Alexa Donne | How to Write A Good First Line | 20+ Examples of Great Novel Openings @AlexaDonne | Uploaded October 2020 | Updated October 2024, 10 hours ago.
What makes a good first line? I'm sharing my thoughts/tips and a TON of examples, as well as going beyond the literal first line. In many cases, it's actually more a case of a great first couple of lines or first paragraph.
00:00 Introduction
01:19 First lines should be
04:54 Surprising, funny 1st line examples
07:40 Dialogue, sense of place 1st line examples
10:08 Scene-setting 1st line examples
15:21 Deceptively simple statement 1st line examples
18:55 2 thriller examples that demonstrate character
20:44 Prologue vs. 1st chapter examples
24:19 Middle grade examples
20:03 Humor & premise setup example
26:57 Classic/famous first line examples
28:47 Precision of language in great 1st lines
30:45 POV of your 1st line & character
31:30 Prologues & using format to your advantage
32:31 Final pep talk
Add THE IVIES, my YA thriller featuring competitive college admissions & murder, out in 2021, on Goodreads! goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+OTHER PROJECTS+
Support NovelTea Show on Patreon! We're launching a podcast, with your support. patreon.com/novelteashow
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Add THE STARS WE STEAL (Jane Austen + The Bachelor, in space) on Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/40950392-the-stars-we-steal
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/book/show/35065031-brightly-burning
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon t6i
Mic: Rode VideoMic Go Light
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio 22
What makes a good first line? I'm sharing my thoughts/tips and a TON of examples, as well as going beyond the literal first line. In many cases, it's actually more a case of a great first couple of lines or first paragraph.
00:00 Introduction
01:19 First lines should be
04:54 Surprising, funny 1st line examples
07:40 Dialogue, sense of place 1st line examples
10:08 Scene-setting 1st line examples
15:21 Deceptively simple statement 1st line examples
18:55 2 thriller examples that demonstrate character
20:44 Prologue vs. 1st chapter examples
24:19 Middle grade examples
20:03 Humor & premise setup example
26:57 Classic/famous first line examples
28:47 Precision of language in great 1st lines
30:45 POV of your 1st line & character
31:30 Prologues & using format to your advantage
32:31 Final pep talk
Add THE IVIES, my YA thriller featuring competitive college admissions & murder, out in 2021, on Goodreads! goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+OTHER PROJECTS+
Support NovelTea Show on Patreon! We're launching a podcast, with your support. patreon.com/novelteashow
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Add THE STARS WE STEAL (Jane Austen + The Bachelor, in space) on Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/40950392-the-stars-we-steal
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/book/show/35065031-brightly-burning
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon t6i
Mic: Rode VideoMic Go Light
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio 22
![ALL THE WRITER GIFTS! Gift Ideas for 2021 | + Clever Fox Planner GIVEAWAY! [CLOSED]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UA7-BfIdKIY/hqdefault.jpg "ALL THE WRITER GIFTS! Gift Ideas for 2021 | + Clever Fox Planner GIVEAWAY! [CLOSED]
What should you buy the writer in your life this holiday season (or year round)? Here are some ideas! This is your writer gift guide for 2021. Theres also a GIVEAWAY for a Clever Fox Planner. Tis the season. I also, gasp, have MERCH now!
Last years gift guide: https://youtu.be/v3ryKP6kjW0
Shop Clever Fox Planners*: https://cleverfoxplanner.com?aff=54
Use my code ALEXA10 to save 10% on your order!
*This is an affiliate link
Shop my BRAND NEW merch! https://alexa-donne.creator-spring.com/
00:00 Introduction
00:49 1. Planners & Clever Fox Planner Giveaway
07:18 2. Alexa Donne merch!
08:36 3. Tea stuff
10:24 4. Coffee
11:55 5. Wine subscription
12:38 6. Puzzles? Hunt a Killer?
14:47 7. Specialty streaming services
16:32 8. Book Boxes
17:49 9. Writing Courses
20:52 10. Scrivener
21:30 11. Writer tech
CLEVER FOX GIVEAWAY
Comment on the video by 11:59 PM PT on December 14 and follow @cleverfoxplanner on Instagram to enter giveaway. 3 winners will be randomly selected from the comments and each one can choose one (1) Clever Fox planner from the list below (you can choose your color!). To win must be US-based.
In your comment, say which planner interests you most, and if youre in the U.S.
Clever Fox products shown (in order):
Clever Fox Wellness Planner (in Mystic Blue)
Clever Fox Recipe Book (in Amber Yellow)
Clever Fox Budget Planner PRO (in Purple)
Clever Fox PRO Hourly (with a 6AM-9PM Schedule) (in Periwinkle)
Clever Fox Bill Organizer Large (in Dark Blue)
Clever Fox Pro Premium (in Rose Gold)
Disclosure: Clever Fox planners were sent to me by the company for free to share in this video. I was not otherwise compensated for this giveaway.
LINKS (non-affiliated!)
Davids Tea Advent Calendar: https://www.davidstea.com/us_en/tea/shop-all/holiday-collection/24-days-of-tea/961630US01VAR0075618.html?cgid=holiday-collection#start=1
Tea and Absinth fannish teas: https://www.teaandabsinthe.com/
Copper Cow Coffee: https://coppercowcoffee.com/pages/12-days-of-blissmas
Wine subscription: https://www.brightcellars.com/
Puzzles:
https://www.seriouspuzzles.com/
https://www.puzzlewarehouse.com/
https://www.completingthepuzzle.com/
Hunt a Killer: https://www.huntakiller.com/
Book of the Month: https://www.bookofthemonth.com/
Scribbler Box: https://www.goscribbler.com/
Heartbreathings/Sarra Cannons courses: https://heartbreathings.teachable.com/
Writing Mastery Academy: https://www.writingmastery.com/
Manuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com/10-minutes-with-an-expert
Freewrite Traveler: https://getfreewrite.com/
ASUS VivoBook: https://www.asus.com/Laptops/For-Home/Vivobook/
Add Pretty Dead Queens on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57121698-pretty-dead-queens
Add The Ivies on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Buy The Ivies from your favorite book retailer!: https://bit.ly/3mkxyYj
Buy The Stars We Steal from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): https://www.bookdepository.com/Stars-We-Steal-Alexa-Donne/9781328948946?ref=grid-view&qid=1603728315664&sr=1-3
Buy Brightly Burning from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): https://www.bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! https://www.audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16817128.Alexa_Donne
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alexadonne/
Newsletter Sign-Up:
http://alexadonne.com/newsletter/
Website:
http://alexadonne.com/
Wattpad:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon 90D
Mic: Rode VideoMic Pro+
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Magix Movie Edit Pro")
