The First 100 Words

by Stephen Parrish

The first 100 words of your manuscript are as important as all the words that follow. They comprise a first impression. They set the tone and introduce your writing style. If poorly chosen, they may be the only words an editor reads. The purpose of The First 100 Words is to share one editorial staff’s insights into that narrow literary domain, to chart the pitfalls and headlong plunges that inspire frontline readers to reject manuscripts, often without bothering to finish them.

Genres: Nonfiction

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2020

About the author

Stephen Parrish is the author of The Tavernier Stones, a #1 Amazon mystery, and other novels. His short work has appeared in The Austin Review, Boston Literary Magazine, The Good Men Project, the MacGuffin, Sixfold, and elsewhere, and has been read in public by Liars’ League, Lit Crawl, and other venues. He is editor of The Lascaux Review.

Reviews

[Debbie Robson]

The First 100 Words is a funny but very helpful guide to write the best first 100 words of your manuscript. If it’s a micro then obviously the best you can do with that piece. Stephen Parrish is the editor of The Lascaux Review and draws on the first 100 words of some very experienced writers and also from anonymous submissions to the magazine.
Here’s a breakdown of the chapters to give you an idea:

Before We Start
Give Us Reason to Care
Show, Don’t Tell
Provide Appropriate Detail
Get to the Point
Master Your Craft
Act Professionally
Follow the Instructions
The First 100 Words of the Bio
Bonus Stuff
Wrapping Up

With quotes from books such as The Canterville Ghost and this comment about the opening words from that book you know you are in for a fun read:

“Poor thing! Of course, her life could be much worse, but the protagonist could be any of us, because at some time or another, we all feel sorry for ourselves. Note it’s insufficient merely to list a character’s issues; we need something specific to pity. The wonderful detail that concludes this 61-word opening, in contrast to the generalities preceding it, is that she didn’t just marry a clerk, she married one at the Ministry of Public Instruction, of all places. Her life is over.”

There are also, as mentioned, examples of openings that don’t get the job done and in a strange way I think these are often more helpful as you have to work out why they don’t. And sometimes it’s not that obvious but, don’t worry, Parrish will break it down. A very useful guide.

[B.R. Carroll]

Even before I started learning to be a writer, I'd always skimmed the first few paragraphs of a book before I decided to buy/read it. This usually consists of the first 100 words (give or take), I just didn't quite think of it that way before. All I knew was I hate a slow/boring opener.

I'm even more picky about what I find now. I wish more writers would open with something interesting. Even with in a less than action packed genre story, you can open with something that draws the reader in.

This book is good stuff. Offers plenty of examples, tips and exercises. I enjoyed it, made lots of notes for myself and would definitely recommend it to all my writerly friends.

[Joseph Carrabis]

I've written previously about my quest to learn what works and what doesn't re what editors and publishers choose v what they reject. Parrish's The First 100 words is the closest yet.
This gem is must reading for any authors, wannabes, and students of writing. Probably because I agree with 99% of it (I question some of the examples).
First, it's a guidebook to getting past editors' and publishers' bullsh?t meter. I stress getting the opening correct when talking with writers and few get the message. Read this book and if you still don't get the message, get out of the game.
Second, I learned from it (sometimes painfully). Some of Parrish's suggestions caught me in an "Oy. I do that" and I had to ballup to my own inadequacies. Never fun, always necessary, definitely joyful when I realize the lesson's stuck.
Third, I earmarked and highlighted the book to death. I haven't commented on a writing guide in quite a while and this one is definitely worthy.
Give it a read if you're an author, writer, wannabe, writing student, and learn!
I've written more on my blog.

Update 31 May 2024:
I reviewed The First 100 Words a while back and mentioned then it was going on my shelf as a steady reference.
I had the pleasure (definite, unquestionable pleasure) of rereading it and pulling even more gems. Some things from the previous read stuck and are active in my writing now. Some didn't and now I must go back to my most recent tomb and edit again before its release. Some didn't get noticed on my first read and are now part of my editorial/creation canon.
All of which means I'll be reading it again.
And again and again and again.