In a post on Writer Unboxed, Kathryn Craft examines successful opening lines that rely on dialogue. “The challenge for a novel’s first line is to begin orienting the reader to the story while also raising a question that inspires them to read the next line,” she says. “Adding quotation marks around that sentence shines an additional spotlight that signals the reader to pay attention—This will be important.”
She examines the opening lines of:
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White: “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card: “I’ve watched through his eyes, I’ve listened through his ears, and I tell you he’s the one. Or at least as close as we’re going to get.”
- The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan: “Get that light out of my face! And get behind the tape. All of you. Now.”
- The Thorns of Truth by Eileen Goudge: “Mom, what would you think about Drew and me getting married?”
- Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner: “Have you seen it?” asked Samantha.
- The Missing World by Margot Livesey: They were quarrelling on the phone when it happened, although anyone overhearing them might easily have failed to detect the fury that lay behind their pragmatic sentences. “I don’t see why you need to bother Mrs. Craig,” Hazel said, “about a leak in your study.”
If you want to try opening with dialogue, Craft suggests some tips:
- Use dialogue that’s both distinctive and evocative—and worthy of the spotlight.
- Make sure the dialogue reveals some conflict.
- Allow spoken words to reveal character.
- Provide context clues to orient the reader.
- Establish genre.
- Assert each character’s motivation.
- Be mindful of pace. Give the reader the chance to absorb the importance of the dialogue.
- Base your choices on what the protagonist wants.
