sinkwriter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sinkwriter) wrote2008-09-03 11:01 am
sinkwriter) wrote2008-09-03 11:01 am
First Lines
I'm not sure I've ever responded to a meme before, here on LJ. However, this one, as mentioned by the lovely and talented ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lostakasha, seemed potentially fun and enlightening.
Simply list the first lines of each story you've written.
(Edited comment. Or, apparently it's this: Post the first lines from your 25 most recent stories. Do you notice any patterns?)
I've found it's interesting to see the variety of approaches people take when starting off their stories. Does that first line grab the reader immediately? Make you think? Make you pause? Make you laugh? Make you want to read more?
I'm not sure mine are anything particularly earth-shattering in any of those categories, but it was a cool exercise to dig them up and see how I began each piece. I liked the one that began with dialogue, and I was especially amused by the one that started with just one word.
Anyway, my 'first lines' list is short and sweet, because I haven't written that many stories. Which gives me another nudge to make more time for it!
Apparently, brevity is my middle name. Though I do seem to follow up these short sentences with something meatier and more descriptive almost immediately afterward.
From my West Wing stories:
Snowfall ~ He returned to the White House in silence.
Stormy Weather ~ Sometimes you need to step out of the rain.
Say My Name ~ I've heard him say my name hundreds of times.
Scenes From Hell ~ It had been a good night.
Words, words, words... ~ "What are you doing here, CJ?"
From my X-Files stories (well, there's only one):
A Winter's Night ~ Crunch.
Ironically, the story I happen to think contains some of my best writing (Scenes From Hell) seems to have the most bland opening. In my defense, that line has a purpose. But one hopes you'll see that when I finish editing the beast and post it here at long last.
Regardless, it's an intriguing exercise, isn't it? Makes me wonder how some of my favorite authors measure up, with their published novels and opening lines. Hmm.
So, all you fabulous writers out there, what are some of your first lines? :)
Quick P.S. tobardsmaid, who is lovely and talented in her own right: if you get the chance to try this, I think your 'first lines' list would be fascinating! Can you imagine? Makes me want to go to your Web site right now and start looking at all the different ways you started your wonderful stories. I may go do that. *GRIN*
Another quick P.S., this time tolostakasha: After reading your post with all your AtS listings, this morning out of curiosity I glanced through some of your Bones fic opening lines. Gorgeous stuff. I think my favorite is from The Kindness of Strangers: "As a child, I was work." Simple and straight to the point. Immediately makes me want to know more about this narrator, and why he thinks he was so much 'work.' Was he truly a challenge? Or did his mother or father make him feel that way? And what is he like today? There are other first lines of yours that I really like too, but that one was the most immediately thought-provoking. (Though I do think that the opening line to Lilly and the Jack of Hearts has one of the prettiest images, with those drifting cherry blossoms. Lovely.)
lostakasha, seemed potentially fun and enlightening.Simply list the first lines of each story you've written.
(Edited comment. Or, apparently it's this: Post the first lines from your 25 most recent stories. Do you notice any patterns?)
I've found it's interesting to see the variety of approaches people take when starting off their stories. Does that first line grab the reader immediately? Make you think? Make you pause? Make you laugh? Make you want to read more?
I'm not sure mine are anything particularly earth-shattering in any of those categories, but it was a cool exercise to dig them up and see how I began each piece. I liked the one that began with dialogue, and I was especially amused by the one that started with just one word.
Anyway, my 'first lines' list is short and sweet, because I haven't written that many stories. Which gives me another nudge to make more time for it!
Apparently, brevity is my middle name. Though I do seem to follow up these short sentences with something meatier and more descriptive almost immediately afterward.
From my West Wing stories:
Snowfall ~ He returned to the White House in silence.
Stormy Weather ~ Sometimes you need to step out of the rain.
Say My Name ~ I've heard him say my name hundreds of times.
Scenes From Hell ~ It had been a good night.
Words, words, words... ~ "What are you doing here, CJ?"
From my X-Files stories (well, there's only one):
A Winter's Night ~ Crunch.
Ironically, the story I happen to think contains some of my best writing (Scenes From Hell) seems to have the most bland opening. In my defense, that line has a purpose. But one hopes you'll see that when I finish editing the beast and post it here at long last.
Regardless, it's an intriguing exercise, isn't it? Makes me wonder how some of my favorite authors measure up, with their published novels and opening lines. Hmm.
So, all you fabulous writers out there, what are some of your first lines? :)
Quick P.S. to
bardsmaid, who is lovely and talented in her own right: if you get the chance to try this, I think your 'first lines' list would be fascinating! Can you imagine? Makes me want to go to your Web site right now and start looking at all the different ways you started your wonderful stories. I may go do that. *GRIN*Another quick P.S., this time to
lostakasha: After reading your post with all your AtS listings, this morning out of curiosity I glanced through some of your Bones fic opening lines. Gorgeous stuff. I think my favorite is from The Kindness of Strangers: "As a child, I was work." Simple and straight to the point. Immediately makes me want to know more about this narrator, and why he thinks he was so much 'work.' Was he truly a challenge? Or did his mother or father make him feel that way? And what is he like today? There are other first lines of yours that I really like too, but that one was the most immediately thought-provoking. (Though I do think that the opening line to Lilly and the Jack of Hearts has one of the prettiest images, with those drifting cherry blossoms. Lovely.)
no subject
And this whole cottage idea (and me in it rather than Aaron/Jenny) has turned out to be exactly what is needed, because it's so easy to get sucked into other activities in the house these days that it would be hard to have that quiet headspace needed for work or writing. So this is my quiet spot.
I'll try to mail you soon, but I need to hit the sack now, after a brief cruise past my usual sites since this is the first time I've had my computer on since yesterday. Imagine that!
no subject
So glad to hear you've moved in and are getting comfortable. It does sound like the ideal place to separate from the group and find some -- dare I say -- personal sanctuary. (Heh... couldn't help myself, sorry.)
:D
Yes, please write soon! I want to hear all about what's been happening with you and the house and the cottage and the expanded family unit, as well as what else you've been up to. And I certainly would love to know if you're starting to settle in enough to start writing again, because that would be marvelous.
So happy to hear from you.