The Evolution of the First Line

Novel Beginnings

Time to start hawking my debut novel! 

But First

The results of my should I or shouldn’t I continue blogging poll. It was close, but quitting pulled slightly ahead. However, I decided to continue for now.

Here’s why—Substack isn’t searchable by the Internet at large. And, the best way to keep my website “fresh” is to post on my blog once a month. We want our website fresh so they keep ranking in search engines.

Release Date for BLOODSTONE

I have settled on a release date: September 22nd, the Fall Equinox. That’s also Mabon, which celebrates the autumnal equinox. It’s a pagan holiday, and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated during the year.

Perfect for a witchy book.

First Lines

We’ve all heard how much work the first line of a novel has to do. While I don’t think it has to do everything they claim, it should still serve a purpose—to make the reader want to read the next line.

Back in 2013, I wrote a blog post about first lines in published novels I liked. But today, I want to share with you how the first lines of my novel changed over time from rough draft to finished book.

Ready? Here we go:

• My boots clacked on the wet brick pavement.

• The brownstone looked identical to the five other brick buildings that lined the street—three stories, black shutters, elaborate trim decorating the roof, wrought iron rails leading up stairs to a door—however, this one, this building felt different; lonely, almost lost.

• The cab turned down a narrow cobblestone street.

• Standing on the sidewalk with luggage in hand, I tracked the taxi as it made a U-turn, drove back down the street, and disappeared around the corner.

• Mottled yellow leaves drooped from tree limbs like tears waiting to fall.

• My aunt died. 

• I’d never been far from home. 

In the end, my first line is:

🥁 🥁 🥁 🥁 🥁 🥁

The chainsaw slid through the last limb.

There you have it. And now for an important poll: