Good to touch base with you. I will say, a podcast like a novel, needs a good opening. There was no doubt in newspaper writing that the first line was critical - so many stories screaming for attention. IMNSHO, a short story has more leeway - the narrative is longer - meatier and the reader is expecting more than a bare facts presentation. For novels, the reader has made some commitment - The title, the cover, getting to the story. Quitting because the first line isn't a grabber is unlikely.The first line is part of the first paragraph which helps set the stage for the first act. The act is more important than the paragraph which is far more important than the opening line. At 300 wds/min a reader with take in a 30 word paragraph in 6 seconds. Besides if the 1st line is part of the 1st paragraph, the reader is going to consume it as a whole. I have had reader tell me that they will give an author 50 to 100 pages to hook them.
Good to touch base with you. I will say, a podcast like a novel, needs a good opening. There was no doubt in newspaper writing that the first line was critical - so many stories screaming for attention. IMNSHO, a short story has more leeway - the narrative is longer - meatier and the reader is expecting more than a bare facts presentation. For novels, the reader has made some commitment - The title, the cover, getting to the story. Quitting because the first line isn't a grabber is unlikely.The first line is part of the first paragraph which helps set the stage for the first act. The act is more important than the paragraph which is far more important than the opening line. At 300 wds/min a reader with take in a 30 word paragraph in 6 seconds. Besides if the 1st line is part of the 1st paragraph, the reader is going to consume it as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI have had reader tell me that they will give an author 50 to 100 pages to hook them.