 Short Stories: March 23, 2022 Issue [#11258] |
This week: Riveting Openings Edited by: Lilli 𧿠â  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| In todayâs fast-paced world, the first few sentences of your story should catch your readerâs attention with the unusual, the unexpected, an action, or a conflict. Begin with tension and immediacy. Remember that short stories need to start close to their end. |
| ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
|
|
You know it when you see it â the perfect opening paragraph that immediately grabs our interest and holds it, until the next thing we know, weâre deeply absorbed in reading.
So how do we do it? How do we capture the readersâ attention in just a few sentences? Itâs easier than you think. By following these tips, you can write a great opening paragraph that will keep your readers with you, page after page.
 Create a Sense of Motion
People and things in motion give a sense that the action has already begun. It's key to grabbing your readers right from the beginning.
Use Declaratives
Readers want to believe youâre about to take them on an engaging adventure. One way to ensure you donât let them down is to use a declarative, or several declaratives, in your opening paragraph. A âdeclarativeâ sentence is one that states something directly and ends with a period. It communicates clarity and confidence.
Define Your Setting
One way to ensure that readers will keep reading is to let them know where and when your story is taking place. Itâs best to do this as soon as possible.
Create Tension
Perhaps the best use of an opening paragraph is to create tension for the reader, give them something to question, something to see resolved. Tension can come in many forms: psychological or physical conflict, characters with opposing goals, something mysterious that needs explanation.
Examples:
 I heard my neighbor through the wall.
This is a dry opening and will not spark the reader's imagination.
Try something like this instead:
 The neighbor behind us practiced scream therapy in his shower almost every day.
This is better and will get the reader's attention. Who is this guy who goes in his shower every day and screams? Why does he do that? What, exactly, isâscream therapyâ?
Letâs keep readingâŚ
The first time I heard him, I stood in the bathroom listening at our shared wall for ten minutes, debating the wisdom of calling the police. It was very different from living in the duplex beside middle-aged Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and their two young sons in Providence.
The rest of the paragraph introduces 'I' and an internal conflict as the protagonist debates a course of action while introducing an intriguing contrast of past and present settings.
As you look back at the various example I gave you, keep in mind that many writers combine these techniques to create the perfect opening paragraph in a variety of ways. At the end of the day, all openers are unique â thatâs because first and foremost, you have a vision for your story thatâs yours alone to tell. Hopefully, these techniques will help you to shape that vision into greatness. |
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2268919 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2268312 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#674657 by Not Available. |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
| ASIN: 0910355479 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 13.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
