The first sentence - - - authors know the first sentence of a novel has to catch the readers; imagination. So, if you

[3Hotdogs]

were writing your next novel, what would be your first sentence?

Mine? : What do I tell her?



I went through 6 trial sentences before I came up with the one above.

[3catwoman3]

1. WTH just happened?

Or maybe, "WTF just happened?"

[68er]

2. "Where's Papa going with that ax?" -- One of my favorite opening lines, ever

from Charlotte's Web, no less.

I try to keep it in mind everytime I begin a new narrative project, as well...

[skylucy]

3. I agree! I loved that book so much!

[JoseBalow]

6. One of my favorites is from 'Aztec' by Gary Jennings

"Of all that I have possessed in my life, my memories are the only things remaining to me."

[dweller]

4. John Irving

Once said he started with the last sentence , or paragraph,
and then worked backward to write his novels .

So I guess it can work both ways ?

🤔



✌🏻

[NJCher]

7. This is

Absolutely the best way. It is because you don’t know where your writing is going to take you.

[Mme. Defarge]

5. Roll up your sleeve!

[JoseBalow]

8. "A Saturday afternoon in November was approaching the time of twilight,

and the vast tract of unenclosed wild known as Egdon Heath embrowned itself moment by moment."

(4:03)

[mopinko]

9. if i was writing my autobiography-

to my mother’s everlasting chagrin, my father infected me, at an early age, with the ability to believe in dreams.

[OldBaldy1701E]

10. "The most important things are the hardest to say."

(from the novella 'The Body' in the book 'Different Seasons'. That book is special in that three of the four stories in it were made into films. Ironic to myself that the story I like the most in that book has never been done. 'The Body' was made into the movie 'Stand By Me'.)