Anybody else notice the significance of the first sentence in a young adult novel? I think it really sets the tone for the entire story.
I've read some books with really great first lines, though recently, my favorite has to be 'Vitamins ruined my life,' as the opening to Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott.
So since first lines set the tone for the entire book, what are all of your first lines? For my YA novel, it was going to be all sad and depressing, until my first line popped in my head and entirely changed what the mood was going to be.
'There's something about sleeping in the middle of a door jamb that changes you.'
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My 2008 NaNo: Broken Soul, complete at 54,610 words.
My 2009 NaNo: Almost. How do you grieve for someone you don't want to miss?
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Okt 3, 2009 - 18 30
The Book Thief had an amazing first line. But really, the whole book was unfairly brilliant.
I totally get the whole "first line sets mood" thing, so I have been working on the mood of my story. As of now I'm pretty sure it is going to be dark, sexy, and depressing but that could change.
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Okt 3, 2009 - 20 24
The (planned, anyway) first sentence of my novel is:
"The first cuss word I ever learned was f***"
Doesn't that sound like a lovely YA novel? :P How's that for setting the tone of the story? (It actually does a good job)
----------It's pronounced "dack" -- All my stories are autobiographies. Some are just a little more shameless than others!
Follow me!: http://twitter.com/ffnikki
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Okt 3, 2009 - 22 15
Oh, I definitely think the first sentence (well, the first few, anyway) set the tone. Unless I'm feeling particularly patient or it's one book in a series that I already read, I'll probably put a book down if it doesn't do something to catch my attention at least by the end of the first chapter.
That said, I don't have my first sentence worked out quite yet. I know it's something about the POV character watching his boyfriend's sister dance.
----------Click the banner to read my novel blog.
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Okt 3, 2009 - 22 57
I don't think it's my first sentence as much as it is my first four sentences, which I wrote on a napkin in the school cafeteria today. I couldn't resist it when inspiration struck. That being said, I'm just going to give you my first four sentences.
"To fake is to pretend, to stimulate, to conceal our defects. To wear a mask is to conceal our identities.
I am Tara Marshall.
And this is my war."
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Okt 3, 2009 - 22 58
The first line of my last novel (the one which I just signed with a literary agent for) is:
'There was a boy in the lake.'
----------15-year-old YA author repped by Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown.
http://stephbowe.com
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Okt 3, 2009 - 23 19
I always try and have a good opening line, but I've not thought of one yet for this novel.
If I'm completely stuck, I try and start with someone shouting something. I did that for the first novel I ever finished, and it really helped me set the tone of the first chapter. Unfortunately, the planned first scene of this book occurs in total silence, so I'll have to come up with something else.
The most recent novel I wrote started like this: "I am Sepharielle Augusta Knight and I am fifteen years old. I am nothing, nowhere and no-one - and only I can do anything to change that." That was pretty much the whole idea I had for the novel: who the main character was and what the first and last lines were. But just from that I still managed to write a book.
My all-time favourite ever first line has to be Scott Westerfeld's Uglies: "The early summer sky was the colour of cat vomit."
----------"It must be a Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays..."
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Okt 4, 2009 - 01 36
I've had my first line for almost a year now, but have only just hashed out the story to go around it. I'm so excited about where it's headed, but you're right - the entire book hinges on the first line:
"I can hear the trees talking again."
I usually write picture books and junior novels so this will be my first effort in YA although I'll be aiming for the lower end of the age spectrum.
----------Write your way to THE END.
2008 - "The Tower" (60K)
2009 - "Emma Delaney"
http://karencollum.wordpress.com
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Okt 4, 2009 - 06 46
The first five sentences of my current (non-nano) novel are:
I never aspired to be a general. Nor a sargeant. I was perfectly fine with who I was, thank you very much. My name is Private. And for your sake I would hope that isn't a problem.
Yes, my FMC is a bit bratty and enjoys intimidating others. She is an assassin, of course, and I feel the first sentences set the right mood for her character.
