Every unforgettable story begins with a single sentence. Before readers know the plot, meet the main character, or understand the setting, they read the opening line. That first sentence serves as an introduction and invitation, drawing the reader deeper into your story or message.
That’s a lot of responsibility to put on a few words. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of inspiration available to guide the beginning of your own book. We’ve gathered some of the best opening lines in books throughout history, as well as guidance to help you write the perfect first sentence for your manuscript.
Why Opening Lines Matter
The opening line of your book not only introduces the story and often a critical element, such as the main character or setting, but also establishes trust between the author and the reader. In just a few words, readers begin forming opinions about the writing style, tone, pacing, and subject matter to follow.
A strong opening can capture the reader’s attention, establish the mood, introduce the narrator’s voice, spark curiosity, and even hint at the central conflict or theme. It doesn’t need explosions or shocking twists to be effective. Often, a thoughtful observation or statement is enough to encourage a reader to continue.
Consider the opening line of Moby-Dick (1851) by Herman Melville: “Call me Ishmael.”
With only three words, the author established a narrator and sparked the reader’s curiosity. Immediately, they want to know who Ishmael is and why he’s telling the story. That gives them a reason to keep reading.
How to Write a Great Opening Line
Great opening lines don’t all follow the same formula. Some begin with action, while others rely on observation, character, or even a simple statement.
In A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Charles Dickens foreshadowed the complexity of his story by presenting two seemingly opposite truths in a single sentence: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….”
Some of the most common approaches to an opening line include:
- A memorable character introduction
- An intriguing question or mystery
- A surprising statement
- A vivid description of a place
- A glimpse of conflict
- An engaging narrative voice
The best choice for your novel depends on the story you’re telling. A suspense novel may benefit from immediate tension, while historical fiction may establish its setting first. Devotional books, memoirs, and inspirational fiction often begin with a meaningful reflection that draws readers into the author’s perspective.
As you start to read a new book or revisit an old favorite, pay close attention to how the author captures your interest. Ask yourself:
- What made me keep reading?
- What emotion did the opening evoke?
- How quickly did I grasp the book’s tone?
- What did the first sentence accomplish in setting the stage for the rest of the book?
Answering these questions can help you identify techniques you can adapt in your own writing, while also gaining greater appreciation for the openings that continue to resonate with readers for generations.
Great Opening Lines from Literature
Here are 20 memorable opening lines from classic and modern literature that demonstrate different approaches to capture a reader’s attention.
- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. — Genesis 1:1, The Bible (King James Version)
- It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. — George Orwell, 1984 (1949)
- Call me Ishmael. — Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)
- All this happened, more or less. — Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)
- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
- In the town they tell the story of the great pearl—how it was found and how it was lost again. — John Steinbeck, The Pearl (1947)
- It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. — Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice (1813)
- All children, except one, grow up. — J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy (1911)
- Alex Stanford was just like Mama said. — Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love (1991)
- What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. — A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (1961)
- First the colors. Then the humans. That’s usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try. — Markus Zusak, The Book Thief (2005)
- Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. — Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967)
- In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit (1937)
- Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids. — C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
- There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. — C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
- Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. — Charles Dickens, David Copperfield (1850)
- There was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. — Margery Williams Bianco, The Velveteen Rabbit (1922)
- The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. — Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage (1895)
- Everything starts somewhere, although many physicists disagree. — Terry Pratchett, Hogfather (1996)
- All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. — Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1878)
Don’t Let the First Sentence Stop You
If you don’t have the perfect first line yet, don’t worry. Many successful authors revise their opening line many times over, and long after the first draft is complete.
Don’t spend so much time trying to perfect your first sentence that you never move beyond the first chapter. Once you’ve finished your draft, you’ll have a better understanding of its themes, pacing, and message. Revisiting the beginning helps you craft an opening line that truly reflects the finished work.
Whether your first line is quiet and reflective, humorous, or full of mystery, the goal is the same: inspire readers to turn the page.
By studying timeless examples from classic and modern literature, you’ll gain the confidence to craft an opening line that captures your readers’ attention, leaves a lasting impression, and sets the stage for a story they won’t want to put down.