I was never a believer in the importance of first sentences. Considering how massive a novel is, I thought, a reader must surely maintain interest far past the first sentence to develop an opinion about the story. I mean, it’s just one sentence. How critical could it be?
That was until I began studying creative writing. There are so many parts of a story that all need to flow cohesively from the other. They all trace back to the ability to capture the reader’s attention with the first sentence. Watch how I prove why some first sentences fail and what you need to make them shine.
Dialogue as the First Sentence
This is risky.
I have read some novels and short stories that begin with dialogue that end of being very good narratives. However, by starting with dialogue it places the reader in such a position within the story that forces him or her to play catch-up. Whether or not the author has intended it, he has placed the reader at a disadvantage.
Beginning with dialogue complicates the reader because, most likely, he or she will have to re-read the same chapters/paragraphs several times over just to follow along. It has the same effect as using a non-linear story.
Unless you seriously wish to confuse your reader or have a specific plan that jumbles time to tell the story in a non-linear fashion I suggest to stay away from dialogue in a first sentence.
The good element of starting a novel with dialogue is when writing for a certain literary community. Typically never seen in genre novels, if you see the dialogue in a first sentence will be in literary fiction stories.
Beginning with dialogue can make for good storytelling if that dialogue means something important that will come back later on. For example, if you begin with describing colors of clothing or the opinion of another character in dialogue, those could the basis for great character arcs, subtext or clues to a mystery later on.
The bottom line is this: if you absolutely must begin with dialogue, do so knowing that the editor/publisher will likely change it on you unless it has some profound weight attached to its presence.
Character in a First Sentence
Whereas dialogue is somewhat taboo, using a character’s name in a first sentence is very common. So common in fact, that it borders on the tedious.
In many genre novels, authors will state their main character’s name. This is to not allow any discrepancies about who the reader will be following throughout the story. The following paragraphs likely will be about a scenario that the MC is currently involved. This is an easy route to take. There aren’t any illusions. The reader gets the info right upfront.
Although using a character’s name in a first sentence is straightforward, it harkens back to what I said about it being tedious.
This method is so played out that it can scream of unoriginality and novice writing.
Rather than using the character’s name, begin with pronouns and eventually lead up to the MC’s name. By using pronouns, it lets the reader know that a character is being involved but still keeps it a mystery.
The situation that the unnamed MC is in will provide an image of what they are like to the reader. By the time you get to the actual name, the reader will already have a decent opinion of who he or she is and will make the name of the character all more powerful.
Another thought: If an MC’s name must be used by the author, perhaps use a nickname. This will double the power of the MC’s name and his or her overall meaning to the other characters.
Point of View/Setting in the First Sentence
For beginners, this one seems to slip their minds. Depending on which POV you have chosen, it is a good idea to install them in the first sentence. Readers expect it. Readers, especially the ones, who have a writing background themselves, are critiquing and analyzing your work right from the start.
I have read many first chapters where the narrator is speaking in very vague terms, only to then eventually switch over to first-person POV. I suggest not to do this as it tricks and disrupts the reader. The reader should know as soon as possible who is telling the story and which POV. The longer you wait, the more you risk losing the attention of the reader.
Having a vivid description of the countryside or village or busy inner-city—or anywhere—sounds nice. I mean, the reader should know the surrounding these characters see, will see, or have seen in their lives, right? Sure.
Well, writing settings have been done to death. Pick up any novel from 200 years ago and you will see it. My job is to not just describe a good first sentence to you but to tell why certain methods wouldn’t work today. I am sure you have heard this many times, but the world is a super-fast place now and readers are no exception. You have to grab them quick—and spending paragraphs talking about a landscape or clouds simply will not cut it anymore.
Unless that is, the landscape has meaning. But, even then, how much meaning can a landscape really have? A setting is irrelevant unless there are memories tied to it. And those memories come from relationships with other characters.
So, if you can’t merge a landscape with a specific connection to a character (that he or she cannot live without), I say to leave it out of your first sentence.
In fact, details of settings seem to do no good in the long run. Most times, the only thing descriptions so is expand on the author’s ability to write prose. Readers want to know the characters. That is why they read. Focus more on developing characters in the opening sentence than setting.
The Best Way to Write the First Sentence
You know what not to do. But have you guessed what you should do?
The best method to captivate your readers’ attention in the first sentence is to make them want to read the next one. And then the next one. And then the one after that. So how do you do it, though?
Easy.
You divulge information a little at a time. Treat it like you have been asked a question and you only want to tell short, brief answers. You ease the answer out to them. You don’t just reveal everything all at once, do you? Of course, not. You wouldn’t have a story to tell. Do the same thing here.
Keep it a mystery, even if your story is not a mystery genre piece. (Although, in reality, all stories classify as a mystery. They may not have detectives and murder scenes, but they have answers that you can only get to if you solve the follow the mystery along the way.)
That is what editors mean when they say to make the first sentence interesting. You add all of these tips up and you only reveal small bits. Keep the reader guessing.
Before you go begin or revise your first sentences, you should head over to read my other post about realistic characters to know how to make them more relatable. After that, read my post about dialogue.
If you are a beginner writer or experienced writer and you need someone to help you edit your work, you can contact me on my service page.
And if you want to amplify the suspense in your short story or your novel, you can purchase my eBook here.
Get edited. Get published.
Keep writing!
~M