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Okt 4, 2009 - 12 49
For my nano novel, i don't know about a first sentence. i haven't dared try to write it, because i know if i let myself even write a first sentence, i'll sit at my computer and write a bunch of my novel before november starts, and then i'll need a new idea for november. but i've been thinking about it. just thinking.
i was thinking...maybe something like...
My mom and I have been through of fair share of hardships.
ok, that's not too exciting.
i have an idea for my novel, but i don't know how i'm going to grab the reader's attention or set my tone with my first sentence. it'll be hard enough for me to even write the novel, let alone make it good. :)
whatever. i'll think of it. that perfect first sentence.
peace, <3, + :)
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Okt 4, 2009 - 14 59
My current favorite opening line(s) is from Dale Peck's Sprout: “I have a secret. And everyone knows it but me."
This year, I'm thinking my NaNo will start off with something like, "The next girl who ran up to gush at me about vampires was getting punched in the face."
----------“Sweet baby Jesus, man, it’s Jory! 'Marjorie' is an old lady in the fields milking cows!”
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Okt 22, 2009 - 01 04
I'm thinking of starting with something along the lines of,
"Today I was scratching my face when my fingernail hit yet another pimple I didn't know I had, and in my head I shouted "Fuck!" even though I didn't actually say anything because Mom doesn't like it when I swear."
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Okt 6, 2009 - 20 57
My first line is:
'“Leave,” I murmured, holding up my gun. “I don't want to kill you, so just piss off.”'
I think it really sets the mood and immediately lets you know what kind of person my main character is :)
----------41,672 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 01 31
The first line is SO important!! I came up with mine while half asleep, so I don't remember it *grumbles*
but something like:
"I wish I knew what part of me was real, so that I coud erase the fake and be unique"
----------2008: Lucifer's Wings (no win)
2009: The Story Of Before
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Okt 7, 2009 - 04 24
My first line (well, two lines) is this:
It was our dad dying, I think, that made us go to the coffee shop. It was Remy's idea.
That's the first bit of the epilogue. :)
----------31,490 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 05 47
"I can hear the trees talking again."
I usually write picture books and junior novels so this will be my first effort in YA although I'll be aiming for the lower end of the age spectrum.
Great opening...
I'm usually a picture and chapter book writer too although I do have two YA Nano's and a completed YA novel under my belt. Still looking for a publisher. Congrats on the PB publications - damned hard to break into.
----------Jeffery E Doherty
http://jefferyedoherty.googlepages.com
http://jefferyedoherty.blogspot.com
Write tight and power to your keyboard
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Okt 7, 2009 - 06 04
The first three sentences of my Nano are:
"At nine I had my first boyfriend. His name was Todd. He was a dead frog pickled in a fish tank, but we had good times anyway."
The first sentence of my last Nano was:
"It smelled like rain."
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Okt 7, 2009 - 07 09
My life was over.
That's my first line for this one. BTW, I really liked the line about girls getting punched in face for gushing over vampires. I'd probably read that book.
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Okt 7, 2009 - 12 29
I think first lines are important, but if yours isn't that great it's not that big a deal. You just have to have a good first chapter after it, or else then probably no one will read beyond it.
My first line this year isn't that great, since I'm starting my story with a prologue with my MC at two years old. I'm thinking something like "Everything began the day after Rayne's second birthday."
----------"-You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
-What mood is that?
-Last-minute panic.”- Calvin & Hobbes
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Okt 7, 2009 - 13 12
The first sentence that I'm tending towards for my novel is
"Lex Murphy was not a fan of scary stories."
Although I'd kind of like something that makes more of an impact.
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Okt 7, 2009 - 20 55
There are some really good first lines here! I'll always love the first line to Uglies =) So...vivid lol
Here's mine:
"I smoothed my hand across the claw marks, each streak as wide as my palm, running down the length of the metal door when I heard the roars from somewhere deep within the cavernous textile plant."
