tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post1013467619432875665..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: KILLER FIRST LINESLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-78306181342072817012012-09-13T17:16:40.534-04:002012-09-13T17:16:40.534-04:00Hmm...should have guessed that, L.L., especially a...Hmm...should have guessed that, L.L., especially after seeing Elizabeth feted at Malice last spring.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-63126224966483976012012-09-13T15:37:03.065-04:002012-09-13T15:37:03.065-04:00Spoiler warning. Stop reading if you don't wa...Spoiler warning. Stop reading if you don't want to know what book starts with "I never meant to marry."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's from The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters.L. L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09379724959252057233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-23500377209183120602012-09-13T14:30:19.979-04:002012-09-13T14:30:19.979-04:00Yves, that first sentence definitely sets a certai...Yves, that first sentence definitely sets a certain mood!Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-16231044645697644282012-09-13T11:16:22.186-04:002012-09-13T11:16:22.186-04:00I disagree about the tiara line. The reader alrea...I disagree about the tiara line. The reader already knows the genre they are reading, so I think a strong opening line/paragraph is more important than a reaffirmation of hard/soft/medium boiled. But if you can do both, great. Great post overall. I can't tell you how many books I've put down in bookstores because the first sentence didn't grab me. However, the reason they do can be subtle rather than obvious, a certain assurance that makes me believe the world will come alive. My first line of Floats the Dark Shadow went for creepy mood and letting the reader know there was darkness ahead (but so did the title). "Gilles unlocked the scorched oak door and raised his lantern, illuminating the staircase that coiled down to the dungeons of the chateau."Yves Feyhttp://yvesfey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-32928442954291913512012-09-13T08:27:28.657-04:002012-09-13T08:27:28.657-04:00LOL, Dirty Martini! You'll have to read the bo...LOL, Dirty Martini! You'll have to read the book to find out.<br /><br />Thanks, Dru! I hope you enjoy it.<br /><br />L.L., those are both great opening lines!<br /><br />Thanks, Diane! And L.L., spill the beans! What book is that line from? At first I thought it might be from Emma, but i checked, and it's not.<br /><br />Deborah, I'm doing critiques at a conference next week. The authors taking part had to email me their pages ahead of time. Most make the same mistake -- deadly first pages.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-66661714419686499542012-09-13T07:04:40.406-04:002012-09-13T07:04:40.406-04:00Great line, and so true ... I've always been a...Great line, and so true ... I've always been amazed by how many beginning writers will ask me to critique, and then say, "It gets much better in the second chapter.'' Sorry, if you don't hook me up front, you've lost me.Deborah Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575491644343480392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-34013813155733180322012-09-12T21:31:31.706-04:002012-09-12T21:31:31.706-04:00I know what book "I never meant to marry"...I know what book "I never meant to marry" is from. Should I tell, or would that spoil the fun?L. L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09379724959252057233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-65157387007048959062012-09-12T21:22:03.059-04:002012-09-12T21:22:03.059-04:00Still, you have to admit that the one that started...Still, you have to admit that the one that started "It all started when..." is a great first line given how the author ended that sentence. Maybe this was a format from before? The one about Manderley (sp) is memorable, but I am also stumped by the third one and hope we find out soon who it was who "never meant to marry." Twenty books? And married? I can think of one who's not married, but the line doesn't seem right for that series quite. But, twenty books would have started quite a few years ago. Great post, Lois!Diane Schultzhttp://www.luvs2zumba.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-56951184309582325972012-09-12T20:14:12.271-04:002012-09-12T20:14:12.271-04:00I've had nice comments about the opening lines...I've had nice comments about the opening lines of two of my mysteries (both out of print now). Cat's-Paw, Inc.'s first line is: Someone was trying to take my gun away. Dogsbody, Inc.'s is: I watched myself get shot three times. L. L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09379724959252057233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-68242595734468694752012-09-12T19:54:41.062-04:002012-09-12T19:54:41.062-04:00Yes you have and I can't wait to see what'...Yes you have and I can't wait to see what's going on in that household.Druhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978384022143035332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-31674086971930403312012-09-12T17:24:39.297-04:002012-09-12T17:24:39.297-04:00Good advice...btw, did that woman ever shut up?
