First Lines Don't Have to Be Complex

Writers are instructed to craft riveting first lines for their books, which causes many writers undue stress. While it would be an achievement to craft the most perfect first line ever written, such as "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times," it isn't necessary to live up to that expectation. A first line just needs to be interesting. 

I took a random sampling of the books I've read recently to illustrate how simple a first line can be and still draw a reader in.

1. "The island appeared first as an inky smudge on the horizon, beaded with pinholes of light against the greying sky." While you sleep, A Novel by Stephanie Merritt

The sentence immediately transports us to an interesting place. An island functions as a locked room. Characters can be trapped there, suggesting suspense.

2. "Shadow Market nights were Kit's favorite." Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

A Shadow Market is something different, suggesting a fantasy world. The character likes to go there, suggesting interesting things are about to happen. We get a sense of anticipation.

3. "I've always considered myself to be, basically, a lucky person."  The Witch Elm by Tana French

Introduces the POV character's voice and suggests a "but," so we know that he will not be a lucky person much longer.

4. "If only the swans would swim side by side on the dark green lake, this picture might turn out to be the crowning achievement of the wedding photographer's career." Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

There is a wedding. It isn't going perfectly. There will be conflict ahead and we want to know what that is.

5. "We believe what we want to believe." Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker 

Suggests the character is fooling herself and we want to find out the truth.

6. "Kitten - that is what everyone called her." The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter

The nickname suggests something cute and harmless, but kittens have claws and we want to know more about her.

7. "I used to think that drawing studio would be my favorite way to start the school day. Then we started doing nudes, and I realized - after spending an hour and a half staring at an old dude's junk - that no amount of coffee or optimism could get me through the full two-hour class." Shades of Darkness by A. R. Kahler

Okay, I included the second sentence here because I love Kahler's word sorcery. The first sentence places us at an art school. By saying "used to think" we know things aren't going as well as hoped.

8. "They say when you are about to die, your entire life passes before your eyes in a flurry of poignant images, but all I could think of, rather absurdly, was that I should have worn the blue hat." This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber

Introduces the POV character's sense of humor and the fact that her life is threatened. We want to know when, why, what, and how.

9. "The peace and quiet never last." Locked Tight by Susan Kaye Quinn 

We know something is about to disrupt the status quo. We will read to find out what it is.

10.  "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate."  Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Dead body suggests a mystery is ahead and Nicholas Brisbane will be a figure of interest to the point of view character, hinting at a future relationship.

I studied examples like these to come up with my first line in the Mythikas series. I decided to start every chapter with an interesting first line, which isn't essential, but can add that special something to your manuscript.

"My day of glory was at hand." Mythikas Island Book One Diana by Diana Hurwitz


We know the main character is about to get something she wants, or thinks she will. We will stay tuned to find out if she does.

You don't need to agonize over a first line until you are on your final revision layers. Does your first line hint at something more to come? If not, it is an easy fix. Just read the first line and if the words "and then" naturally follow, you've succeeded. If not, change it until it does.

A good closing line can make the difference in getting the reader to turn the page too.

You can see more examples of opening and closing lines here.