tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post3062505765768959706..comments2023-09-12T10:19:46.166-04:00Comments on Christina Lee: How it all Begins...Christina Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-91390621302152623032010-01-26T11:32:02.463-05:002010-01-26T11:32:02.463-05:00Great points. I love the firs sentence of the fir...Great points. I love the firs sentence of the first Odd Thomas book. By Dean Koontz. I cannot wait to read your books :)All Women Stalkerhttp://allwomenstalk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-46479673263839949562010-01-26T00:22:04.266-05:002010-01-26T00:22:04.266-05:00I am a writr too and i believe first paragraphs ar...I am a writr too and i believe first paragraphs are important. It gets the reader to CONTINUE READING. If you have a good story but started badly....people get bored immediately.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05138130931988628398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-62886078771203710212010-01-25T22:06:55.671-05:002010-01-25T22:06:55.671-05:00Thanks Christina! I do actually do some editing i...Thanks Christina! I do actually do some editing in my line of work...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071176910565348068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-54456899142042013432010-01-25T22:03:44.208-05:002010-01-25T22:03:44.208-05:00Hmm, I'm not sure if I'm hooked by the fir...Hmm, I'm not sure if I'm hooked by the first line. I'll read a whole chapter and ponder on the voice. I always give books 100 pages to really hook me. On the characters, the writing style, the voice, the plot. I think it's a combination of all of those things, not just the first line or the first paragraph.<br /><br />Does it start there? Absolutely. Style and voice and characterizations and plot start there. I think one of the main things that hooks me is the usage of words. If the author is masterful, as is the case in many of your examples, the reader doesn't even notice the way the words marry and float together.<br /><br />And that's what hooks me.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-63742295052222508042010-01-25T21:44:06.352-05:002010-01-25T21:44:06.352-05:00You know I've never really thought about it. I...You know I've never really thought about it. I'll have to pay attention the next time I start a book!BonBon Rose Girls Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699626979106427874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-27630101336841834642010-01-25T21:10:50.740-05:002010-01-25T21:10:50.740-05:00There you go, Rachel- I changed it. A good reminde...There you go, Rachel- I changed it. A good reminder to use spell-check more often. Maybe you have a future in editing :DChristina Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-8143726549367467102010-01-25T21:00:49.327-05:002010-01-25T21:00:49.327-05:00Thanks for stopping by and your kind words. Someti...Thanks for stopping by and your kind words. Sometimes the right words don't come for me until the second draft.JDaniel4's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354900916937838719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-2001068128376234352010-01-25T20:58:29.103-05:002010-01-25T20:58:29.103-05:00I love this topic, but I have to say...you lost me...I love this topic, but I have to say...you lost me with the opening paragraph of your post! "A lot" is two words - there is no such word as "alot". I agree that the hook in writing is important, but so is grammar.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071176910565348068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-71203455132506945512010-01-25T18:25:48.597-05:002010-01-25T18:25:48.597-05:00Love this collection of first lines! I do think fi...Love this collection of first lines! I do think first lines draw me into the story, although I have been hooked by the back of the book, the first chapter or a friend's recommendation as well. But a solid first line can't hurt!lisa and laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144863275895761642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-3869099909481201052010-01-25T13:38:28.895-05:002010-01-25T13:38:28.895-05:00Very good post, and I agree sometimes the first li...Very good post, and I agree sometimes the first lines really draw you in and I know a bunch of times a really boring opener turns into a boring paragraph which then turns into a boring book..but its that one line that makes you think and makes you want to stayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-66731852538876700452010-01-25T13:31:21.056-05:002010-01-25T13:31:21.056-05:00Hook, line and sinker! It's all about the fir...Hook, line and sinker! It's all about the first few lines. Kids today do not like reading. Why? Because they think it is boring. Or so they think. Books are the best escape on the planet. And those few lines are crucial to sucking the reader right in.<br /><br />My favorites growing up include: Charolette's Web, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, one book I wore out so badly I had to acquire a second time... it began like this:<br /><br />When I stepped out into the bright light from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. The Outsiders. Still relevant to kids today.Louriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05477223472789865063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-65512596533888831252010-01-25T13:25:42.606-05:002010-01-25T13:25:42.606-05:00The last one hooked me in, definately.The last one hooked me in, definately.The Blonde Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00085499120024055465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-7020356379256363562010-01-25T12:26:36.621-05:002010-01-25T12:26:36.621-05:00It's great when there's a catchy opening l...It's great when there's a catchy opening line. But if there isn't, I still read on through the first chapter in the hopes that it'll get better. By the time I get through the 1st chapter, I have to continue (even if it sucks!) to the next and so on :( I guess I don't know when enough is enough when it comes to books. I'm always thinking some crazy plot twist is waiting around the corner.Maddyhttp://themaddychronicles.