The Plotmonkeys are honored to have back as their guest, Literary Agent and author, Donald Maass. Today he’ll be discussing First Lines, Last Lines. Let’s give him a warm jungle welcome! 
First Lines, Last Lines
Why do you suppose that at the end of auto races they wave checkered flags? It isn’t strictly necessary. It’s obvious that the cars are crossing the finish line, right? I’m sure there once was a practical reason for it, but whatever the case the checkered flag does add drama to the final lap.
Does it matter what is the last line of your scene, or the first? Apparently, many authors do not think it does. Most last and first lines in manuscript scenes are quite forgettable. That’s a shame. Like a handshake, an opening and closing line can create impressions and expectations. They can set a tone. They can signal where we’re going, or what we’ve done, or serve any number of other useful story purposes.
Or not. So many first and last lines don’t do anything at all. I suspect that many authors are afraid of being obvious, or are trying to be artful. Perhaps they imagine that the first things readers want is some detail about the setting, or something incidental to the action. Or maybe writers just don’t know where to begin, or don’t know when to quit.
Whatever the case, solid first and last lines can give a scene shape. Creating them deliberately is a discipline worth developing.
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Mr. Maass will be here answering questions, so in true jungle form, ask away!
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The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great
by Donald Maass
Description: In his new book, New York literary agent Donald Maass illuminates the techniques of master contemporary novelists. Some authors write powerhouse novels every time. What are they doing differently on the page? Maass not only explains, he shows you how you can right away use the techniques of greatness in your current manuscript.
Author bio: A literary agent in New York, Donald Maass’s agency sells more than 150 novels every year to major publishers in the U.S. and overseas. He is the author of The Career Novelist (1996), Writing the Breakout Novel (2001), Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (2004) and The Fire in Fiction (2009). He is a past president of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Inc.
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Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
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Good morning and welcome back to the jungle!!
I just finished a pacing class with Mary Buckham and we spent a lot of time on hooks, especially opening hooks. One of our assignments was to take your top ten list of hooks (ones that raise questions or reactions in the reader) and see how many we could fit into the opening line. We were also instructed to tattoo that list on our forearms!
It was a great exercise that really stressed the importance of a great opening. Not only in the first line of the book, but also the opening of each scene and chapter and also at the end of each chapter to move them forward.
She also said hooks should be used in the opening sentence of a book, the end of the first page and the end of the third page when submitting to an editor/agent to make sure the stick with you and keep reading.
Do you agree with those placements? I know you can’t have too much conflict, but can you have hook over-kill?
I’m enjoying your topics and comments. Thanks for spending time in the jungle!!
Have a great weekend, everyone!!
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First and last lines really do make a book memorable. “They meant to kill him.” the opening line in Julie Garwood’s HONOR’S SPLENDOR, does a perfect job of getting your attention and setting up the story. She has many memorable first lines in her books. As for last lines, they mean a lot. I can think of many books I’v read that kind of fell flat at the end. It is almost as if the author felt they’d written the story and just wanted to be done. What a let down.
Thank you for another good article.
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Welcome back to the Jungle, Mr. Maass. Great blog today
Cher
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So true. I haven’t read REBECCA
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OOPS didn’t mean to hit send — I was saying, I haven’t read REBECCA in more than 20 years, but I remember the first line: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again.”
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I’m a high school teacher, a romance reader, and a romance writer. I love a good first line!
This makes it all the more frustrating when I can’t come up with one for my own WIP.
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I’m sure every reader can think of terrible first and last lines, but I’m very curious to know what Mr. Maas considers really great opening and closing lines. He must come across some good ones!
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Hi Jungle Denizens,
Glad you’re enjoying my posts. A couple of follow up comments:
I certainly agree that planting “hooks” at the end of chapters is a good idea. It propels the reader forward. (Although I note a little sadly the focus on editors.) But what is a “hook”? It’s a punch line that intrigues or raises new questions, apprehensions or anxiety.
What I would add is this: Think of every page as a hook. Constant, line-by-line micro-tension is what truly makes any novel a page turner. Last lines and first lines alone aren’t enough!
As for good examples, go to your own shelves—you’ve got tons of ‘em on hand. That first line from Rebecca is a good example of how the world of the story comes immediately alive in a great first line. No setting up, no weather or landscape, but instead instant point of view writing and a plunge deeply into what is most disturbing for the (nameless!) protagonist.
Have a great day in the jungle,
Don Maass
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Um…well, of course I meant to say “punchy” line, though a good punch line every once in a while wouldn’t be so bad, either.
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Thanks for the response and I probably should’ve clarified my comment better. She wasn’t meaning to write only with an editor/agent in mind. But to keep those “points” in mind, even with a synopsis or proposal.
Thanks again for taking the time to visit with us and share your insight!!