"Allow Me to Introduce . . ."

Writing an opening that fits your story or your style

What is an Opening?

• The first sentence?

• The first paragraph?

• The first chapter?

• A hook?

• A description of the setting?

• An introduction of the main character?

“The less said the better. Entice the reader to want to read on. I love openings where the reader is thrown into a moment in the character’s life without introduction or background.”

Advice from the Web

“The key word is INVOLVE. Grab the reader's attention at once. Don't start off with a long scene-setting passage where nothing happens. There must be something in the first few lines that makes the reader want to reach into the story to find out what happens next.”

“Usually a bit of dialogue or something that grabs at the reader, something funny or shocking (depending on the genre). There is also a lot to be said for introducing your main character quickly to get the reader involved. And get to the story from page one.”

The Maltese Falconby Dashiell Hammett

SPADE & ARCHER

SPADE & ARCHERWolf-like eyes? And horizontal – what does that say?

Not young

Why pleasant?

Playful?

A girl he might wantto avoid?

Confirmation; also his assistant is helping him

Advice from the Web 2

“A good opening is one that interests the reader, or asks a question.

Okay: It was a wet Monday morning.

Better: Why did it always rain when Cindy was in trouble?

This is better. It tells the reader a number of things, and also raises a question: Why is Cindy in trouble?”

“There is no formula for this. Write something that you, as a reader, would find intriguing or exciting. Think of yourself as a storyteller, rather than a 'writer', and imagine how you might get someone else interested if you were telling the story aloud.”

Fer-de-Lanceby Rex Stout

Conversational ; telling a story

‘Wolfe’identified

as the boss;Does this

tell us anythingabout theNarrator?

Can we tellwho Fritz

is, or what his job is?

Modesty?

Helpful?

Response tothe ‘bell’

Conversational ‘you’

Playful?

Advice from the Web 3“Does the opening convey the general tone of your writing? For example, if you’re funny throughout the book, does this opening paragraph portray the best of your humor?”

“Does it set up a mystery the reader will spend the rest of the work trying to figure out?”

“Does it show something about the central character, or someone important to the work? Remember that an opening paragraph will help your readers grow attached to your main character. If that person has a central flaw that leads to their downfall you may want to hint at this here too.”

The Talented Mr. Ripleyby Patricia Highsmith

Paranoidor

guilty?

Daringor

crazy?

Used to being followed

Does he even know his own nature? (FLAW)

Whyautomatic?

Guiltyof something

Giving themain character’s

name

Advice from the Web 4

“Does the opening paragraph set up the main point of view which the reader will connect with throughout the work?

One book I worked on started with ‘the bad guys’. This was a problem, because the readers became attached to them, rather than to the good guy who was introduced later.”

“Does it show and not tell?

For example, at the start of ‘Moby Dick’ Ishmael is feeling sad,but he doesn’t say ‘I was sad’. He tells us of the ‘damp, drizzly November’ of his soul.”

The Big Sleepby Raymond Chandler

Description;not a “great

line”?

Overdone,or does this

tell ussomething?

What doesthis tell

us?

Humorous,but there

on business

Notimpressedby wealth?

Is the narrator just being funny, or is there more here?

Brooklyn Ruby by Beth Franzese

It was one of those sultry early September nights that can lull you into thinking summer will last forever. On Secaucus Road the scent of leaves and baked pavement mixed with the emissions of traffic and industry. Inside Snappers, nicotine and beer fumes and the barmaid’s Anais Anais made all the seasons smell the same, though in summer there was a tinge more sweat in the mix.

Conclusions(maybe)

Intriguing: Throw the reader into a moment in the character’s life without introduction or background

Interesting: Start with dialogue or action, or somethingfunny (or shocking)

Entertaining: Imagine how you might get someone else interested if you were telling the story aloud

Conclusions(maybe) 2

Tone: The opening should convey the manner in whichthe story is going to be told (funny, dark, etc.)

Character: Starting with the main character will help thereader identify with that character. If that player has aflaw, perhaps indicate that early on

Show: Finding ways to convey a feeling or a descriptionwithout simply stating it can pull the reader in

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