Beginnings

[Svenskaflicka]

I found this interesting exercise for writers. Maybe it can get you going?

ometimes our writing needs a jump start. Borrowing a beginning from another writer, a poem, an overheard phrase, can be just the inspiration to take us past our reluctance and onto the page. Another nice aspect about borrowing from another writer is that it forces you to begin in the middle of a story. Here are a few beginnings to get you started:

As I walked into the darkened room, I sensed that something was different.

When the phone rang at two in the morning, I knew ____________

Ever since ______ died, I've gotten into the strangest habits.

Last night I had that dream again, the one I told you about last time.

If I looked like Jolene, I swear, I'd ____________________

Since nobody will believe me anyway, I might as well tell my version of the story.

Frank is the kind of man who makes women __________________


I know that rumors are flying all over town. They're probably saying that I ___________________________


Although my mama taught me better, after _________ left, I _____

My family never talks about the night that ____________________


A long time ago, before I had breasts, sense, and ____________, I ____________________

The smell of __________ always reminds me of _______________

That old Billie Holiday song was playing, mournful in the background, and once again, she was reminded _________________

Her house was filled with ornate antiques, smelled faintly of roses and made me wish I was anywhere else, not sitting in that spotless living room, searching for something to say.


I cried, then I cried some more, but no tears or words could bring back _____________________

Everything I own couldn't raise eighty dollars at a garage sale, but still _______________

Alicia was blonde, demure and dimpled. I hated her with a loathing that I didn't dare admit to another soul.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Whoever put that together sure was strong on first person.

But seriously folks, how can any list of beginnings not include, "It was a dark and stormy night?"

Rumple Foreskin

 

[cookiejar]

Whoever put that together sure was strong on first person.

But seriously folks, how can any list of beginnings not include, "It was a dark and stormy night?"

Rumple Foreskin

I like Once upon a time myself...

 

[Svenskaflicka]

LOL

I think TP made the best beginning ever in Wyrd Sisters:

As the cauldron bubbled an eldritch voice shrieked: "When shall we three meet again?"
There was a pause.
Finally another voice said, in far mroe ordinary tones: "Well, I can do next Tuesday."

 

[Guest]

5 great beginnings--

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, ..."

"All happy families are alike but an unhappy family is unhappy after its own fashion."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

"Call me Ishmael."

"Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo."

edited to add a 5th (a fave)

 

[gauchecritic]

As I walked into the darkened room, I sensed that something was different.

The curtains were drawn, everything else was real.

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Gauche, please tell from where your examples come. I love the second.

Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Re: 5 great beginnings--

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, ..."

"He has a Whiskey drink, he has a Vodka drink, he has a cider drink...

I get knocked down! But I get up again! You're never gonna keep me down..."

 

[Dirt Man]

He was a whiskey shy of being sober...

 

[Colleen Thomas]

There was thunder in the air that terrible night...

-Colly

 

[dee1124]

"Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
----
It was about eleven o'clock in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the foothills.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

In the beginning was the Word...

 

[oggbashan]

Arma virumque cano (Virgil - Aeneid)

Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres (Julius Caesar - Conquest of Gaul)

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden.
(Milton - Paradise Lost)

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. (Orwell - 1984)

I was riding my waler through the native quarter. (Og - Harold in India)

Og

 

[sanchopanza]

When child of morn, rosy fingered Dawn appeared . . .

Once upon a time, and a very good time it was . . .

 

[lewdandlicentious]

How about:


"The last man on earth sat alone in a room.

There was a knock on the door....................."

 

[Svenskaflicka]

AND - from the Book of all books:

"The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive."

 

[gauchecritic]

AND - from the Book of all books:

"The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive."

So even J K herself isn't averse to 'borrowing'. Change the place name, add some poetic prose and long words and you have the opening to 'Return Of The Native'.

Hmm. Eh. Eh?

Gauche

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Change the place names and the words, and it's almost the same..?

Seriously, one of the strengths of JKR is the fact that she has borrowed from many different sources. Her books are full of details and inspiration from ancient myths and legends and historical facts. Reading the stories behind the stories is fascinating.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

You folks can call in the dogs and piss on the fire, 'cause the hunt's over. For while Perdita's list was strong, I now present, the ultimate, the most famous of all opening lines.

YOU ARE IN AN OPEN FIELD WEST OF A BIG WHITE HOUSE WITH A BOARDED FRONT DOOR. THERE IS A SMALL MAILBOX HERE.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Guest]

Gauche, I must start a file. I love that you regularly bring up The Return of the Native.

"A Saturday afternoon in November was approaching the time of twilight, and the vast tract of unenclosed wild known as Egdon Heaath embrowned itself moment by moment."

Perdita Vye

 

[Black Tulip]

I like Once upon a time myself...

Damn, you beat me to it.

 

[gauchecritic]

Possibly the most intriguing first line I've read here on Lit. is by B.Keeney:

“You fucked yourself with Paul’s award?!”

Gauche

P.S to Svenska, see the similarity between JK and Hardy?

 

[Guest]

Once upon a time, and a very good time it was . . .

Hey, Sanch, welcome back. I quoted the full line above, love it.

How about:

rivverrun past Eve and Adam's...

Perdita

 

[Guest]

Gauche and Flicka,

I'd say Rowling did very well by Hardy. I'm impressed. She kept it in 'her' time but also in the original sentence's mood and structure. Very good. Maybe I'll try HP again.

Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Possibly the most intriguing first line I've read here on Lit. is by B.Keeney:

“You fucked yourself with Paul’s award?!”

Gauche

P.S to Svenska, see the similarity between JK and Hardy?

Laurel Hardy?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with them foreign celebrities.