Episode 34

Chase Replogle

There's No Sentence Like The First Sentence

Writers pay attention to the first sentence. Writing great first sentences is an art worth practicing.
Writers pay attention to the first sentence. Writing great first sentences is an art worth practicing.
00:00 23:02

Show Notes:34. Chase Replogle — There’s No Sentence Like The First Sentence

I’m obsessed with the opening sentences of books. Working on this episode, I stood in front of my bookshelves for over 30 minutes opening book after book to reread the opening lines.

By no means does my interest in the topic mean I have mastered its execution, but for the sake of helping you learn to appreciate the masters, I want to work through some common approaches. It’s not exhaustive but here are six possible ways to approach first sentences.

  1. 1. Surprise!
  2. 2. The Dramatic
  3. 3. A Bit of Philosophy
  4. 4. With Voice
  5. 5. A Story
  6. 6. Detail, Detail, Detail

There are plenty of other ways to begin. What matters most is not that you choose from my list. What matters is that you take the time to make the most of your start.

Be intentional. How can you help a reader connect from the first words? Try different openings. Rearrange paragraphs, moving unexpected things to the front. Add detail. Drop a quote. Surprise your reader.

But more than anything else, I hope I’ve peeked your interest in gathering your own list of best opening sentences. I hope you’ll pay more attention to the opening sentences of the books you love.

Host: Chase Replogle

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  • Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
  • Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
  • People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
  • More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
  • Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
  • We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
  • Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
  • A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
  • I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
  • Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
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Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
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Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
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Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/10
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/10
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/10
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
@thepastorwriter
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•
Follow
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/10
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/10
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
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Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/10
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/10
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/10
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
@thepastorwriter
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Finished up in Paris. Paris is always hard to beat.
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