The Power and Pull of Opening Lines

by Beth K. Vogt, @bethvogt

You’ve probably heard the idiom, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” and know that it means not to decide someone’s worth by their outward appearance.

As writers, we know books are often judged by their covers – and then readers scan the back cover copy, before turning to the opening chapter to read the first few paragraphs, or possibly the first few pages. Books are judged by their covers, their copy, and yes, their opening sentences.

Which brings me to today’s post.

On November 7, nine novelists received Christy Awards, named for author Catherine Marshall’s enduring bestselling novel, Christy, and honoring Christian novels of excellence, imagination, and creativity.

To announce the winner from among the three finalists, the novel’s opening sentence is read aloud. I thought it’d be fun to share the opening lines of this year’s Christy award-winners – and consider the compelling elements. So, without further ado, let’s meet the winners:

  1. “Finding oneself at the mercy of a crazed gunman isn’t all fun and games.” True to You by Becky Wade, Contemporary Romance Christy Award Winner & Book of the Year
  • Brief. To the point. And being at the mercy of a crazed gunman certainly grabs your attention, doesn’t it? Extra points for the bit of humor woven in.
  1. “A sleepy purple twilight wrapped around the farmhouse, its tall windows glowing with warmth from somewhere inside.” Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse, First Novel Christy Award Winner
  • A vivid sense of setting that invites you in to the farmhouse … and in to the story.
  1. “We rarely know when death will come.” Life After by Katie Ganshert, General Fiction Christy Award
  • I’m a huge fan of succinct writing – and Katie Ganshert nails it. She also states a universal truth that haunts each and every one of us.
  1. “My friend Yaira said to be brave—but why? Brave or scared, we kept marching. She told me to be a big girl, to keep marching, but I’m only five, and I’ve seen big men crying.” Isaiah’s Daughter by Mesu Andrews, Historical Christy Award
  • We’ve all heard it said that writing 1st Person Point of View (POV) is hard – but Mesu Andrews pulls her readers into the thoughts of a 5-year-old Israelite girl with a few short sentences.
  1. “Elisabeth took a deep breath, breaking an intense hour of concentration.” The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz, Historical Romance Christy Award
  • Again, succinct. We can assume from the title of the book that Elisabeth is the lacemaker – and that author Laura Franz knows a lot about her, her life, and about lacemaking.
  1. “Death had a way of creeping up on a soul, and Ivy Thorpe was determined that when it visited her, she would not be surprised.” The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Christy Award
  • We don’t want to think about death, but there are those of us who will read about it. And the question is: Will Ivy Thorpe be surprised?
  1. “Christmas or not, there was nothing merry about the twisted alleys of Holywell.” 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep, Short Form Christy Award
  • Ah, this opening line harkens back to Dickens, even as it strikes a chord in the heart of many – if not all – of us, who have faced less than merry Christmases.
  1. “Toren Daniels rolled over in bed and light pierced his closed eyelids, which meant five a.m. had come and gone.”  The Man He Never Was by James Rubart, Visionary Christy Award
  • A sense of setting again, of time – and a bad one – because Toren Daniels is late. And that is never a good thing. There’s tension right from the opening line.
  1. “It was bad enough I had to up and move in the middle of my senior year, but to be the new guy at a high school where eight students had committed suicide since September?” The Delusion: We All Have Our Demons by Laura Gallier, Christy Award for Young Adult
  • I rarely read YA, but I read this opening line … and kept reading. Maybe it’s because our family had to move when my son was a sophomore in high school, and I remember how difficult that was. Maybe it’s because my town has struggled with students committing suicide. Opening lines = real life.

So, what did you think of these opening lines? What are some of your favorite opening lines?


Things I Never Told You by Beth K. Vogt

It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine—as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.

But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future. As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.

Includes discussion questions.

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Beth’s first women’s fiction novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, releases May 2018. Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *