It’s hard to pinpoint the hardest part about writing a novel, but trying to craft the perfect first line is certainly up there. The first line can grab a reader; it can guide a reader into the novel; it can present tone and voice immediately. And for writers who are querying agents/editors, the first line can be the make-or-break moment for the manuscript.

At Fiction Notes, Darcy Pattison has put together an extensive list of great first lines, broken up by style and type. My favorite tends to be the “Set up.” Examples are from Catcher in the Rye, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and The Great Gatsby. Not bad company!

How do you start your novels, and which are your favorite opening lines?

(via NESCBWI Kidlit Reblogger)