Alan Rinzler: Consulting editor gives tips on opening sentences

From his blog:

Ask the Editor: The power of the opening sentence – 6 tips

Q : Why is the first line so important?

A : Agents and acquiring editors will quit reading if your opening sentence doesn’t zing. Any writer seeking publication or the devoted attention of a reader browsing in a bookstore needs to craft that first sentence, revising, revising, revising, until it just hums.

One way to prepare for this is to read your own favorite first lines. Here are a couple of mine, followed by 6 suggestions for what makes a good first sentence.

More (thanks, Cliff Pickover)

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