Okay, so I know that I touched base with this topic in my previous chapter, but I felt that maybe a few of you could use some more in depth knowledge if you're still confused. So here I am, and there you are, reading this. What a great world we live in where I actually try to appease you guys and help you all out. So let's get started.
[1] First Lines can be Vivid
This type of first line should instantly invite you to an image that's clear as day. For instance, you could focus on a detail as small as a candle flame wavering in the small breeze that was blowing, saying it danced like it was a performer for a grand ballet. Not bad, eh?
[2] First Lines can Establish a Unique Voice
Now, this is the type of first line that allows you to have something that is different from the other stories. You could break a few grammar rules, like using slang like "crap" in your work and get away with it if it intrigues your reader.
[3] First Lines can be Surprising
This can be somewhat harder for some people, especially if it doesn't fit in with their story at all, but maybe this could be the right way to start off your story, hmm? A perfect example of a surprising first sentence would be George Orwell's book ,1984, "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." Making it surprising by altering the way time flows? Absolutely genius on his part, it grabs the reader's attention right away, making them ask,"Why does the clock continue onto thirteen?"
[4] First Lines can be Funny
Humor can be very closely related to surprise. This allows the reader want to continue reading because they might be both shocked and laughing, making them wonder if the book will now live up to the expectation of that fantastic first sentence.
[5] First Lines can be true
"Really?" you think. "I never even thought of that," the sarcasm coming from you is making my head hurt, tone down the saltiness, reader. You may be surprised that this is actually a great way to kickstart your book. Let's see, you can make it sort of a Captain Obvious type of thing, such as saying, "Violets are actually blue, not orange, as I so previously thought." Does that work? I think it works... maybe not, you decide, I'm not the best person to actually be writing this chapter, I'm only running on one cup of coffee, and that's from this morning so wish me luck.
[6] First Lines can be Clear
These type of first lines are lines that basically only introduce who the narrator is, for instance, you could say, "My name is _____, but my friends call me _____." Don't sass me again, reader, actual authors have used this method, I'm not just an author who's coffee deprived.
[7] First Lines can be a Small Summary
This is the type of first line that can kind of summarize your entire story into a tiny sentence, it works and it's here to stay. Example, "Her careful personality was soon diminished by that one fateful day, which led to only a little bit of regret."
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A Guide to Writing
Non-FictionOk, so I know that there are a lot of these books out there on Wattpad. The reason I decided to write this book was because I found it hard to find actual guidelines on the internet for this kind of stuff. So I put together what I learned from many...
