Bang out of the gate. Or else. Are you one of those readers who scan the first paragraph of a book and puts it down if it doesn't grab you? I am. If I'm feeling ornery, I'll give the author only one line to snag me. So, as a writer, I make a point of trying to write openings that pop in order to avoid losing those readers who are as quick to judge as I. The first line has to be a grabber. A lot of writers like to set the scene before diving into a story, but most readers aren't interested in what a character feels or how a setting looks unless they're already invested in that character or wonder about that setting. As Elmore Leonard famously advised, "Never open a book with... more
