Workshop Your WIP — Share Your Opening Sentence
The Forever Workshop Community Corner
Ahoy, writerfolk!
New month, brand new series waiting for you in The Forever Workshop — and it’s a glorious deep dive into sentence structure by the brilliant Nina Schuyler:
“Every sentence you write involves many decisions that are often made unconsciously. The more aware you are of these decisions, the more you can deliberately create content by the order of the words and the right words.”
Aaaaaand why don’t you take a guess at which sentence gets more consideration than any other?
Oh yes. That tricky opening line.
(Shhh, don’t ask me how many times I’ve re-written my first chapter…)
So here’s this week’s Community Corner invitation for you:
Share the first line of your WIP!
Go on. Share yours below. I dare ya.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first draft or fifth.
Doesn’t matter whether you’re writing a novel, short fiction, or non-fiction.
We don’t even need context. In fact, try to avoid giving any hints about your story at all to keep things objective.
Just offer up your pure, unadulterated first line for feedback from your fellow workshoppers.
And then…
In the interests of balance, respond to at least one other person’s opening sentence with your thoughts!
Here are a few jumping off points for optimal feedbacking:
What do you like about it?
Can you tell what genre it is from just one sentence?
What do you learn about the world, characters or scenario?
What isn’t being said? Is there subtext under the surface?
What’s intriguing to you? Does it make you want to know more about the story?
How does it make you feel? What emotions are conjured up by this opening line?
And why do you think the author chose these specific details and words? For flow? Tone? Characterisation? Metaphor?
And then…
Discuss!
Chat about your sentences and your choices.
And, if you so choose, reveal your intentions and explore the decisions that led to your opening sentence…
Because sometimes just talking things over with a fellow writer or two is exactly what you need to get new perspective on your work. (And sometimes other people can flag up aspects we hadn’t even realised!).
So dig out your opening sentence and let’s hear ‘em!
Oh, and if you need more help, ideas or insights into crafting perfect sentences, check out Nina’s workshop!
My twenties were a haphazard series of apartments, jobs and boyfriends; I was always elated when I got a new one.
I got too close to the stove.