In the beginning was the opening line

You can write as much as you like but the reader decides when he or she will stop reading.

A really good opener not only engages but also teases to keep the interest going. Yet I’ve seldom seen any documented advice on how to make a good job of the opener. So, by way of a blog item that may generate some ideas on this vital element, and to start a thread on writing, here is a useful link: .

And, despite the title, this is useful for much more than stories.