06-29-2006, 03:56 AM
Also effective can be a tidbit of lore -- indication that this is part of a greater world with a history beyond the beginning of the story and a life beyond the end -- to catch the reader's attention.
This world wasn't always like this. The Foundry had once been a peaceful place, but that had all changed a long time ago...
And then go on with a bitmore about how things changed before the story begins.
I like to use a number of techniques so my stories vary. You may supply interpersonal connection:
You could as easily place a name in place of "I". Or perhaps a contrast in the opening. A small historical tidbit could be lore or contrast, or even a bit of both.
Or you can use establishing points, and this helps a lot more if they can contrast what the reader may expect.
Yes, I am mostly teaching from my work here. But many other authors have their own skills as well. Most important though, is that the opening sentence will hook them, but the opening paragraph will sink the hook deeper. Here are a few of my opening lines:
Not all of these are great hooks. Some assume the reader is already going to read, others try to catch them. In my opinion, the first one there is the best, while "It was saturday evening, and it was spring time." is the worst of this selection.
In your case, the best choice is probably throwing the reader into the action with something like:
"Alistair froze as he heard a sudden noise coming from behind him."
This world wasn't always like this. The Foundry had once been a peaceful place, but that had all changed a long time ago...
And then go on with a bitmore about how things changed before the story begins.
I like to use a number of techniques so my stories vary. You may supply interpersonal connection:
Quote:I had an old college buddy of mine, that my wife, Linda, and I had in common. We hadn't seen him and his wife in some time, and I had heard that he was having wife problems. I had a solution for him, if he was daring enough to try.
You could as easily place a name in place of "I". Or perhaps a contrast in the opening. A small historical tidbit could be lore or contrast, or even a bit of both.
Quote:She wasn't always like this. No. In fact, once she had been hideous, lacking the sleek coat that now made her beautiful. Her body had stored too much fat upon the chest, making her too top-heavy to be truly beautiful, and she had suffered from a number of disorders.
Or you can use establishing points, and this helps a lot more if they can contrast what the reader may expect.
Quote:Takeru couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Hikari under friendly circumstances. He decided it was because remembering was too hard, as he picked up another bottle of beer. It was weak, but until he made it as an author, he couldn't afford better. He'd learned long ago not to let the alcohol control him, but even Yamato worried for his health.
Yes, I am mostly teaching from my work here. But many other authors have their own skills as well. Most important though, is that the opening sentence will hook them, but the opening paragraph will sink the hook deeper. Here are a few of my opening lines:
Quote:If anyone from before could have seen her, she would have been embarrassed.
Hikari woke up in darkness.
Yamato had been studying hypnosis as a stage act before he decided that he was really into music.
At the end of a dusty road, in the middle of a desert, there is an oasis.
It was saturday evening, and it was spring time.
It had taken months of secrecy, avoiding her parents' suspicions while spending more time than normal in her room.
Not all of these are great hooks. Some assume the reader is already going to read, others try to catch them. In my opinion, the first one there is the best, while "It was saturday evening, and it was spring time." is the worst of this selection.
In your case, the best choice is probably throwing the reader into the action with something like:
"Alistair froze as he heard a sudden noise coming from behind him."