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-9053548016038923882010-01-25T12:21:52.100-05:002010-01-25T12:21:52.100-05:00Usually for me if I'm not "hooked" b...Usually for me if I'm not "hooked" by the 2nd or 3rd chapter then I just can't get into the book. So for me it doesn't have to be the first page. Best of luck to you!Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582704750863480776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-13292322462988833842010-01-25T12:10:26.417-05:002010-01-25T12:10:26.417-05:00I got ticked off, as a youngster, for once putting...I got ticked off, as a youngster, for once putting a book down after a couple of boring pages. "It might improve," my teacher suggested. I felt suitably chastised... and ever since I've been big on second chances.<br /><br />I've been thinking about this from a writer's perspective recently; it starts to feel particularly important when you're invited to send a mere ten pages of your manuscript to a publisher or agent.Rachel Cotterillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08969719330048416996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-82162226360969754462010-01-25T12:09:21.574-05:002010-01-25T12:09:21.574-05:00Interesting. Some of those beginning lines are goo...Interesting. Some of those beginning lines are good and some are great, but they all hook I think. I haven't read all of those books, but I want to! Now to stop blogging and read. (Yeah right... Like I can choose between them!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08616276555920544920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-52609869805609826452010-01-25T11:49:29.076-05:002010-01-25T11:49:29.076-05:00Thanks for the first paragraphs. Love them. I wa...Thanks for the first paragraphs. Love them. I want to read all the books now. The "hook" is always the hardest.<br />MaryWriting Without Periods!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08790155653220261547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-32331918885339779912010-01-25T11:31:01.029-05:002010-01-25T11:31:01.029-05:00Stephanie and Alicia--so interesting! That just go...Stephanie and Alicia--so interesting! That just goes to show how different we all are! Suzette I saw that too,and never read on (although I liked the premise)--hmm, is that why?Christina Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-55462474119732442982010-01-25T11:24:35.891-05:002010-01-25T11:24:35.891-05:00i'm all about a good hook! it either will make...i'm all about a good hook! it either will make or break the reading experience for me...and i totally agree with stephanie's comment!Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08661482257470326487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-19378920792935730412010-01-25T11:07:47.229-05:002010-01-25T11:07:47.229-05:00I loved the others but the beginning of the first ...I loved the others but the beginning of the first one lost me. TOO much right there together.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-30166041990252501252010-01-25T11:04:44.780-05:002010-01-25T11:04:44.780-05:00The opening line in twilight hooked me. "I n...The opening line in twilight hooked me. "I never game much thought about how I would die...."Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11724466373032206343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-61297774684073166192010-01-25T10:44:20.072-05:002010-01-25T10:44:20.072-05:00This is a very good point you bring to the surface...This is a very good point you bring to the surface here! I absolutely, positively, most definitely do not continue to read a book if I'm not hooked in by page 20. I can usually tell by the opening line if this will happen. I'm all psychic and stuff.Pamela Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03828671725848167955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-45957884729487333832010-01-25T10:19:34.972-05:002010-01-25T10:19:34.972-05:00I used to think a good jacket blurb was enough. I&...I used to think a good jacket blurb was enough. I've read some really great books because of a great jacket tease. Unfortunately, as is the case now, I've also read some really bad and/or boring books thanks to a deceptive tease! Now I am truly all about that first paragraph, or at the very least, the first chapter. The opening of The Book Thief is definitely one that yanks you. If an author can sell it in a few words upfront, you know there's got to be gems in the rest of the pages.for a different kind of girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04431273646365489225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-45389157672996834182010-01-25T09:57:37.069-05:002010-01-25T09:57:37.069-05:00I don't think it's coincidence that these ...I don't think it's coincidence that these bestsellers have killer hooks. One that I hate the first line of is Uglies. "The sunset looked like pink cat vomit." Then went on to describe a world without cats in it. (Or at least they were never mentioned again.) Ugh. Oh well, it was a bestseller anyhow.Suzette Saxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401538008029407734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4145236456769195141.post-53171481853490736072010-01-25T09:56:08.774-05:002010-01-25T09:56:08.774-05:00I think the first paragraph is one of the most imp...I think the first paragraph is one of the most important. Many people will stop reading if it doesn't catch them. Personally as a reader I will usually keep reading because I have hope it will get better. As a writer I will spend the majority of my time working with the first and last paragraphs. After I get those the rest just seems to fall into place.junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16597959014121851131noreply@blogger.com