Let your writing journey be guided by curiosity and fueled by passion.
Community college rocks. I once took a speech class where we had to present a few speeches to the other students. I can remember an old grandmother started her speech, “I used to be a prostitute.” She then explained that, actually, she was lying in order to catch our attention. The teacher had told us to start our speeches with a captivating first line, and I’m sure he now tells this same story when he gets to that instruction. I have no idea what the rest of the speech was about, but that opening line stayed lodged in my brain for all the wrong reasons.
Strategy:
Opening lines need to compel readers to want more with the briefest of tastes. Sometimes writers spend hours rewriting their first lines, but a good first line doesn’t just compel the reader—it should also compel the writer. You may be tempted to try polishing a rock into a diamond, to get that perfect opening line. Instead, let’s explore what makes a compelling first line that is so good you can’t wait to write the story. By extracting compelling ideas from images, we’ll discover how to build compelling first lines that stand on their own.
Instructions:
Image Hunt: Choose an image that stops you in your tracks—something striking, mysterious, or thought-provoking. (See the header image of this exercise, or the images in the Further Resources section below.) Trust your instincts and go with an image that makes you want to know more.
Spark Analysis: Take a moment to jot down what drew you to the image. Was it the colors, the composition, the implied story? Dig deep and identify the elements that sparked your curiosity.
Line Crafting: Using the image as your muse, write an opening line that captures the essence of what intrigued you. Let the image guide your words, but don't feel confined by it. Give yourself permission to explore and play with language.
Standalone Test: Read your opening line without looking at the image. Does it still pique your interest? Does it make you want to keep reading? Did the important elements transition into the text? If not, tinker with your line until it can stand proudly on its own.
Hook Check (optional): Does the first line hook your attention and leave you wanting more? If you feel confused or disengaged, it's time to revise and refine (or move on to another image and a new first line.)
Story Springboard (optional): If your opening line has you buzzing with ideas, why not use it as a springboard for a full-fledged story? Let the line guide you into a world of your own creation and see where the journey takes you!
Tags: visual prompts, opening lines, imagery, storytelling, ideation
Category: Discover Ideas > Interest, Vision, and Dreams
Example:
Image Hunt: I’m using the header image of a boy confronting a monster.
Spark Analysis: The boy seems so calm in the face of this monster—more shy than scared. He’s not attacking or running away. It seems more like an attempt at communication.
Line Crafting:
The gargleth smiles as it approaches Nathan, sensing no fear from the boy who stands with his hands clasped in admiration of the monster.
Standalone Test: I wonder if I could fit in some description of the creature? The monster name “gargleth” does help convey the gargoyle nature of the beast.
The gargleth smiles, jaws locked into a grimace of bemused aggression, as it senses no fear from the boy, Nathan, who stands admiring the beast as if it were an objet d’art.
Hook Check (optional): I like the new ending. There’s something compelling about the phrase “objet d’art” and comparing it to the beast. I need to raise the sense of danger, though.
The gargleth smiles preparing to lock jaws onto the boy’s neck, but it scents no fear from Nathan who has clasped his delicate hands together as if admiring an objet d’art.
Story Springboard (optional): The opening line opens up a lot of possibilities. This feels like an opening to a light novel about an overpowered protagonist, and we’re about to see him dominate this beast. Will he make it a familiar? Maybe he has the power to petrify, and he’s waiting for the action pose so he can turn it into a statue. Perhaps the beast will just look into his evil eyes and run away.
Further Resources:
Here are 12 images to get you started with this exercise. I invite you to repeat this exercise often, not only building your skill, but generating an endless supply of story ideas.
I plan to post Notes with more images and the first lines they inspired so I can keep this practice ongoing. I’ll set up a page where I list these posts and link to the notes from there. If you’d like to practice writing first lines with me, you’ll be able to share your first lines by replying to those notes.
Feel free to share your first lines in the comments!