Agood opening line sets the tone and invites readers into your story, making them eager to read on. Show
How to write an opening sentenceCan I skip the opening sentence for this post?Pleeeease? Let’s say you skip reading the first few sentences and start with the fourth? Or fifth? I don’t like the pressure of writing a first sentence. What if I fail to engage readers? What if I’m boring them? What if I’ve wasted my time on this article because my first line sucks? The task of writing a catchy first sentence can paralyze even the most acclaimed writers. In an interview with the Atlantic, Stephen King admits he can spend months, or even years, on writing the opening lines for a new book. Sounds crazy, right? As business writers, we don’t have the luxury of time. We have other things to do than worrying about one line of text. So what can we do? Let me share with you a trick for writing a first sentence super-fast. But first, let’s define what a good opening line is. Okay? What makes an opening sentence good?This is how the novel “Nervous Conditions” by Tsitsi Dangarembga starts:
Why is this sentence good? It entices you to read on. That first sentence creates drama because it instantly raises two compelling questions in readers’ minds: Why did the brother die? And why was the author not sorry? A reader reads on because he wants to find out the answers to these two questions. Stephen King says it like this:
One of the most famous opening sentencesThis is how “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger starts:
This famous opening line is 63 words long. Is such a long sentence a good idea? Ben Blatt analyzed what makes a good novel great, and he also reviewed first sentences. His conclusions are not clear cut, as he summarizes in his book “Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve:”
Our literary heroes may write lengthy first sentences. But when writing for the web, we need to remember our readers. They’re not curled up on a comfy sofa with a book and a glass of Rioja. They’re hurrying across the web, searching for interesting articles to read and share. Who has the patience to start reading a block of text? Examples of short opening sentencesInstead of following J.D. Salinger’s 63-word mammoth sentence, take your cue from Toni Morrison, the master of short first sentences, like this one from “Tar Baby:”
From “Paradise:”
From “God Help the Child:”
Each of these sentences makes you curious to read on. Your first sentence has two purposes. First, get people to read your first sentence—a short sentence works better because it’s easy to read. Then, make sure they want to read your second sentence. The worst opening linesBen Blatt quotes the opening line of the book “Paul Clifford” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton as one of the most ridiculed opening lines ever:
Not only is that sentence awfully long, its worst crime is that nothing happens. Nothing grabs attention. Nothing makes me curious. It’s simply a description of the weather. So what? Of course, in business we rarely write about the weather, but you may have come across similar opening lines that fail to whet your appetite for reading more. For instance:
Duh! The above opening lines may be short, but they’re obvious statements, killing readers’ interest. There’s no incentive to read on. A little-known shortcut for catchy opening sentencesGetting nervous about writing a good first sentence? No need for nerves, when you know this blog writing trick … Unlike novels, a blog post is often a conversation with our readers. And what easier way to engage readers than asking them a question? A few examples:
In a face-to-face meeting, you often start a conversation with a question, like: Cup of tea? How did your meeting go? Or: How’s business? Why not do the same in your writing? The one magic opening line doesn’t existSo, no need to search for it anxiously. Instead, remember your reader. Imagine him hurrying across the web. He’s feeling restless. He’s impatient because he’s been wasting his time reading lousy blog posts. How can you engage him? How can you make him read your first sentence? And then the next? A good writer draws a reader in, and doesn’t let him go until the last word. Bonus examples of great opening linesThe first sentence of How to Kidnap the Rich by Rahul Raina:
This sentence conjures up so many questions that I couldn’t help myself to read on. Who was kidnapped? How was the protagonist involved? What happened after the first kidnapping? And how and why were the subsequent kidnappings his fault? All these questions made me read on. This is the opening line from Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones:
Do you also want to know more? Why was her father a bigamist? How did the protagonist find out her father was a bigamist? What happened with the two marriages? Were their children in both marriages? Sometimes, a long first sentence is great. like this one from The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett:
Why were the twins lost? Why did one return? And why did everyone remember? What is a good intro sentence?Think of your first sentence as a hook that draws your reader in. As you have researched your topic, you have probably discovered many interesting anecdotes, quotes, or trivial facts; these make great hooks to use for an engaging introduction.
What are some sentences to start an essay?Topic sentence starters for essays. This paper discusses . . .. In this paper . . .. Here, we discuss . . .. Below, you will find . . .. How do you start a strong introduction?Use a stat or fact to convey importance.. Keep your first sentence short. ... . Say something unusual. ... . Don't repeat the title. ... . Keep the introduction brief. ... . Use the word “you” at least once. ... . Dedicate 1-2 sentences to articulating what the article covers. ... . Dedicate 1-2 sentences to explaining why the article is important.. |