The Art of Getting Started - Part 1

First sentences are a novelist’s signature. They should whisper a question to the reader—one answered slowly, deliciously, by the story. They should make an editor lean forward. They should crack the story wide open.

I spend hours—days, sometimes—writing and rewriting that first line. I’ve tossed more than I’ve kept. And that’s okay. A great first sentence carries the weight of everything that comes after it.

It has to do a lot of heavy lifting:

• Suggest tone

• Spark curiosity

• Hint at character

• And, ideally, set a little trouble in motion

Here’s one I wrote for Fallen Angels:

“A bit of trouble with attempted murder sent Jeb Nubey over the Texarkana border in the unfortunate direction of hunger.”

In one line, you already know a few things:
Jeb’s in hot water. He’s probably not new to it. He’s a little unlucky—and very human. There’s trouble, voice, and setting—all baked in from the start.

The first line opens the door. It tells your reader, You want to know what happens next.

So take your time. Shape it carefully. Toss a few. Then keep the one that makes the story impossible not to read.

✍️ Try this: Write three different first lines for the same story idea. Don’t worry about perfection. Just make them whisper trouble.