First Sentences of Famous Novels

I train people to write their first novel.
One of the training exercises is to study the opening lines of successful novels.
Here is a selection.

NZIBS Graduates’ Club Newsletter #120


Study the master
story tellers who
write opening
sentences which
demand attention

Thank you Barry Clare of Wellington for drawing our attention to the importance of a riveting opening sentence.
Barry listed those below, employed by master story teller Dick Francis.
Lesson one for all story tellers is simple: Grab your reader's attention with your first sentence and you'll have them locked into your story.
Lesson two is equally simple: Hold and build on that interest.

“I had told the drivers never on any account to pick up a hitchhiker but of course one day they did and by the time they reached my house he was dead." Driving Force

“There was a God-awful cockup in Bologna." The Danger

“I intensely disliked my father's fifth wife, but not to the point of murder." Hot Money

"I inherited my brother's life, I inherited his desk, his business, his gadgets, his enemies and his mistress. I inherited my brother's life and it nearly killed me."
Straight

"I could think of three good
reasons for not going to Moscow, one of which was 26, blonde and upstairs unpacking her suitcase."
Trial Run.

New Zealand Institute of Business Studies
Web site: www.nzibs.co.nz

“I looked at my friend and saw a man who had robbed me."
High Stakes

“Winded and coughing, I lay on one elbow and spat out a mouthful of grass and mud." Reflex

“1 accepted a commission that had been turned down by four other writers, but I was hungry at the time." Longshot

"I told the boys to stay quiet while I went to fetch my gun." Twice Shy

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Writing a short story or novel is not so difficult, once you learn the techniques. Let us show you how in 16 sessions. www.nzibs.co.nz
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These opening sentences are used by Jeffrey Archer in his short story collection A TWIST IN THE TALE:

“If I hadn’t changed my mind that night I would never have found out the truth.” The Perfect Murder

"Gerald Hoskins and Walter
Ramsbottom had been eating cornflakes for over a year. "'I'll swap you my MC and DSO for your VC,' said Walter.” Not The Real Thing

"I woke up before him feeling slightly randy but knew there was nothing I could do about it.” Just Good Friends

"Christopher and Margaret Roberts always spent their summer holiday as far away from England as they could possibly afford." The Steal

“There is one cathedral in England that has never found it necessary to launch a national appeal,” Colonel Bullfrog

“‘That wasn’t the version I heard' said Philip. One of the club members seated at the bar glanced around at the sound of raised voices, but when he saw who was involved only smiled and continued his conversation.” The Loophole

"The rabbi knew he couldn't hope to begin his sermon until he'd read the letter." Christina Rosenthal

“As she entered the room every eye turned towards her. When admiring a girl some men start with the head and work down but I start with the ankles and work up.” Checkmate

“Few showed much interest when Ignatius Agarbi was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance. After all. the cynics pointed out, hewas the seventeenth person to hold that position in 17 years."
Clean Sweep Ignatius


Some other first sentences from famous authors you'll want to emulate.

“The boy had often been puzzled by the old signpost that stood opposite so he asked his mother about it.” The Celestial Omnibus by EM Forster

“Mr Scuddamore was a young American of a simple and harmless disposition, which was to his credit as he came from New England - a quarter not precisely famous for those qualities." Robert Louis Stevenson in The Story Of The Physician

“There are not many streets turning off Limehouse Causeway, but there are more of them than you would think, or see, unless you looked carefully.” Richard Hughes in Martha

“It seemed impossible that anyone should be unhappy on such a beautiful day.” Katherine Mansfield in Taking The Veil

“She was one of those pretty and charming girls who, by some freak of destiny, are born into families that have always held subordinate positions.” Guy De Maupassant in The Necklace

"At eight o'clock in the evening of 20th May the six batteries of V reserve on its way to camp stopped for the night in the village of Mestechko." Anton Chekhov in The Kiss

“There were 26 of us fellows, 26 living machines shut up in a damp cellar where, from morning til night, we kneaded dough and made cracknels.”
Maxim Gorky in Twentysix Men And A Girl

"Far out at sea the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflowers and as clear as the purest crystal, but it is very deep - so deep no rope can fathom it."
Hans Christian Andersen in The Little Mermaid
Reproduced for educational purposes.


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