Back-click triggers

[Guest]

Hey!

I've only used the sentence, "Fuu-uck me-ee Al-ex!" a couple of times.

Sorry about that hyphenation.



(If you haven't seen Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke - shame on you!)

 

[Kassiana]

Hey!

I've only used the sentence, "Fuu-uck me-ee Al-ex!" a couple of times.

Sorry about that hyphenation.



(If you haven't seen Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke - shame on you!)

Bit-Ch.

Now, admit your real name is Diane. Admit it! Confess, or we bring out the soft pillows or even ... The Comfy Chair!

 

[Guest]

Any story which includes a character called Horace.

 

[Guest]

Bit-Ch.

Now, admit your real name is Diane. Admit it! Confess, or we bring out the soft pillows or even ... The Comfy Chair!

Mmmm.

I'll confess to anything, baby, as long as you bring out the Comfy Chair!

 

[Kassiana]

Mmmm.

I'll confess to anything, baby, as long as you bring out the Comfy Chair!

Well, not if you're one of those BDSM pervs who LIKES the Comfy Chair. You'd probably like the Beautiful Bed as well, and the Delicious Chocolate. ::snorts::

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, if they've never seen Monty Python.

 

[Guest]

Well, not if you're one of those BDSM pervs who LIKES the Comfy Chair. You'd probably like the Beautiful Bed as well, and the Delicious Chocolate. ::snorts::

Well, as long as the chocolate-eating is possible with my cuffs.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, if they've never seen Monty Python.

Not if your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries.

 

[TheEarl]

Not if your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries.

Now go away, or I shall taunt you for a second time!

The Earl

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I'm probably alone in this, and I might offend a lot of writers, but I shudder everytime I look at a story that opens with a quote, such as

"Men!" Carly snapped as she slammed her books down on the counter.

or

"Hey Jill! Wait up!" It was Joe, the class clown, and he was headed her way.

I don't know what it is about this kind of 'dramatic' opening that just rankles me, but it does. It just seems gimmicky and trite, and because it always follows a formula, you know what's going to happen next: (1) the opening quote as 'hook', (2) a bit of back story, and then, finally, (3) the story proper.

The Quote Opening is associated in my mind with a certain type of mediocre literature, the kind of "stories for boys" I used to read in grammar school.

"Drop that gun, Bart!" the sherriff snarled.

I don't think I've ever seen a really good author using it, although I think it's a tenet of the creative writing class where they try to get you to open the story with some action.

Actually, the action-packed opening--where they drop you into the middle of some shitstorm without warning--was new back in the 20's as a reaction against the slow blatherings of authors like Bullwer-Lytton and Dickens, who took forever to get going. It's since become kind of common and trite. Stories that open in the midst of some hot and heavy action--a space ship in trouble, a gun fight--make me wince. It's just become cliche.

Alarms blared as Captain Rex Strongo viewed the damage to C deck.

A good opening sentence is worth its weight in gold, of course, and the best ones have a kind of poetry and grace that usher you into the story like a doorman. They don't always come along though and so we do what we can. But for me at least, the quote opening is often a sign to get out of there.

 

[Guest]

Now go away, or I shall taunt you for a second time!

The Earl

~ ~

 

[Guest]

I'm probably alone in this, and I might offend a lot of writers, but I shudder everytime I look at a story that opens with a quote, such as

"Men!" Carly snapped as she slammed her books down on the counter.

or

"Hey Jill! Wait up!" It was Joe, the class clown, and he was headed her way.

I don't know what it is about this kind of 'dramatic' opening that just rankles me, but it does. It just seems gimmicky and trite, and I know what's going to happen next, because it always follows a formula: (1) the opening conversational 'hook', (2) a bit of back story, and then (3) the story proper.

The Quote Opening is associated in my mind with a certain type of mediocre literature, the kind of "stories for boys" I used to read in grammar school.

"Drop that gun, Bart!" the sherriff snarled.

I don't think I've ever seen a really good author using it, a;though I think it's a tenet of the creative writing class where they try to get you to open the story with some action.

In fact, the action-packed opening was new back in the 20's as a reaction against the slsow blatherings of authors like Bullwer-Lytton and Dickens, but it's since become kind of common and trite. Stories that open in the midst of some hot and heavy action--a space ship in trouble, a gun fight--make me wince. It's just become cliche.

A good opening sentence is worth its weight in gold, of course, and it doesn't always come along. But for me at least, the quote opening is often a sign to get out of there.

Excellent point. I think I need to check my earlier stories. Or my latest. Ouch.

Way to bring the thread back on topic and deflate egos all about the AH at the same time Dr. Doom - er, I mean Zoot.

 

[TheEarl]

I'm currently rewriting the rewrite of the first chapter of my novel actually because it's all moving far too staidly. There's too much background and not enough action.

