: Re: Slow openings: What is it about this Neil Gaiman opening that pulls the reader in? I was blogging about opening lines the other day, and looking for examples. I came across the opening to

@Megan928

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I agree, this is a great opening. The first three lines are the sharpest, they prick your interest immediately:

Shadow had done three years in prison. He was big enough, and looked
don't-fuck-with-me enough that his biggest problem was killing time.
So he kept himself in shape, and taught himself coin tricks, and
thought a lot about how much he loved his wife.

Here's why they grip me:

1st Line
• You meet Shadow and he has a cool name. He sounds mysterious.
• It's a punchy sentence. It's simple and intriguing. You know where you are and yet you're not comfortable being there.
• He's in an interesting place.

2nd Line
• Shadow's a bad-ass. But his name is unknowable.
• But we get to look at him. (killing time)
• Shadow is likely to be our vehicle for the story. Q: What do we know about him? A: So far we know he's a big, tough vehicle; likely to be a good ride.
• There's a nice play on him being unable to kill time, but anything living he could probably kill without raising a sweat.

3rd Line
• Good - he's keeping in shape. He's limbering up for the journey he's about to take us on. This revs our engines as well.
• Coin tricks are unusual and fun. They remind us of trickery, of cleverness. They are intricate like a whodunnit. This story is 3 lines in and already we have power and intrigue.
• He has a wife: this shadow has depth. And a weakness. And a soul. He is vulnerable.

Neil Gaiman is a fantastic writer, he is interested in mystery most of all but he has an instinct for people. His characters always have depth and that's why you care about his stories.

For me a story must have: • a believable setting with flesh • characters who live, who you care about • significant events •

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