cover and I definitely want to learn what happens to Jacci and her mother! I also hope that your editor will want to keep the first line for next year’s book. So, I’ll be sharing about Shadow and counting the days until May.
Author
I’m glad you think my first lines invite you into the story, Connie. I don’t usually look at first lines either when I am choosing the next book to read, but I do note one when I see it. It’s fun to look online at the sites that publish the best first lines ever. Some of them do make me want to read more. Some of them don’t. I guess with first lines as with everything, we do have our individual tastes.
Thank you for sharing about In the Shadow of the River. I do hope readers will enjoy the story.
I don’t read the first line or the last line to choose a book. I read the back of the book . I am looking forward to your boat book though.
Author
I do hope you’ll enjoy In the Shadow of the River, Lisa. Closer to publication time, I’ll share some of my research into showboats and families who lived on them. I was surprised at how ornate some of the showboats were and how rich some of the owners became. My showboat family was fun to get to know as I wrote their stories.