Absence of any emotional hook. A line such as 'There was a day.' doesn't make the reader feel anything. There's no excitement, no mystery, no sadness. It's just a flat statement that doesn't encourage the reader to continue. Usually, a great first line makes you feel something immediately, whether it's curiosity or empathy. In this case, there's none of that.
Lack of clarity. For instance, if a first line is like 'Some stuff happened once.' It doesn't clarify what 'some stuff' is. It's just too general and leaves the reader completely in the dark.
One example could be 'He woke up and like he didn't know what was going on.' It's very simplistic and lacks any real descriptive power. Just a basic statement without any engaging elements.
Mine was the worst. It was with this guy I barely knew at a party. He just lunged at me out of nowhere, and his breath smelled like a mix of onions and beer. His lips were super slobbery, and it was so over in a second. It was just a horrible, unromantic mess.
A great first line grabs the reader's attention immediately. For instance, 'The day the world ended, I was eating an ice - cream.' It creates mystery and makes the reader want to know more. It sets an unexpected tone.
I'm not sure which novel Paul Newman wrote exactly, so I can't provide the first line.
My worst first date was when we planned to go for a walk in the park. It started to rain a bit, but he didn't bring an umbrella. I thought we could find some shelter, but he just kept walking. Then, he started complaining about how his shoes were getting wet and how this was all my idea. It was a total disaster.
It should also set the mood. If it's a horror story, a line like 'The old, creaking house on the hill seemed to have eyes that followed her every move.' creates a spooky atmosphere. The description of the house gives a sense of unease and makes the reader expect something scary to happen. This kind of first line is important as it gives the reader an idea of the genre and tone of the story.
Using vivid imagery can create an eyecatching first line. Think of 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick'. Just these two simple words start to build an image in the reader's mind. It's like the author is inviting you into the story, making you curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.
Well, a best first line might set the tone for the whole story. For instance, 'It was a dark and stormy night, and all the while, a sense of dread filled the air.' Here, the gloomy setting and the feeling of dread in the first line give an idea that the story will be full of mystery and perhaps danger. It hooks the reader and makes them want to keep reading to find out what will happen in such a foreboding situation.
A great novel first line often grabs the reader's attention immediately. It could introduce a mystery, a compelling character, or set a unique tone for the story.
A captivating first line often creates intrigue or poses a mystery. It grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to know more.