One of the things I’ve learned performing as a live storyteller is to always have strong first and last lines. The first line says, hey there, pay attention, this is something worth listening to. The last line gives a final impression and signals the close of the piece.
It’s true in writing, as well. Of course, novelists can afford to think in terms of strong first paragraphs, but the principle is the same. And frankly, a strong first sentence is still even better. Picture your reader in a bookstore, trying to decide if this is something worth reading. The sooner the hook catches them, the better.
So what’s a good opening? There is no definitive answer. I would suggest that is should promise something more. Whether it introduces an interesting situation, a character, or even a tone of voice, it should suggest that things only get more interesting from here.
As an aside, the I think the most daring thing I ever sent to a publisher was the first line of my second novel: “Welcome to my great unpublished manuscript.” I mean, think of it from the point of view of the publisher. Fortunately, it was not an unsolicited submission.
Endings are another kettle of fish. I like my ending to leave a lasting impression. Once again, it goes back to my live performance experience. People don’t remember all the words of the story, only the gist of it. But they are likely to remember the end, and the feelings it created. It would be interesting to study just the first and last lines of books – I suspect that not all authors share my approach.
To break in my new netbook, I wrote a short radio play for two voices entitled The Case of the Girl who Lost Everything. It, like this blog, was written entirely on the bus going to and from work. The first line is, “They say there are a million stories in the naked city, so stop me if you’ve heard this one.”
And it ends, like this blog, with the line, “I stayed at the ruin that was her house, gazing longingly up at the stars.”
