Creating the Perfect First Sentence for Your Novel

Crafting a Sentence to Keep Readers Engaged

When reading writing advice, one common theme you see is the importance of crafting the very first sentence. How one should come up with an unique take to get readers attention instantly.

Now, do I think writing a great opening to a story is important? Yes.

Does that mean it has to include the first sentence? No.

Not all stories need that ‘wow’ opener. Especially when the plot of the story is most important. It doesn’t need to contain fancy wording or a strange scenario that ultimately can confuse the reader. It just needs to fit the story.

This does mean it’s not NOT important, if you know what I'm saying. You don’t want to bore anyone out of the gate. Which is why I think it’s important to practice writing. Especially with your opening sentence.

I'd been thinking of this idea for some time after reading several popular books whose very first sentences didn’t necessarily stick out, but ultimately made me continue on reading.

So, one late night while the thought was running through my head, I decide to give it a go. It’s always good to practice writing an opening scene.

Taking inspiration from my room I set off, writing 3 handwritten pages. Even with the inspiration I just went with what I thought was best. No outline, just the first sentence. After the session I was super proud of what I had written even if it needed some editing. To me, the first sentence fit the scene I had built around it as well as stood out and left me wanting more as a reader.

Overall, I think doing this at least once a week would be great practice. Check out my prompt journal 100 First Sentences: Creative Writing Prompts That Do The Hard Part For You, inspired by this exact exercise!

So without further ado, here's my sentence/first opening scene.

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An IUD caked in the landlord special. At least that's what the tee shape with the droopy ends looked like under the layers and layers of white paint. Except it was actually to big to be a real one... right? Unless the women who lived here previously had a uterus the size of a spaghetti squash and in a fit of unknown rage ripped the metal from herself. Then, like spaghetti threw it on the wall to see if it would stick.

She shifted in her bed at the thought, her thighs squeezing ever so lightly together smothering any open space. In doing so, her eyes fell to the windowsill where the landlord special continued to plague every surface. The fresh coat of paint still lingered in the air, yet the place felt uncared for, the stains and grim already peeping through saying, "You can't get rid of me!" Even if she tried, she couldn't escape them. She signed a six month lease, the cheapest she could find in town. "A steal," the landlord had said when she toured the place, but to anyone with eyes would call it a scam. No one would live here for free if given the chance and yet here she was pulling out her checkbook giving every last penny to him.

On the upside, the apartment was furnished. In the kitchenette, a small table and chairs for two sat to the side. The table with scratch marks on every surface, the name Darnell carved deep into the grain accompanied by plastic covered seats. The pattern so cracked and worn you couldn't tell if it had been a floral or geometric pattern originally.

A large boxed tv sat silent, holding space in the already smallish room. It had been ages since she had watched a show, but was disappointed when the rabbit ears picked up two channels, both devoted to the word of God. Slapping the thing only made the channels come in more crisp. Instead of listening to the old men drone on in their monotone voices telling followers what they have done wrong in their life, she pressed the off button. She didn't need them telling her what she had done wrong. She did it on the regular. Especially before bed, as she was doing now. Except that the weird shape IUD had pulled her attention away as well as an odd smell coming from the mattress.

She sat up eyeing the freshly cleaned sheets wondering what laid underneath. "You can't get rid of us," the stains screamed louder. Curiosity provoked most of her horrible decisions, but this was one she didn't want to find out. She flopped back onto the bed, the springs groaning under the weight, wondering how she found herself in a place like this. Her eyes fell once more to the IUD. It couldn't be one truly? Or could it? She had a nail file in her bag she could use to scrap away a small layer of paint come morning. She rolled over, flipping the lamp off, and told herself she'd scrape the truth out tomorrow.

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Final Thoughts

What do you think? Are you curious as to why my first sentence entailed an IUD with the landlord special to make you keep reading?

Like I mentioned above, I was influenced by my room. By my light switch, a weird shape is intruding out of the wall. My walls are a texture sheet rock which means plenty of shapes pop out. But I see this shape every time I leave the room and flip the switch. I always thought about how closely it resembled an IUD under the few layers of paint now covering it(don't worry it's not the landlord special). I figured I would include it in my first sentence and see where the story took me. A free write I like to call it.

When is the last time you free wrote and what do you think about the first sentence advice you always here about writing? Tell me in the comments below and don't forget to check out my prompt journal 100 First Sentences!