In a post on the Killzone blog, James Scott Bell examines the three types of opening lines: action, voice, and wood.
- Action. “When the first line drops you right into some intriguing action, you’ve got it made,” Bell says. Dialogue also can count as action, if what is said opens or moves the story forward.
- Voice. “When the voice is clear, unique, arresting, and immediately tells you the kind of story it’s going to be, you’ll want to keep reading,” Bell writes.
- Wood. “There’s an old saying: Your story begins when you strike the match, not when you lay out the wood,” Bell explains. “But with literary fiction, and epic fantasy or history, an exception is sometimes made. Presumably, fans of these genres are patient at the beginning, knowing they’re in for a long, immersive ride.”
