A first line of a story is the baited hook an author hopes will catch a reader’s interest so they will want to read the second line and on and on until the last line on the last page. Some readers will check out that first line before they decide if the book is one they want to read. I’ve even heard of some readers who will read the last line of a book to decide whether to read the book or not. I’ve never done that although I have sneaked looks ahead when I got impatient reading a book or perhaps just worried things weren’t going to turn out the way I hoped.
You might not do that and instead just read the story as the writer intends one page at a time. And that starts with that first sentence. I’ve written several posts in the past about first lines. In fact, I wrote a first lines post last January, Story First Line Fun. Maybe it’s something about being the start of a new year. In that post I suggested some random first lines. When I read them over just now, a few of them had me wondering what might happen next.
I’m captivated by great first lines and always try to come up with good first lines for my books. Another post I wrote back in 2013, “There Has to Be a First Sentence,” I shared some of my first lines.
One of them I like that I quote in that post is the first line of Small Town Girl.
It wasn’t a good thing to be in love with the man your sister was going to marry.
At that time I was writing my Shaker book, The Innocent. Here is the first line I’d come up with then.
When she saw the two men coming, she took the shotgun down from over the door.
That first line eventually became this.
When she saw the two men riding down the lane toward her house, Carlyn Kearney lifted the shotgun down off the long nails that held it over her front door.
I’m not sure I improved it other than adding Carlyn’s name. But it’s not a bad first line. It gets something happening right away. Even better, the first line of the next paragraph introduced her dog, Asher. Asher was a great dog character. I might as well share it too, don’t you think?
Beside her, Asher quivered as he watched the door with his gray-specked fur ruffed up on his neck and a low growl in his throat.
Love my dog characters. 
In last year’s post on first lines, I was working on my book that releases in May, In the Shadow of the River. I shared the first line I had at the time.
Juliana Reed woke with a start when her mother jerked her out of bed with a shushing sound.
That sentence got some more work. In fact, I even changed my character’s name. I think I may have changed her name three times before I settled on Jacci. But here is the first line as it will be in the book when it comes out for readers. And it’s a first line that really needs a second line to help it grab more interest.
Jacci Reed’s mother shook her awake, then put her fingers lightly over Jacci’s lips.
“Shh. We have to get off the boat.” Her mother’s eyes were wide in the light of the lantern she held.
I’m hoping readers will be ready to find out why they need to get off the boat. If the idea of the story does catch your interest, you can get a great deal of 40% off and free shipping by pre-ordering it from Baker Book House. I’m excited for you all to ride some rivers with my characters.
But back to first lines. I’m working on a new book now. I’m heading to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains for another story. I’ve still got a lot of words to write, scenes to share, but I do have a first line written.
When Mira Dean left her rooms for church on Sunday morning, she had no idea that she would hear a proposal of marriage before she returned for her midday meal.
Whether that first line sticks, I won’t know until I reach the end of the story and do edits. Even then I might change it if my editors think it could be better. That remains to be seen. But this is the first line I have right now. I do think she will stay Mira. Whether that last name gets changed if she considers that marriage proposal may still be up in the air.
Do you look at the first lines of books to help you decide whether you want to read the story or not? And whether you do or not, do any of these first lines catch your interest?
As always, thanks for reading.