What the Best First Lines Do

Apr 2, 2025 | On Writing, Uncategorized

Purple background with white text at the top featuring a typewriter icon followed by the words career authors write. sell. repeat. Below, in large green text, are the words WHAT THE BEST FIRST LINES DO, and at the bottom of the image, by Paula Munier is written in white.
Infographic titled 'What the Best First Lines Do' with examples shown in sections. Section 1: 'Jumpstart the Plot.' - Book Quote: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' - Author: George Orwell. Section 2: 'Introduce Theme.' - Book Quote: 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' - Author: Leo Tolstoy. Section 3: 'Set POV & Character.' - Book Quote: 'Call me Ishmael.' - Author: Herman Melville. Section 4: 'Establish Setting.' - Book Quote: 'It was a pleasure to burn.' - Author: Ray Bradbury. Section 5: 'Lean into Voice.' - Book Quote:'You better not never tell nobody but God.' - Author: Alice Walker. Section 6:'Evoke Emotion.' - Book Quote:'The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.' - Author William Gibson. Copyright notice at the bottom reads,'Copyright 2025'

This post originally appeared at Career Authors

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