tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post7994377950114809692..comments2023-10-09T10:05:44.803-06:00Comments on Patricia Stoltey: Blogging About...Killer First SentencesPatricia Stolteyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-79822039153032708322012-08-20T08:14:08.967-06:002012-08-20T08:14:08.967-06:00I love first sentences, too. That's where the ...I love first sentences, too. That's where the author temps you with the bait, sets the hook and starts reeling you in. I've been a Gone with the Wind Fan since I was 14. I read that book so many times I had the first paragraph memorized. I even wrote the whole book as a play so I could play the different characters. Here's the opening sentence of the novel that really captures the essence of Scarlet and of the story. "Scarlet O'Hara was not beautiful but men seldom realized it when caught by her charms as the Tarleton twins were."Luana Krausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940192586072864886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-15758968662808883532012-08-19T10:52:38.039-06:002012-08-19T10:52:38.039-06:00Li, that sounds like a fascinating book. One of ou...Li, that sounds like a fascinating book. One of our local writers gave a talk recently about reporting from Libya...scary stuff.<br /><br />M.J. and Rosallnd -- good point/question. But I'm betting most killer first sentences are crafted and recrafted during the revision process.<br /><br />Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-2484045128868691312012-08-19T10:20:35.238-06:002012-08-19T10:20:35.238-06:00I've never read On the Beach but then I don...I've never read On the Beach but then I don't really like end-of-world novels. Re first sentences, I ran a successful writing workshop exercise once by giving students a first sentence. It's amazing how different everyone's take on it is. I wonder if those brilliant first lines actually appeared at the beginning of the writing and how many were crafted during an edit.Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-77149580283374888662012-08-19T09:23:36.965-06:002012-08-19T09:23:36.965-06:00It was the best of posts, it was the worst of post...It was the best of posts, it was the worst of posts . . . I'm not too sold on great first sentences. Having a really great first sentence only raises the bar for an impossibly good second and third sentence. If your opening sentence is your best, it's all downhill with a bullet! M.J. Nichollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972190103986599079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-84519113557208576862012-08-18T16:14:18.200-06:002012-08-18T16:14:18.200-06:00:-) The book I'm reading:
"The Customs of...:-) The book I'm reading:<br />"The Customs official sits poking his baton up his nose, regarding me with a look of triumph and disdain."<br /><br />From "How De Body?" by Teun Voeten, about reporting the war in Sierra Leone.<br /><br />I'm a sucker for first sentences too!Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-53058388510454138352012-08-18T09:24:31.522-06:002012-08-18T09:24:31.522-06:00Margot and Lizy, those are excellent first sentenc...Margot and Lizy, those are excellent first sentences. I would read on...<br /><br />Alex -- I rewrite first sentences many times before I get one I like.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-80980329272071056372012-08-18T07:34:46.784-06:002012-08-18T07:34:46.784-06:00I'm behind on my reading as well. And the firs...I'm behind on my reading as well. And the first sentence is so difficult to write.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-45648797995061388602012-08-18T07:18:52.150-06:002012-08-18T07:18:52.150-06:00I am now going to look up my various novels and se...I am now going to look up my various novels and see whether my first sentences are good enough to join your list!<br />Here's the first sentence of one:<br />"Well, we've found somewhere to live, if you can call it that - grotty house in a grotty street, but it's better than nothing, specially considering the alternative could've been jail."liz younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289501717229347872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-69926759084088260212012-08-18T06:06:35.911-06:002012-08-18T06:06:35.911-06:00Pat - Oh, On the Beach is a classic novel isn'...Pat - Oh, <i>On the Beach</i> is a classic novel isn't it? And I completely understand your fascination with first sentences. They can often draw a reader right into a story or have quite the opposite effect. You shared some really good ones, too. My favourite first sentence comes from Ruth Rendell's <i>A Judgement in Stone</i>: <br /><i>Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.</i> Really powerful stuff if you ask me. Now, to go back and look over my own first sentences...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com