4 ms·
Received editorial wisdom these days is that you have at most 100 words to capture the reader's attention (and by "capture" I mean "drag it into the back of you
by cstross 4y ago
Received editorial wisdom these days is that you have at most 100 words to capture the reader's attention (and by "capture" I mean "drag it into the back of your serial killer van, sedate it, hog-tie it, then re-enact that classic scene from A Clockwork Orange -- only in prose") or they'll put the book down and never look at it again.
FYI, a typical page in a paperback novel contains 300-400 words: the preceding paragraph/sentence is 61 words long (per wc(1)).
So starting with a bang is mandatory, if you want to get paid to write for a living.
Welcome to the short attention span society!
- gwd 4y ago> Received editorial wisdom these days is that you have at most 100 words to capture the reader's attention What's weird about this is how I find Jane Austen's intros catch my attention, although they often have only tangential relation to the actual characters or plot of the book. The first chapter of Persuasion is about a vain, foolish, impoverished baronet whose primary comfort when he's down is to see his own name written in the massive tome of nobility. The main character is barely mentioned until the end of the chapter. But for some reason, I've always found it strangely engaging. Why do I care about this guy? But for some reason, I do -- at least, I'm hooked long enough to get to the actually interesting characters.
- arethuza 4y ago"So starting with a bang is mandatory" Maybe that explains two of my favourite opening lines that both include things blowing up: "It was the day my grandmother exploded" and "The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason."