So much is written about the opening line of fiction and non-fiction writing. Books and writing coaches clarify why an author’s opening line should be gripping. To attract the attention of the reader, the publisher, and the agent. Some tips encourage the writer to open their line with ‘action’, but action is certainly not the only recipe for a gripping opening. Perhaps ‘action’, as a staple diet, works well in crime novels. Many fiction novels have gripping openings and yet these openings did not start with ‘action’.
Author Jacob M. Appel has this to say; “A good opening line is a powerful thing: It can grab an editor’s attention, set the tone for the rest of the piece, and make sure readers stay through The End,”. He also emphasises that in writing initial reactions matter. Writers are often advised that one of the easiest pitfalls in starting a story is, to begin with, an opening line that is confusing upon first reading. True. Readers are a busy lot and do not have the luxury of time to go over and over your writing trying to understand what you are saying to them.
Learn from other writers how you were fascinated by their opening lines that you always remember. ‘The rains were so late that year. Maru, Bessie Head. The reader is sure curious to find out why the rains were late and what would happen when finally the rains came. In her novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee’s opening line; ‘When he was nearly thirteen my brother, Jem, got his arm badly broken at the elbow’. Already, questions start spinning in the reader’s head. Who broke the young man’s arm and why? Will he ever be able to play all the games boys of his age play? There are so many such gripping opening lines and this one is one of my favourites; ‘Here comes shit. Just one look and I can see it coming.’ Andre Brink, Philida. What a powerful opening line.
The reader is curious; who is this character who is seeing shit coming his or her way? And why is this shit coming to him or her? Powerful opening lines are not a one-size-fits-all-all formula. As stated above, once you’ve given some concentrated thought to your opening line, read other writers’ works to learn from them. Jacob M. Appel says, as with any other aspect of writing, openings are their distinct art form—and exposure to the masterwork of others is one of the best ways to learn.