How would you start off a story?

[Catherine.L]

What would (hypothetically) be the beginning of your story?

[YesNo]

I'd try to make it a mini story that could stand by itself. For example, John Gardner's "October Light" has a first chapter which is a story in itself. An old man, James Page, fires a shotgun at their TV while his sister is watching her favorite program. The last chapter of that book is also nice.

[Tyrion Cheddar]

Well, the key is, of course, a great opening line. Why not "It was a dorky night and I'd completely run out of lickspittles..." or "Jack Pratt was not one to retreat from danger, nor to retire before applying petroleum jelly."

[prendrelemick]

Just read some writing advice on twitter;- "Just begin! Don't plan, or think, or outline, begin. Get something down on paper, it doesn't have to be good, start in the middle, or at the end, anywhere, anything. If its nonsense - dont worry, take up a pen and write something. Just begin.

Soo, "I was born in 1958".

(I'll do a rewrite later.)

[Whifflingpin]

"The cell door slammed behind Rubashov."

"A donkey brayed."

"Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs, starr'd the Sides of Outbuildings, as of Cousins, carried Hats away into the brisk wind of Delaware, --"

"I was set down from the carrier's cart at the age of three; and there with a sense of bewilderment and terror my life in the village began."

"George is my name, my deeds have been heard of in Tower Hall, and my childhood has been chronicled in the Journal of Experimental Psychology."

So began five twentieth century masterpieces, picked at random (almost) off my bookshelves.

[Ecurb]

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."

I also like Kinglsey Amis's advice to budding novelists: "Never mention clouds."

[YesNo]

Well, the key is, of course, a great opening line. Why not "It was a dorky night and I'd completely run out of lickspittles..." or "Jack Pratt was not one to retreat from danger, nor to retire before applying petroleum jelly."

I see. Just one sentence, not a whole chapter. All those you mention should work as long as the next sentences were just as good.

How about this:


That's the problem with opening sentences: the next sentences have to be just as good.

Now that should mess readers' minds enough to make them want to read the next sentences. Or maybe not.

[Emil Miller]

1. The unearthly wailing of sirens and the drone of aircraft, followed by gunfire and the roar of exploding bombs, were the first sounds he could remember.

2. Professor Schwieger waited for the light to turn green before crossing the road and entering the Jagdhütte restaurant that had been a favourite of his for many years.

3. A mist was beginning to settle on the heath, and Helga stood at the window in the fading light, watching it hang like a shroud over the dying bracken.

[North Star]

Hold on for just a second, dear reader, and let me get a brandy before we start.

[Catherine.L]

Hold on for just a second, dear reader, and let me get a brandy before we start.

or
Hold on for just a second, dear reader, and let me get YOU a brandy before we start.
hahha
I think the reader will need a drink more than the writer!

[MANICHAEAN]

Dark. It was so dark that it belied all the senses any legionnaire was capable of.

[MANICHAEAN]

"My leg has just been blown off" said Melchett.

"By Jove sir, your right," replied the Duke of Wellington, and cantered off.

[MANICHAEAN]

The vodka in front of him, seemed to purr, which in itself was a salient indication of his degree of intoxication and confusion with verbs of an appropriate nature.

[Whifflingpin]

"Idiot, it was my left leg," muttered Melchett

[prendrelemick]

What happened to Melchett's horse? - See I'm already hooked.

[Lokasenna]

I've always loved the opening line of Bierce's An Imperfect Conflagration:


Early one June morning in 1872 I murdered my father—an act which made a deep impression on me at the time.

I'm not particularly great at opening lines: most of mine are fairly generic.

[MANICHAEAN]

Not exactly a trend as such, but being given three apparently unrelated scenarios i.e

1. A legionnaire in the dark.
2. A scene from the Battle of Waterloo.
3. Perceptions of a lush at a bar.

The grand total of two replies gravitated towards number 2.
Best seller authors kindly note.

[MANICHAEAN]

At this juncture it is absolutely essential to determine the feelings of our participants; positioned as they were just north-north-east of the Hougoumont farm house, on this hot Sunday afternoon in June 1815.

Melchett was miffed at having his leg shattered by grapeshot, the Duke more concerned at the biffing his troops were exposed to, while the horse had already attained an attitude of discomfort, perhaps more adequately summed up in human terms as " Bugger this for a game of soldier boys!"