Maryka Biaggio 

I’ve always been impressed by the author who can sweep the reader away with a magical opening sentence. Some may believe the first sentence is nothing more than the first of many other sentences. But writers worry a great deal about their first lines, as they should: A well-written opening can launch the reader out of port into the open sea of story, eager for adventure.

Of course, every sentence should be there for a reason, but the first sentence must accomplish some specific things. It should draw the reader in, perhaps prompt a question or two, and maybe reveal something about the story to come.

Sets the Narrative Tone

Take the opening lines from two of my favorite novels. Sena Jeter Jaslund’s 1999 novel, Ahab’s Wife, tells the story of Una, the wife of Captain Ahab. The Ahab referred to here is the famous captain of Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick, which begins with what is arguably the most famous opening line. Jaslund begins her novel: “Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last.” 

Compare Jaslund’s opening line to that of Moby Dick: “Call me Ishmael.” Although the content of these two lines seems different, their tone is similar. Both narrators speak in direct, open, unpretentious words. For instance, we learn Ishmael’s name immediately. At a time when terms of address were generally formal, Ishmael gives us his first name and tells us to call him by it. He puts us at ease with his informality and invites us to simply relax and hear his story.

Provides Insight About the Character

The narrator of Ahab’s Wife, Una, begins by telling us that Ahab was neither her first nor last husband. She then recounts her life story, which eventually brings the reader back to her childhood. She could have started with her birthplace, which would have been logical, or something about her parents, which would have been revealing. But, instead, she opens with her adult life, and a rather personal aspect of it at that—her marriage not only to Captain Ahab, but to others as well. Una feels no need to ease the reader into some logical point of departure for her life’s tale. She welcomes us to the heart of her story—her marriage, defining as it was, to Captain Ahab. We see that Una was Ahab’s wife, and we know, since she has had a husband since Ahab, that he has found his watery grave. Like Ishmael, Una is direct in her first words, conveying an openness of manner and willingness to reveal intimate aspects of her life.

Draws the Reader into the Story

In both novels, we learn the narrator’s identity immediately, and the tone of the novel is established. While Jaslund and Melville most likely fretted over those first lines, the narrators did not appear to do so. Those first words seem to flow effortlessly from our storytellers’ mouths. They say with authority: Here I am, I have a story, and this is where I’m beginning. But the authors had to choose these points of departure. Thus, these opening lines reveal a paradox of their craft. Because the authors fretted over these beginnings, the narrators can begin their stories with all the comfort of a storyteller settled at the hearth. It’s as if the reader has been invited into a cozy sitting room on a chill winter evening, and a considerable tale is about to be told.

So writers should ask themselves: Does my first line do the job of both enticing and raising questions? And readers should pause and let that first line work its magic.

Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor-turned-novelist who brings forgotten lives back into the light. Specializing in historical fiction inspired by real people, she is celebrated for illuminating overlooked historical figures with psychological depth and narrative grace. Her debut novel, Parlor Games (Doubleday, 2013), launched a distinguished career that includes Eden Waits, The Point of Vanishing,The Model Spy, Gun Girl and the Tall Guy, and Margery and Me (forthcoming from Regal House on April 21, 2026). Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors' Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, a Michigan Upper Peninsula Notable Book Award, and a Publishers Weekly pick. She lives in Portland, Oregon. You can find her at her website.