Opening linesthe first sentence or maybe the first paragraph of a book have a lot of work to do. The opening sentence of a book can determine a lot of things including whether or not you decide to keep going with said book. Oct 29, 2019 what are the best first lines in fiction. If you dont have time to read, you dont have the time or the tools to write. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, and many of them have been adapted into feature films, television movies and comic books. Our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english language, from jane austen to james joyce. First lines from stephen kings novels album on imgur.
Doctor sleep is a 35years later sequel to his hit horror classic the shining. In an interview with the atlantic, stephen king admits he can spend months, or even years, on writing the opening lines for a new book. They have to set the scene, perhaps introduce a character, and more than anything, get us to. There are all sorts of theories and ideas about what constitutes a good opening line. Opening linesthe first sentence or maybe the first paragraph of a bookhave a lot of work to do. Author stephen king on the killer opening line cisco blogs. On this day in 1873, writer and politician edward bulwerlytton died. Hephzibah anderson explores the art of the perfect first sentence.
Feb 03, 2016 first lines from stephen king s novels. With what is now considered one of the best opening lines in fiction, stephen king. The 10 most terrifying opening lines from books bustle. Twelve and a half years later, the novel was published. All the opening sentences from stephen king books, ranked. The dark tower series 19822012 the man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. For me, the simplicity of 1984s it was a bright day in april, and the clocks were striking thirteen is perfect. Rate 5 stars rate 4 stars rate 3 stars rate 2 stars rate 1 star. We have other things to do than worrying about one line of text.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Stephen king shares his favorite novel opening sentences. Let us put the frighteners on you with our quiz on literatures most terrifying first lines alison flood mon 31 oct 2011 11. Theres a reason that this simple, creepy line is one of the most wellknown openers in all of literature. Jul 24, 20 you cant judge a book by its cover, but you can judge it by its opening line.
Great opening lines from your favorite books presents a smorgasbord of popular fiction from around the world. Stephen king an opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. In a small town, the opening of a new story is big news. Stephen edwin king born september 21, 1947 is an american author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels. A list of stephen king s novels, organized oldest to newest.
From the pithy to the provocative, the classic book opener comes in many different forms. The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed him. Why stephen king spends months and even years writing. A list of stephen kings novels, organized alphabetically. Apr 28, 2012 our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english language, from jane austen to james joyce. Story opening lines that will blow your readers away. There are as many ways to write great opening lines for a novel as there are novels. Ive only read a couple stephen king books, and the last one was over 10 years ago, sometime in my mid teens.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a monster came to the small town of castle rock, maine. There are 9 quizzes and 125 trivia questions in this category. First lines from stephen kings novels carrie 1974 news item from the westover me. The first lines in stephen king books set the stage for the stories that follow. Stephen king began writing the gunslinger when he was a sophomore in college. King has published 63 novels, including seven under. Mar 11, 2019 stephen king is one of the most prolific authors of the modern age whose last name isnt patterson. This study guide and infographic for stephen king s it offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Over his long career, king has written opening sentences that are funny, informative, scary, and downright odd. Oct 31, 2011 let us put the frighteners on you with our quiz on literatures most terrifying first lines alison flood mon 31 oct 2011 11.
Its no wonder stephen king still spends months, sometimes years, getting his opening salvo exactly right. Stephen king shares the best opening line he ever wrote. A list of stephen kings novels, organized oldest to newest. Stephen king brings us two new novels in 20 one on shelves already, and. Jan 18, 20 heres an array of famous first linesand seven strategies to craft a great story starter of your own. The master of horror has provided a number of memorable lines heeeeeeres stephen. Jan 06, 2016 after youve read barry lancet and anthony franzes piece about some of the masters of opening lines, comment below with your own favorite opening from a thriller, mystery, or crime fiction novel and youll be entered for a chance to win a copy of barrys new novel, pacific burn, from his acclaimed jim brodie series. An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. Visit our education page for details about how funtrivia can help students learn during the pandemic.
The top 10 best opening lines of novels litreactor. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, and many have been adapted into films, television series, miniseries, and comic books. Its tricky thing, and tough to talk about because i dont think conceptually while i work on a. Satisfy your tiger king obsession with these 5 wild nonfiction books 4 captivating mothers day reads recommended by a fellow mom twilight, once more. The first sentence sets the stagehowever long or short the textand hints at the narrative vehicle. I remember thinking he was a great storyteller theres a reason so many of his stories are made into movies but his writing style simply did not grab me and i thought it mediocre at best. And it is this line that i find one of the most compelling opening lines to a stephen king novel. Rain of stones reported it was reliably reported by several persons that a rain of stones fell from a clear blue sky on carlin street in the town of chamberlain on august 17th.
You cant judge a book by its cover, but you can judge it by its opening line. Over his long career, king has written opening sentences that are. It took stephen king more than fifteen years, and one can only wonder how many drafts, to come up with one of the best opening lines in modern literature, and what he himself considers one of the best lines hes written. In a new interview with the atlantic, master author stephen kingdiscussed what makes the allimportant first sentence. A list of stephen king s novels, organized alphabetically. During the early days of his career he worked as an english teacher while writing in his leisure time. In a 20 interview with joe fassler, horror fiction maestro stephen king reflected on the magnitude of a novels introductory sentence. Its the authors first invitation into a world of their own creation. Dec 02, 2011 stephen king began writing the gunslinger when he was a sophomore in college. The opening line of any book should sayin the words of stephen kinglisten. Compelling and effective opening lines to stephen king novels.
At the same time a light unexpectedly sprang up, and i saw carmilla, standing, near the foot of my bed, in her white nightdress, bathed, from her chin to her feet, in one great stain of blood. They can be long, descriptive, runon sentences that prepare you for everything youre about to see. The 10 best first lines in fiction books the guardian. The first sentence sets the stagehowever long or short. Can you guess the stephen king novel by the first line. Anyone who has spent any time in researching writing understands. Its tricky thing, and tough to talk about because i dont think conceptually while i. And, yes, there are plenty of great stories out there that dont exactly begin with a bang. Stephen king is a famous american writer known for his prolific writing in the genre of horror, science fiction and suspense. Bbc culture what are the best first lines in fiction. Remember, too, that what might make a great opening line in one novel might not work at all in another. Apr 03, 2019 literature quiz novel by opening lines. As business writers, we dont have the luxury of time.
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