How to Write a Strong Opening Line for Your Novel

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression—and in fiction, your opening line is that impression. It’s the moment your reader decides: Am I in or am I out?

A strong first line doesn’t just set the stage. It invites, intrigues, unsettles, or surprises. It whispers, Keep going.

Here’s how to craft an opening line that hooks readers from word one:

1. Start with a Moment of Tension, Intrigue, or Surprise
Don’t warm up. Don’t ease in. Drop us into something happening—or about to happen.
A question, a contradiction, a jolt of unexpected emotion. Make the reader want to know more.

“I didn’t mean to kill her.”
“Everyone in the village knew the lake was cursed, but we swam anyway.”
“The letter arrived three days after her funeral.”

2. Let Voice Lead the Way
Your first line is the reader’s introduction to the tone of your book. Is it lyrical? Snarky? Creepy? Funny? Don’t bury your voice—let it shine from the start.

“I have exactly three coping mechanisms: caffeine, sarcasm, and denying I have a problem.”

3. Focus on Emotion or Stakes, Not Just Description
You can paint a beautiful scene, but if there’s no emotion or sense of urgency, it might fall flat. Hook us with why it matters.

“The sun rose over the battlefield, but no one cheered.”

4. Keep It Clean and Clear
Avoid long, winding sentences packed with names or info we don’t yet care about. Lead with clarity. Make it easy to follow—and impossible to ignore.

5. Ask Yourself: Would I Keep Reading?
Step back and read your line out loud. Does it spark curiosity? Does it hint at a world or character you want to know more about? If not—tweak it until it does.

Bottom line?
A great opening line doesn't need to be flashy. It just needs to pull us in.
Make us curious. Make us feel something. Make us turn the page.

Need help pressure-testing your opening? Schedule a mentorship call with us today!