Yes! I recently joined a discussion in comments where the author had called for the opening sentences to everyone's WIP. I can't even tell you how many of them started with a scream or a chase or some other high-tension drama. I was exhausted just reading them and I imagine agents are too.
I keep repeating this because it was so striking but Brandon Taylor said in one of his essays that he's tired of starting in media res and wants to start a novel with a big omniscient sweeping Dickens entrance. Me, too!
At one point I took Courtney Maum's opening page workshop and her biggest criticism was for openers that don't orient the reader. Obviously starting with a ton of exposition isnt great but there's a good middle ground between that and someone screaming in the first sentence.
Great first lines and first paragraphs should spark curiosity and questions about the character(s), their situation, their past, and their fate in a straightforward, yet thought-provoking manner. No need to be jarring, sensationalistic, or confusing (for the sake of appearing to be a clever writer). Don't start with throat-clearing backstory, either.
I have a tendency to start every chapter at some interesting point after the beginning of its time sequence, and then I have to remind myself not to do that so often. I guess TV has really gotten in my head! But I have grown to dislike the “Two Weeks Earlier” move shows always make.
I think that if you start a story with the protagonist doing something, it should be an indication of their character. But I like Hitchcock's way of handling story where the beginning doesn't give you a clue as to the horror that is to unfold. And a lot of famous stories don't begin like that. I have no idea why there is all this call to start like that.
Coincidence? Maaaaaaybe. I'm writing a story of Odysseus for an anthology. How fortunate you summarized the structure of Homer's rendition. We're all here (on Substack) for a reason. Yours is explaining things to me. O-kay ONE of yours. I don't know about the others. Carry on.
Had to add this: lyrics to Hotel California, an excellent 'first line of a story' that illustrates an opening scene.
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night ...
very thought provoking as usual Thaddeus. has made me review first lines... maybe only the first is in media res. its still not quite right for the story either.
my last two pieces began
"It wasnt the terrible dream that woke me, it was the smell of roast chicken."
"It was the best time of day for stories; the sun was low enough for work to stop and high enough above the copper-streaked sea that the Storyteller, Kathaakaar, would not be busy."
Just wanted to say, Mr. Thaddeus, that I read your essay and realized I had misapplied in medias res. I also benefitted from "You can start with activity and interest without jumping deep into the story." I rewrote the entire story, also vastly reducing backstory and exposition.
I hope now it starts with enough activity and interest to get the reader to nibble, followed by setting the hook with some surface tension round about paragraph 6. A couple of beta readers think the draft is much better now.
Yes! I recently joined a discussion in comments where the author had called for the opening sentences to everyone's WIP. I can't even tell you how many of them started with a scream or a chase or some other high-tension drama. I was exhausted just reading them and I imagine agents are too.
I keep repeating this because it was so striking but Brandon Taylor said in one of his essays that he's tired of starting in media res and wants to start a novel with a big omniscient sweeping Dickens entrance. Me, too!
At one point I took Courtney Maum's opening page workshop and her biggest criticism was for openers that don't orient the reader. Obviously starting with a ton of exposition isnt great but there's a good middle ground between that and someone screaming in the first sentence.
Oh, so we doing pay per view now?! Well, allow me a moment to read and gather my thoughts.
Great points! I like reminders that what we’re told to do isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.
Btw, when I really got into reading in middle school, it was the Xanth novels by Piers Anthony. It was cool to see you mention him.
A generous soul.
Great first lines and first paragraphs should spark curiosity and questions about the character(s), their situation, their past, and their fate in a straightforward, yet thought-provoking manner. No need to be jarring, sensationalistic, or confusing (for the sake of appearing to be a clever writer). Don't start with throat-clearing backstory, either.
I love that.
I have a tendency to start every chapter at some interesting point after the beginning of its time sequence, and then I have to remind myself not to do that so often. I guess TV has really gotten in my head! But I have grown to dislike the “Two Weeks Earlier” move shows always make.
I think that if you start a story with the protagonist doing something, it should be an indication of their character. But I like Hitchcock's way of handling story where the beginning doesn't give you a clue as to the horror that is to unfold. And a lot of famous stories don't begin like that. I have no idea why there is all this call to start like that.
I really like that. It's mine now.
Coincidence? Maaaaaaybe. I'm writing a story of Odysseus for an anthology. How fortunate you summarized the structure of Homer's rendition. We're all here (on Substack) for a reason. Yours is explaining things to me. O-kay ONE of yours. I don't know about the others. Carry on.
Had to add this: lyrics to Hotel California, an excellent 'first line of a story' that illustrates an opening scene.
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night ...
very thought provoking as usual Thaddeus. has made me review first lines... maybe only the first is in media res. its still not quite right for the story either.
my last two pieces began
"It wasnt the terrible dream that woke me, it was the smell of roast chicken."
"It was the best time of day for stories; the sun was low enough for work to stop and high enough above the copper-streaked sea that the Storyteller, Kathaakaar, would not be busy."
I love those
Just wanted to say, Mr. Thaddeus, that I read your essay and realized I had misapplied in medias res. I also benefitted from "You can start with activity and interest without jumping deep into the story." I rewrote the entire story, also vastly reducing backstory and exposition.
I hope now it starts with enough activity and interest to get the reader to nibble, followed by setting the hook with some surface tension round about paragraph 6. A couple of beta readers think the draft is much better now.
So thanks.