Humpf. Kill my babies.

The Earl

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Any story which includes a character called Horace.

*L* I thought you said "a character named Horseface and I was thinking, "God! What a great name for a character!" and was getting all jealous.

Oops.... Sorry Shango.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Excellent point. I think I need to check my earlier stories. Or my latest. Ouch.

Way to bring the thread back on topic and deflate egos all about the AH at the same time Dr. Doom - er, I mean Zoot.

Hey, I've got my share of quote openings and mirror scenes. I think I even have a quote opening while someone's looking in the mirror.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" I said to myself as I looked in the mirror, noticing that my 12" penis looked ten years younger than he really was.

 

[cloudy]

I'm probably alone in this, and I might offend a lot of writers, but I shudder everytime I look at a story that opens with a quote, such as

"Men!" Carly snapped as she slammed her books down on the counter.

or

"Hey Jill! Wait up!" It was Joe, the class clown, and he was headed her way.

I don't know what it is about this kind of 'dramatic' opening that just rankles me, but it does. It just seems gimmicky and trite, and because it always follows a formula, you know what's going to happen next: (1) the opening quote as 'hook', (2) a bit of back story, and then, finally, (3) the story proper.

My halloween story starts with a quote, but in my defense, there's absolutely no back story after that. It's straight on from there.

I can see your point, but I think it can work if it's not done strictly for effect. For that particular story, that's where it started.

 

[TheEarl]

Hey, I've got my share of quote openings and mirror scenes. I think I even have a quote opening while someone's looking in the mirror.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" I said to myself as I looked in the mirror, noticing that my 12" penis looked ten years younger than he really was.

<snorts>

You forgot to say that they worked out!

The Earl

 

[Kassiana]

"Wow, my muskles so big!" I look in the mirror... And see my 8pak stick out over my hug cock.

"Hun u so rite" She came and touch my 18" inch meat stick. With her hands! but soon her tits

 

[rgraham666]

"Wow, my muskles so big!" I look in the mirror... And see my 8pak stick out over my hug cock.

"Hun u so rite" She came and touch my 18" inch meat stick. With her hands! but soon her tits

Stop! I'll talk! No more!

 

[Guest]

Hey, I've got my share of quote openings and mirror scenes. I think I even have a quote opening while someone's looking in the mirror.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" I said to myself as I looked in the mirror, noticing that my 12" penis looked ten years younger than he really was.

Laughing -

Oh, my! I'm glad I didn't see this post this morning, Zoot - I never would have made it to work!

 

[Guest]

"Wow, my muskles so big!" I look in the mirror... And see my 8pak stick out over my hug cock.

"Hun u so rite" She came and touch my 18" inch meat stick. With her hands! but soon her tits

Is this the return of Durt Girl?

 

[BlackShanglan]

The Quote Opening is associated in my mind with a certain type of mediocre literature, the kind of "stories for boys" I used to read in grammar school.

(...)

A good opening sentence is worth its weight in gold, of course, and the best ones have a kind of poetry and grace that usher you into the story like a doorman. They don't always come along though and so we do what we can. But for me at least, the quote opening is often a sign to get out of there.

Yes. There are no easy answers. "Start with action" sounds like a good rule, and it is - if you can't pull off non-action gracefully. But in the end, you become mechanical. There's no easy solution to learning to handle the language lightly and make your opening enticing regardless of its content. There is no perfect opening sentence for any and every work; even if there was, it could be used once and then it would be dull and unoriginal.

I once read a book by Raymond Feist in which he apparently insisted on starting every chapter with a two-word sentence. "He bowed." "Arutha stopped." Whatever. It was intensely annoying after about three chapters and read like a parody of himself. Ugh.

*L* I thought you said "a character named Horseface and I was thinking, "God! What a great name for a character!" and was getting all jealous.

Oops.... Sorry Shango.

I think it's a brilliant name for a character. Instantly evokes someone suave, charming, attractive, brave, intelligent, strong, witty, cultured ...

Shanglan

 

[Guest]

(Horseface) I think it's a brilliant name for a character. Instantly evokes someone suave, charming, attractive, brave, intelligent, strong, witty, cultured ...

. . . depressed?


As in, why the long face?

 

[Guest]

You

I don't care for second person narration in literature. I will back click if I see an author telling me what I am doing and how I should feel it.

 

[stormkitty]

. . . depressed?


As in, why the long face?

Drat! Beat me to it!

But it would be so tempting to reach out and pet his nose.

 

[TheEarl]

Is this the return of Durt Girl?

It's like the Dalai Lama passing down through the generations. I think we have identified the latest incarnation of Durt Gurl!

Kass: <laughs unroariously>

The Earl

 

[Guest]

Drat! Beat me to it!

But it would be so tempting to reach out and pet his nose.

~ ~