IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS GOOD.

I was chilling with a writer friend, talking over the start of books and how fundamentally important the first few words are. You need to grab the reader from the start. It is surprising how many scripts we get don’t have that hook at the start. Also when you think about it, you read the start of your story more than any other part, so it should be more polished. Or at least you would think so. I remember from a creative writing seminar that a hook right at the start was key to a successful story. Without that hook, a reader may simply not go any further, regardless of how well the story is written. I love all our stories, though there is a particular BVS story that gripped me from the start, Perilous Love by Jan Selbourne. It is a mysterious start and something about it held me. You can read it for yourself by clicking here.

What is the best hook you have read? Have you ever felt, I wish I had written that? I have always liked the idea of the opening of a book planting a seed, something that will grow in your mind as you read the story.

If you have anything you would like to add or share, I’d love to hear your comments here on the blog, the BVS Facebook page, or my Facebook page. We have a twitter page too, and we are always happy to follow people that follow us.