OPENING LINES

Nothing is more frightening than a blinking cursor on a blank page. Well, there is the blinking cursor 40,000 words in and you don’t know what happens next. But that is a special kind of terror.

I’m talking about the first page, where do I start, hurdle. Heck, the first line could be the difference between “interesting” and “HACK!” I’m in good company with struggling to begin. Unless inspired and writing in a fervor, most writers approach the starting line carefully, and with a large gulp.

That first line can catch the readers attention or set the town for the whole story – hopefully both. So to procrastinate starting (editor wants me to wait for the decision on the current mss) I looked back on the first lines of my stories:

JUST ONE SPARK - Scanning the line for the third time, Hannah crossed her legs tighter and tried to concentrate.
BREAKING HIS RULES – That’s what you get for opening you big mouth, David Strong said to himself as he pulled his baby blue Corvette Stingray in front of Working It Out.
STRIPPED - “I need to see it.” Kelly Nielson took a deep breath, hoping her voice didn’t shake.
THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE - Ben Cannon knew better than to take a midweek flight into North Bend.
IF YOU SAY SO - Tyler McNally’s heart stalled in his chest.
FOR KICKS - “You need to put some clothes on.”
COME FOR DINNER - The gunmetal gray sky outside his office window mocked him.

Reading friends – which do you prefer?
Writing friends – I showed you mine, now you show me yours :)