See when I think of beginnings I just think of "lets start at the very beginning..."
I'm going to try and stick to the point from now on!
What are some first lines to novels/stories/fanfic that you like? Oo! There's a book called "Le bonheur des ogres" (the happiness of ogres) which starts with a description of a Santa's grotto in a shop and ends something like "ah yes, the screams of children as they are forced onto a stranger's knee, the essence of Christmas". The book is very dark and very funny, and I love the way the writer plays with expectations. And of course "The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn't have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.", because it is everything that Urban fantasy is in one sentence.
What are some first lines to novels/stories/fanfic that you remember off the top of your head? It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. I know, I know, me and everyone else!
What's your favorite first line you've written? I've written a lot of drabbles where the first line has to work so hard. I tend to just go into the action straight away. But the fic I wrote for Havemercy that starts with "The city is ringing with the sounds of victory, shouts and bells and the occasional groan from someone who has overindulged in the celebratory wine." is my favourite, just cos its one of the few longer things I've written where I actually put a lot of thought into it!
What's the first line you've spent the most time on? Something that isn't fic actually, and because its a story cobbled together from plot bunnies I've been thinking about since I was about 13, it's the oldest by years! And I still don't really like it...
What's your least favorite first line you've written? "When he had been a little boy Draco Malfoy had run away every time he was brought to Diagon Alley." It's from something that isn't finished and I keep editing away at, but I haven't got round to the beginning yet. Its just a bit dull and the grammar is a bit clunky.
So cutting all the tangents out of this took about half the time again. You're right, it is difficult!
no subject
I'm going to try and stick to the point from now on!
What are some first lines to novels/stories/fanfic that you like? Oo! There's a book called "Le bonheur des ogres" (the happiness of ogres) which starts with a description of a Santa's grotto in a shop and ends something like "ah yes, the screams of children as they are forced onto a stranger's knee, the essence of Christmas". The book is very dark and very funny, and I love the way the writer plays with expectations. And of course "The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn't have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.", because it is everything that Urban fantasy is in one sentence.
What are some first lines to novels/stories/fanfic that you remember off the top of your head? It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
I know, I know, me and everyone else!
What's your favorite first line you've written? I've written a lot of drabbles where the first line has to work so hard. I tend to just go into the action straight away. But the fic I wrote for Havemercy that starts with "The city is ringing with the sounds of victory, shouts and bells and the occasional groan from someone who has overindulged in the celebratory wine." is my favourite, just cos its one of the few longer things I've written where I actually put a lot of thought into it!
What's the first line you've spent the most time on? Something that isn't fic actually, and because its a story cobbled together from plot bunnies I've been thinking about since I was about 13, it's the oldest by years! And I still don't really like it...
What's your least favorite first line you've written? "When he had been a little boy Draco Malfoy had run away every time he was brought to Diagon Alley." It's from something that isn't finished and I keep editing away at, but I haven't got round to the beginning yet. Its just a bit dull and the grammar is a bit clunky.
So cutting all the tangents out of this took about half the time again. You're right, it is difficult!