C...Good advice...btw, did that woman ever shut up?<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Alan.DirtyMartinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06180430462425350855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-53800225833467237552012-09-12T17:04:18.328-04:002012-09-12T17:04:18.328-04:00Polly, I can't start writing without that firs...Polly, I can't start writing without that first line.<br /><br />Thanks, Tiffany. That's so true about short attention spans.<br /><br />M.C., great second line to go with your first!<br /><br />Sheila, so true about exceptions to rules. Who knows? Someday I may start a sentence with 'it.' Or maybe not. ;-)<br /><br />Marni and Marilyn, thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Kathleen, I'm afraid you've stumped me. The line sounds familiar, but I can't place it.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-54475438480182378852012-09-12T16:28:21.831-04:002012-09-12T16:28:21.831-04:00Great post, Lois. The first line has to grab me. H...Great post, Lois. The first line has to grab me. Here's one by a bestselling mystery writer who has at least 20 books in this series. "I never meant to marry." I wonder how many people can identify this protagonist simply by reading this line. Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-16916929664267290242012-09-12T14:29:50.619-04:002012-09-12T14:29:50.619-04:00This is a great post! Good reminder to all of us.This is a great post! Good reminder to all of us.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-33103906685490386172012-09-12T11:35:43.917-04:002012-09-12T11:35:43.917-04:00Such true stuff, Lois. Those first pages as the on...Such true stuff, Lois. Those first pages as the ones I find myself revising the most! Who can forget "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again ..."Marnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356717353308912189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-40952729623563492272012-09-12T11:31:51.509-04:002012-09-12T11:31:51.509-04:00Thanks, Lois. The second line answers your questio...Thanks, Lois. The second line answers your question:<br /><br />With the squeeze of a trigger, the artist would make it priceless.M.C. Granthttp://www.mcgrant.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-69077894996089034182012-09-12T11:26:37.768-04:002012-09-12T11:26:37.768-04:00Lois, you'll be surprised to know that normall...Lois, you'll be surprised to know that normally I, too, dislike "it" as a first word. But there are always exceptions to rules & policies! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535695542961577318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-18790791336116827282012-09-12T11:17:09.241-04:002012-09-12T11:17:09.241-04:00I think it's especially important in this day ...I think it's especially important in this day and age of short attention spans that one hook the reader with the first sentence.<br /><br />Great post, Lois!Tiffany N. Yorkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06708763332139753819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-76949192003835370722012-09-12T11:12:58.491-04:002012-09-12T11:12:58.491-04:00I've had a great first line for a book for yea...I've had a great first line for a book for years. Only problem is I don't have the story. I agonize over mine, sometimes spending more time on that first line or series of lines than I do the first chapter. That's how much I agree with you.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-88985136215554386562012-09-12T10:45:04.603-04:002012-09-12T10:45:04.603-04:00Thanks, Stephanie. Glad to see you here.
Sheila, ...Thanks, Stephanie. Glad to see you here.<br /><br />Sheila, that's a great first line, except that I have an aversion to beginning sentences, especially first sentences with 'it.' <br /><br />M.C., great opening line! I'm wondering what the canvas cost after the blood.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-56317997758794043502012-09-12T10:22:34.255-04:002012-09-12T10:22:34.255-04:00Great stuff, Lois. Here's the first line from ...Great stuff, Lois. Here's the first line from my just-launched MI mystery, Angel With A Bullet:<br /><br />Before the blood, the raw canvas cost twenty dollars. <br /><br />M.C.Grant<br />http://www.mcgrant.netM.C. Granthttp://www.mcgrant.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-58492198382085451312012-09-12T10:19:50.793-04:002012-09-12T10:19:50.793-04:00You got me, Lois! I love great first lines, and no...You got me, Lois! I love great first lines, and not just in mysteries/thrillers. One of my own favs is from a short story featuring the main characters from Drop Dead on Recall. "Tracks" appeared in Racing Can Be Murder, and anthology of the Speed City (Indianapolis) Sisters in Crime, and begings, "It all started when Alberta Shofelter asked me to shoot her dog." <br /><br />Can't wait to find out WHY that strangulation is needed!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535695542961577318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-50734942803644204682012-09-12T10:03:53.792-04:002012-09-12T10:03:53.792-04:00Lois, I knew there was a reason you had so many gr...Lois, I knew there was a reason you had so many great lines for my recent First Lines contest!! I'll have to follow your advice as a master.Stephanie Queenhttp://www.stephaniequeen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-60704126241970771242012-09-12T10:02:25.766-04:002012-09-12T10:02:25.766-04:00Shannon--I love that first line, but you're ri...Shannon--I love that first line, but you're right, the tiara doesn't place the story in medium boiled range. Then again, it does give a nice insight into your protagonist and sets the tone/voice of the story very well--IMHO!<br /><br />Stephanie QueenStephanie Queenhttp://www.stephaniequeen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-85230942924725083942012-09-12T10:02:22.363-04:002012-09-12T10:02:22.363-04:00Shannon, I have to agree with the thriller reader....Shannon, I have to agree with the thriller reader. It's a great opening sentence, but not for a medium boiled book. Would be great for a romance or chick lit book, though.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.com