With all ya’ve got. Hey, it’s Rey today.
The Boss has 103 errands, Linda’s doing volunteer work at the animal shelter, and Linda’s up north, surfing again. So, that leaves me to post today. I was all for sharing my latest sale finds, but Linda pooh-poohed that. JJ didn’t care much for my second idea: talking about my actress life. The Boss thought, considering it’s been a wee while, maybe a post related to writing or blogging would be a good idea. Yeah, sure, whatever. Yawno.
It’s no secret that I don’t like to read much. But if I’m going to pick up a book and keep it picked up—as in not jamming it in a drawer or recycling bin ‘cause it’s boring the <bleep> outta me—it had better catch my interest from the get-go. It has to reel me in.
I don’t think it matters what the genre is, though maybe if it’s a thriller, suspense, mystery and/or within those categories, something dramatic or frightening or shocking would be a great way to begin, because John’s adventures at the grocery store ain’t gonna cut it.
The strident sound of breaking glass reverberated throughout the small, dilapidated dwelling. Having stepped onto the porch but seconds before, Nathan whirled. His fifth victim couldn’t have done that. She was dead.
I wrote that—with Lindy-Loo’s help; in fact, she kinda proofed this post (let me keep my voice, something the Boss was talking about recently, but made the content “snap” a bit more). It works, don’t you think? Aren’t you curious to find out what happened . . . who the victim is . . . what led up to this?
Other genres might not have such a suspenseful, chilling, or dark opening, but they have to be intriguing enough to keep a reader—someone like me—captivated. With a romance, something like this might garner my interest.
Accepting an invitation to the gala had seemed like a good idea. How was Vivana to know he’d be there? That he’d openly and haughtily snub her, and flirt brazenly with other women? Cad. Wasn’t that the word used, once upon a time, to describe an unprincipled man? Yeah, that was Calvin. A cad—of the most double-dealing kind.
The opening for a science-fiction or fantasy (and anything in between) novel should be no different. Evoke . . . draw . . . appeal.
The third moon shone crimson before dark voluminous clouds glided across it like former fairground banners. There was rain in the dense, damp air. As was tension. Something ghastly—and unforeseen—was about to transpire and Roget was the only one to know. Could he stop it? Should he stop it?
An opening sentence/paragraph is probably the most crucial part of the book; it can make or break you. And, as a writer hoping to attract an abundance of readers, I’m sure you’d opt for the “make” instead of “break”; am I right?
‘Nuff said. For now. Go reel ‘em in!
The Writer's Grab-Bag 