Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

Episode 168 - Making our first sentence sparkle.

5 snips
Jun 6, 2025
Discover the pivotal role of a first sentence in captivating readers right from the start. Explore how great authors craft engaging openings that spark curiosity and tension. Gain insight into the art of using specific details to enhance your writing and create a vivid experience. Delve into personal stories of rejection and how they can fuel your growth as a writer. Learn about the importance of sensory details while avoiding clichés to maintain originality in your narrative.
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ADVICE

Start With Immediate Tension

  • Launch your story with tension right from the first sentence to hook readers.
  • Avoid heavy setup; readers can learn background details later.
ANECDOTE

Famous First Sentence Example

  • James Thayer contrasts James M. Cain's sharp first line in The Postman Always Rings Twice with his own dull rewrite.
  • His rewrite lacks tension and fails to grip the reader.
ANECDOTE

Power Of Suspenseful Details

  • E.B. White's first sentence in Charlotte's Web creates curiosity with the word 'axe'.
  • James Thayer shows how his own rewritten dull version kills the story's intrigue.
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