Writing for a Fantastic First Impression
As a writer, your readers are everything. Your acquisition and retention of readers will determine your success or failure at building a loyal audience. You can’t afford to make a poor first impression. Your readers expect quality writing that will grab their attention—and keep it. “First impressions are tough to shake,” teaches James Scott Bell in his excellent instructional fiction writing book Plot & Structure. “Make a bad one, and you have to work twice as hard and twice as long to get back to square one. You may not even get the chance. So it pays—in life and in fiction—to make a great first impression.”
You do this through your very first words. Every book from every genre must have a strong beginning. Here are four examples taken from Adam Colwell’s WriteWorks books that are either already published or are scheduled for future publication.
1. Peril and urgency
In fiction or memoir/creative non-fiction, this is the best opening technique to employ. By placing your main character (usually the protagonist) in imminent jeopardy or vulnerability, you compel the reader to instantly sympathize with the character. Here are the two opening paragraphs from the memoir My Climb by Wendy Lynn Larson.
I was a precocious girl, always quick to act and usually slow to listen. But there was one day, early in my childhood, where I took things one step too far.
Mom still tells the tale to this day, and the fear she felt creeps into her voice every time. Understandable, since I was only two years old when it happened.
Don’t you want to find out what came next? This strategy engages the reader while giving away no details as to the situation or the outcome. The story that followed also established the theme of “hope” that Wendy consistently repeated as the mission of her message the rest of the way.
Then there’s the more immediate approach used to start Donnie Houston’s as-of-yet untitled and unfinished memoir.
“I’m going to give you a break, Houston.”
“I’m going to let you decide how you want to die.”
It was a choice I could never have imagined I’d have to make just six hours earlier.
Clearly, Donnie—the main character—is in trouble. Where is he? What is his profession? Who gave him the ultimatum? All these questions are answered in the upcoming paragraphs using a flashback segment that brings readers full circle to this moment. By then, they feel they are experiencing the peril with Donnie and care about him and the outcome of his story.
2. Question and curiosity
You can also draw the reader into your book with a simpler technique, as used her by Jacquelyn D. Murray in her memoir, Cancer With Grace.
“Okay—now what’s going on?”
This query introduced the reader to physical symptoms that, unbeknownst to Jacki at the time, were a precursor to her diagnosis with a rare and deadly form of cancer. The reader wants to know what she’s talking about, and as they’re given the answer they are also introduced to who Jacki is and why she is worthy of their sympathy. The end result: the reader is rooting for her by the time she receives the diagnosis and begins her battle to beat the disease.
3. Unique detail that the reader cares about
In a self-help, non-fiction book, a great idea is to appeal to the reader’s main interest with information that is both unusual, revelatory, and vitally important to them. Here is the opening to Jesus’ Surprising Strategy by David Drum.
John 17 is an amazing gift from God. Why? It’s the most in-depth look we have at Jesus’ prayer life, the longest prayer of His anywhere in the Bible.
David positions the seventeenth chapter of the book of John as a “gift” that is “in-depth” and provides insight into Jesus Christ’s “longest prayer.” For Christians, this is a compelling invitation to learn something new, revealing, and eye opening about their Savior.
4. Start with “you.” It’s all about the reader
Finally, any reader likes to be addressed directly right out of the gate—especially with something positive. Dr. Jeffrey Allen Love does just this at the beginning of Life Palette, his self-help, non-fiction book that fuses biblical teaching with concepts used by a painter artist.
You are a masterpiece.
How do I know? Because God says so.
Jeff knew that many of his Christian readers struggle with feelings of self-worth, so he immediately set them at ease with an affirming statement that he elaborates upon throughout the rest of the book.
Start your book, and whatever else you write, by making a strong first impression—and your readers will be hooked and know they can trust you to deliver a memorable experience all the way to “The End.”
I want to hear from you!
What is your favorite opening from a book? Why did it engage you?