Meadowdale H.S. graduation 2012
Middletown H.S. graduation 2012
Dunbar H.S. graduation 2012
Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2011 > December > 05 > Entry
The best opening lines…
Novelists try to get our attention right away. All writers do. That first line provides a quick answer; should we continue reading this book? Or stop right there.
Years ago I was hired to write a promotional article for an architect. I struggled and sweated and strained over that first sentence. And I got it right. It was terse, pithy and succulent. A year later when the piece was finally published I was so proud. It opened with my magnificent sentence.
I kept reading. Imagine my shock when I realized that the editor had changed every other sentence I had written. That first sentence was left untouched. It was that good.
Meredith Borders at Lit Reactor just posted her top ten best opening lines of novels. Some famous books made her list. Check it out… click HERE:
Vick Mickunas
p.s. Follow me on Twitter: @BookNookVick
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
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By steven1969
December 7, 2011 4:26 PM | Link to this
my you have nice?
By vick
December 6, 2011 12:31 PM | Link to this
LMJ, the client essentially paid me 2 grand (1980’s dollars) for my one magnificent sentence. Out of respect for their wise investment I will keep those golden words to myself. They paid quite a lot for the privilege …I’ll reveal this: the sentence was only six words long. Maybe one day I can use it again?
By lmj
December 6, 2011 12:13 PM | Link to this
What? You’re not sharing the sentence?
By Irishguy
December 6, 2011 8:33 AM | Link to this
It was a dark and stormy night…