Motsu
REROCK: Change The World
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2020
- Messages
- 1,108
- Points
- 153
Can 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 the first sentence.
What if I fail to engage readers? What if I’m boring them? What if I’ve wasted my time on this novel 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?
Making a good quote can help you communicate your message to key audiences. If you are hoping to make your upcoming speech or social media post more memorable, you may want to learn the art of writing good quotes. It is important to carefully consider your audience and key message before drafting quotes. Once you have a few drafts in your notebook, you can start revising the quotes for boldness, concision, and resonance. You can also combine your quote with a compelling image to make a popular social media post.
Think of the potential reader who walks by a bookstore or the editor to whom you sent a manuscript. They have hundreds of available books, and they haven’t even heard of most of them. When they pick up one that catches their attention because of the beauty of its cover, the originality of its title, or any other reason, they’ll leaf through it for no more than thirty seconds (just a quick glance at the first few lines of the text). What do you think they should find there? A catchy beginning or the weather forecast?
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:
Don't Start Talking About the Weather:
Comments such as, “It’s cold” or “Look how much it’s raining today!” are elevator conversations – topics we turn to when we don’t know what to say. If your story starts with one of those sentences, you’re transmitting that “elevator feeling” to your readers. Unless the weather affects the development of your story from the beginning (or unless you’re writing a novel dealing with a meteorologist who studies climate), it’s not a good idea to begin by talking about the heat or the rain.
To give you a practical example, imagine these two possible beginnings:
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:
Why not do the same in your writing?
Figure out your themes.
Brainstorm a list of the top themes you want to address with your quote. Give yourself fifteen minutes to jot down the themes or issues you want to address with your quote. You can use point forms, such as single words or short phrases that indicate a theme.[2]
The backstory is a set of events created for a plot, presented as preceding the story, and leading up to that plot. In simple words, it’s what happens before the story you’re telling in your manuscript takes place, and it’s usually introduced through the memories of a character or through the narrator.
Should you start a novel or a tale with the backstory? Definitely not, because your readers aren’t interested in it from the first page. It would be like telling your life story to someone you’ve just met! First of all, you must intrigue them as you introduce them to the world described in your story as well as the characters and their conflicts. Once you’ve got that part done, you’re allowed to feed your readers with the backstory (by that time, they’ll want to have that information).
Nevertheless, keep in mind that leaving the backstory for later doesn’t mean your story can’t begin with a scene from the past. For example, you can refer to an episode of your protagonist’s childhood in the first chapter and then focus on his adult life for the rest of the novel. That’s not the same as interrupting the story’s progression in order to introduce an explanation about the past life of your protagonist!
Make it Bold:
Consider how you could make your quote bold and definitive. A memorable quote draws clear distinctions and offers clear judgments about an issue, rather than making vague remarks.[16] For instance, the following quotes are good examples of boldness:
These are only a few of the many perspectives once I've learned from the past. They may be useful or not, but I assume they'll guide you in your next chapter or a new novel. They do say, learn from the best, but I don't consider myself one at all. Authors, what are your thoughts on my perspective? Do you have your own set of opinions to share?
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 the first sentence.
What if I fail to engage readers? What if I’m boring them? What if I’ve wasted my time on this novel 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?
Making a good quote can help you communicate your message to key audiences. If you are hoping to make your upcoming speech or social media post more memorable, you may want to learn the art of writing good quotes. It is important to carefully consider your audience and key message before drafting quotes. Once you have a few drafts in your notebook, you can start revising the quotes for boldness, concision, and resonance. You can also combine your quote with a compelling image to make a popular social media post.
Think of the potential reader who walks by a bookstore or the editor to whom you sent a manuscript. They have hundreds of available books, and they haven’t even heard of most of them. When they pick up one that catches their attention because of the beauty of its cover, the originality of its title, or any other reason, they’ll leaf through it for no more than thirty seconds (just a quick glance at the first few lines of the text). What do you think they should find there? A catchy beginning or the weather forecast?
An Outrageously Good Opening Sentence:
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:
Don't Start Talking About the Weather:
Comments such as, “It’s cold” or “Look how much it’s raining today!” are elevator conversations – topics we turn to when we don’t know what to say. If your story starts with one of those sentences, you’re transmitting that “elevator feeling” to your readers. Unless the weather affects the development of your story from the beginning (or unless you’re writing a novel dealing with a meteorologist who studies climate), it’s not a good idea to begin by talking about the heat or the rain.
To give you a practical example, imagine these two possible beginnings:
- A description of the clouded-over streets and the rain falling down the windows because a day of bad weather after two weeks of the sun has ruined little Sam’s trip. In this case, the story focuses on the rain, and Little John has just a minor role
- A description of little Sam eagerly getting up and running to the kitchen and the surprise on his face when he realizes his parents aren’t preparing the food for the trip. An account of how the rainy sound coming from the street confirms his horrible suspicion – the good weather is gone. This time, the story focuses on Little John, and the rain is just an external circumstance affecting him.
A Little-Known Shortcut for Catchy Opening Sentences:
Getting 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?
Figure out your themes.
Brainstorm a list of the top themes you want to address with your quote. Give yourself fifteen minutes to jot down the themes or issues you want to address with your quote. You can use point forms, such as single words or short phrases that indicate a theme.[2]
- If you are writing a sports quote, your key themes might include performance, athleticism, endurance, perseverance, and nutrition.
- If you are writing a business quote, your key themes could include competition, new markets, collaboration, opportunity, and strategic planning.
- If you are creating a quote about charity or politics, you might be focusing on a particular issue such as homelessness, poverty, environmental degradation, or health care.
The backstory is a set of events created for a plot, presented as preceding the story, and leading up to that plot. In simple words, it’s what happens before the story you’re telling in your manuscript takes place, and it’s usually introduced through the memories of a character or through the narrator.
Should you start a novel or a tale with the backstory? Definitely not, because your readers aren’t interested in it from the first page. It would be like telling your life story to someone you’ve just met! First of all, you must intrigue them as you introduce them to the world described in your story as well as the characters and their conflicts. Once you’ve got that part done, you’re allowed to feed your readers with the backstory (by that time, they’ll want to have that information).
Nevertheless, keep in mind that leaving the backstory for later doesn’t mean your story can’t begin with a scene from the past. For example, you can refer to an episode of your protagonist’s childhood in the first chapter and then focus on his adult life for the rest of the novel. That’s not the same as interrupting the story’s progression in order to introduce an explanation about the past life of your protagonist!
Make it Bold:
Consider how you could make your quote bold and definitive. A memorable quote draws clear distinctions and offers clear judgments about an issue, rather than making vague remarks.[16] For instance, the following quotes are good examples of boldness:
- John F. Kennedy said, “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”[17]
- Robin Sharma said, “Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire teammates and customers.”
These are only a few of the many perspectives once I've learned from the past. They may be useful or not, but I assume they'll guide you in your next chapter or a new novel. They do say, learn from the best, but I don't consider myself one at all. Authors, what are your thoughts on my perspective? Do you have your own set of opinions to share?
Now, you don't need to search for it anxiously.
Right now, 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.
Right now, 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.
