Kris Spisak
Author, Editor, Speaker
  • Bio
    • Media
  • Books
    • Get a Grip on Your Grammar
    • The Novel Editing Workbook
    • Reviews
  • Services
    • Fiction Editing
    • Ghostwriting
    • Corporate Editing
    • Client Reviews
  • Speaking
    • Scheduled Events
    • Favorite Workshops & Presentations
    • Grammartopia
  • Blog
    • Writing Tips
    • Video Writing Tips
    • Etymology & Trivia
    • Author Interviews
  • Podcast
  • Contact
Kris Spisak
Fiction, First Lines

That ever-important first line

“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages will show.”

Coming up with that first line – the line that defines you and sets the tone for all musings and imaginings to come, the line that grabs the readers attention like a blast of cold, January air, the line that can be the source of sleepless nights and tossing and turning and annoyed husbands because of the aforementioned tossing and turning – can be difficult.

Therefore, I’m borrowing from Dickens in this first blog. I’m hoping he won’t mind. It just seems such a fitting beginning. Kudos to Charles for that! I just wonder how many insomniatic evenings were the source of it.

For those that don’t know me, welcome to my new blog. For others, feel free to follow my old blog, but nothing new will be added there; so I suppose it would be a rather dull pastime.

Happy reading and writing everyone!

Hey Richmond! Go to the movies!
Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”
Word Choice, Writing Tips

Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”

Writing Tip 392: “Sick” vs. “Sic” (or “Sick ‘Em” vs. “Sic ‘Em”)
Spelling, Word Choice, Writing Tips

Writing Tip 392: “Sick” vs. “Sic” (or “Sick ‘Em” vs. “Sic ‘Em”)

Writing Tip 389: “Line up” vs. “Lineup” vs. “Line-up”
Spelling, Word Choice, Writing Tips

Writing Tip 389: “Line up” vs. “Lineup” vs. “Line-up”

Buy Yours Today!

Get a Grip on Your Grammar-Writing and Editing Reminders

Available on









Free Download:
25 Business Writing Redundancies
Free Download:
25 Fiction Writing Redundancies

Recent Podcasts

  • S3: E6 – Why “Soccer” instead of “Football,” Americans? Seriously, why?
  • S3: E5 – Where Do We Get the Word “Hipster”?
  • S3: E4 – The Origin of “Silhouette” & How Do You Spell “Piecemeal” (“Peacemeal”? “Piecemail”?) Anyway?
  • S3: E3 – The origin of “compete” and “boycott” & is “lineup” / “line up” one or two words anyway?
  • S3: E2 – “Bragging rights” (or “rites”)? “Rites (or “rights”) of passage”? And what’s the story about “braggadocio”?

Recent Posts

  • Writing Tip 395: “Daylight Savings Time” or “Daylight Saving Time”?
  • Writing Tip 394: “Succession” vs. “Secession” (& “Secede” vs. “Succeed”)
  • Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”
  • Writing Tip 392: “Sick” vs. “Sic” (or “Sick ‘Em” vs. “Sic ‘Em”)
  • Writing Tip 391: “Manila” vs. “Vanilla” Folders
© Kris Spisak 2019 | Privacy Policy
Website created by MIDLOTHIAN WEB SOLUTIONS