----------http://www.courtneyallisonmoulton.com
My NaNo '08 novel MY SOUL TO REAP found me an agent! Watch the book trailer: http://bit.ly/nmGbe
My 2009 novel EMPIRE OF ASHES: a YA historical fantasy
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Okt 8, 2009 - 10 53
This year's NaNo novel is a sequel to the one I wrote last year.
Nobody but You ('08): "Maybe we should have seen it coming."
Heir Apparent ('09): "Don't look back."
Of course, the second one is subject to change. I love the way Nobody but You starts though, so that one is definitely here to stay.
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Okt 8, 2009 - 15 10
Chosen One my ass.
----------31,058 / 50,000
Okt 8, 2009 - 15 15
"April jolted to a stop - the pebbles in front of her were growing again."
----------31,695 / 50,000
Okt 8, 2009 - 15 24
Ok, I want to read you NaNovel based on that one sentence alone.
----------The good ended happily and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means - Oscar Wilde
2009: Swan's Wing
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Okt 8, 2009 - 15 43
Some of my opening sentences:
There wasn’t a time when I can’t remember my sister
Theadora looked out her window and sighed. It was snowing. Again. (OK, that was three, but they go together)
Carlos slammed the newspaper on the table just a little too hard
Jason rolled over.
My life wasn’t particularly interesting.
Darcie had her stuff together, but only literally. (That's my favorite.)
I'm still working on my opening line for this year's novel.
----------Lorna
Nanowrimo08: Magical Words
Nonowrimo09: Justified
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Okt 8, 2009 - 17 07
Ok, I want to read you NaNovel based on that one sentence alone.
Thanks! My synopsis in my Novel info.
----------7,597 / 50,000
Okt 8, 2009 - 22 34
Here's mine:
“We should be thankful that the demons are here to help us,” the government officials would say.
There's some great ones in here, with a lot of different vibes coming from them. ^^
----------"I wasn't going to literally drive the car off the cliff--it's sarcasm, haven't you heard of that? Ja, I know what it means, I don't need a dictionary definition--no, really, I don't--do I really need to request you get installed with a sarcasm detector?
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Okt 9, 2009 - 01 30
Mine is:
"If there is a hell it is a small town in Texas."
Although it is subject to change. We'll see. I'm also considering:
"You're going to miss my cooking, are you aware that you can't get food of this quality in Cambodia?" I asked him, twirling my linguine, dressed in a walnut-spinach cream sauce, around with my fork.
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Okt 9, 2009 - 12 49
While I agree its important, I don't like to worry myself obsessing about the first line, so I wait until I actually write start the novel on the 1st to write mine, but here's my previous years. :D
2004 -- "Once, there were dragons," Rainef said into the dancing flames of the bonfire.
----------2005 -- It was the morning of my fifteenth birthday and I was desperate.
2006 -- Headmaster Atriz, Master of Evil, Professor of Crime, and dreaded ruler of Dark Lord Academy, sat brooding deep in the bowels of the castle that held his school. AND (I wrote two) “Reina!” The way Mama shouted her name told Reina she needed to hide again.
2007 -- A cold draft of air swirled past Merlin's nose, bringing with it the smell of something greasy and enticing.
2008 -- Miranda Tardangle had the perfect life until March seventeenth.
The Dreaded Website
My published 2006 Nanowrimo novel "Chosen Sister "!
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Okt 9, 2009 - 12 52
I'm thinking my first sentence (or two) might be:
Have you ever had one of those moments where everything in your life seemed to come together and pointing to exactly where you were at? The day I moved into my dorm at The Chicago Academy for the Fine Arts was one of those moments.
Or something along those lines. I might tweak it still.
----------Emily
You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write. - Saul Bellow, a Canadian writer
NANOWRIMO '08: White As Snow- 51,720 words
NANOWRIMO '09: Drama!- ?????