20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story

20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story 20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story 20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story By Mark Nichol As Glinda the Good Witch says in The Wizard of Oz, â€Å"It’s always best to start at the beginning.† That’s where editors and literary agents generally get going, so perhaps you should, too. Here are some strategies, accompanied by exemplars from literature, for making the first line of your novel or short story stand out so that the reader can’t help but go on to the second and the third and so on to see what else you have to say: 1. Absurd â€Å"‘Take my camel, dear,’ said my Aunt Dot, as she climbed down from this animal on her return from High Mass.† Rose Macaulay, The Towers of Trebizond Are you in the mood for amusement? This opening line makes it clear that farce is in force. 2. Acerbic â€Å"The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at childrens games from the beginning, and will probably do it till the end, which is a nuisance for the few people who grow up.† G. K. Chesterton, The Napoleon of Notting Hill Astute observations accompanied by a implied sigh of disgust are tricky to master, but Chesterton, one of the most multifaceted men of letters, lights the way for you with this sample of the form. 3. Bleak â€Å"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.† William Gibson, Neuromancer Oh, by the way, just in case you missed the forecast? Don’t expect any fluffy bunnies or fragrant blossoms or dulcet giggles to show up in this seminal cyberpunk story. A spot-on metaphor expresses the story’s nihilism, letting you know what you’re in for and lugubriously inviting you in. 4. Confiding â€Å"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.† C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The author of the Chronicles of Narnia no sooner introduces by name a new character in the latest installment than, in just five more words, he succeeds in telling you everything you need to know about him. Well, got that out of the way. 5. Cynical â€Å"Justice? You get justice in the next world, in this world you have the law.† William Gaddis, A Frolic of His Own Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and maybe the bed’s shoved up against the wall, and that attitude is a permanent condition. The stage is set for an unhappy beginning, middle, and ending. 6. Disorienting â€Å"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.† George Orwell, 1984 Ho-hum huh? Orwell’s opening line creates a slight but immediate discordance that sets you up for an unsettling experience. 7. Enigmatic â€Å"Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.† Anne Tyler, Back When We Were Grownups It will not surprise you to learn that the protagonist sets about retracing her steps and striving to correct the error, but after reading this subtle but striking first line, can you resist finding out how she does it? 8. Epigrammatic â€Å"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.† L. P. Hartley, The Go-Between This offbeat observation from Hartley’s novel of painful reminiscence is a blindsidingly original statement that one will feel compelled to read about just how the writer acquired this wisdom. 9. Expository â€Å"In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. We lived at the junction of great trout rivers in Montana, and our father was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us about Christ’s disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen, and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman.† Norman McLean, A River Runs Through It By the end of this paragraph, you already know a great deal about the narrator’s family (especially the father) but thanks to the introduction, as clear as a snow-fed mountain river, you want to know more. 10. Foreboding â€Å"I have never begun a novel with more misgiving.† W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor’s Edge The author is a bit intrusive here, true enough, but it is kind of him to let us know that we’re in for a bit of unpleasantness. But if he can express such profound reluctance, it must be quite a story. 11. Gritty â€Å"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands’ necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.† Raymond Chandler, Red Wind Chandler, the master of hard-bitten crime noir, makes it obvious that this story is not going to end well. You can almost hear the smoky, whiskey-soured, world-weary narration in your head. And this quote comes from one of Chandler’s half-forgotten short stories. 12. Inviting â€Å"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.† Charles Dickens, David Copperfield Dickens extends his arm toward the passageway within, welcoming you to enter what promises to be an entertaining story. 13. Picaresque â€Å"In the last years of the Seventeenth Century there was to be found among the fops and fools of the London coffee-houses one rangy, gangling flitch called Ebenezer Cooke, more ambitious than talented, and yet more talented than prudent, who, like his friends-in-folly, all of whom were supposed to be educating at Oxford or Cambridge, had found the sound of Mother English more fun to game with than her sense to labor over, and so rather than applying himself to the pains of scholarship, had learned the knack of versifying, and ground out quires of couplets after the fashion of the day, afroth with Joves and Jupiters, aclang with jarring rhymes, and string-taut with similes stretched to the snapping-point.† John Barth, The Sot-Weed Factor Oh, but you know this novel is going to be juicy. This snide introduction to the main character conveys a promise of a continuous feed of schadenfreude. 14. Pithy â€Å"Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.† Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God Every once in a while there comes an opening line that seems to have an entire story folded up inside it. But it’s just the label on the envelope. And I challenge you to withstand the urge to open it up and read the message. 15. Poetic â€Å"We started dying before the snow, and like the snow, we continued to fall.† Louise Erdrich, Tracks A somber, stately metaphor draws us in despite the pervasively gloomy imagery. 16. Prefatory â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.† Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Many people associate Dickens with whimsy and eccentricity, but A Tale of Two Cities is a stern study of the insanity of mob rule, and this floridly eloquent prologue sets the stage like the presenter of a Shakespearean prologue: â€Å"Epic Ahead.† 17. Romantic â€Å"He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.† Raphael Sabatini, Scaramouche Romantic, that is, in the sense of lust for life, not love for another. This author of swashbucklers like The Sea Hawk and Captain Blood (and, of course, Scaramouche) lets you know right away that you are about to meet someone larger than life. 18. Sarcastic â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.† Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Austen didn’t invent the word snark but she certainly refined the application of the quality. Notice, though, how subtle this line is. It’s a bon mot understated, yet with teeth behind that prim smile. 19. Sour â€Å"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing youll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.† J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye Can you find it in your heart to forgive this young man his grievously bad attitude? More likely, you’ll be impressed by and want to immerse yourself in more of his insolence. 20. Unexpected â€Å"Every summer Lin Kong returned to Goose Village to divorce his wife, Shuyu.† Ha Jin, Waiting This seemingly pedestrian introduction upends itself with an intriguing premise that raises a question in the reader’s mind that must be answered. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a UK Business LetterExcited ABOUT, not "for" Affect vs. Effect

Boarding School Care Packages

Boarding School Care Packages When you decide to let your child go to boarding school, there are a few things you can do to help ease his or her transition. Yes, its true that attending boarding school can be a wonderful academic and social experience for the right kind of student. Boarding schools can offer academic and extracurricular activities that are not available to students in their local public or private day schools, and parents can remain involved in students’ lives through contact with their advisors and  frequent visits when permitted. But  homesickness can  still be a problem for even the strongest and brightest students who are away at boarding school. While it often passes quickly as students are absorbed into the life of the boarding school, contact from home in the form of phone calls (when allowed), notes, and care packages can help students feel connected to home. Students truly do enjoy receiving care packages from home with some of their favorite snacks, dorm room basics, and study supplies. Here are some tips and ideas.   Check What the School Allows Before mailing off your special care package, be sure to check and see what the school allows, and where to send packages. For example, packages may have to be delivered to the dorm proper or in some cases, it needs to be sent to a postal office or a main office; its often not possible to have something delivered directly to your child’s room. Also, keep in mind that packages may be delayed over the weekend, so only send items that will keep a few days, and mail homemade goodies via priority mail in plastic (possible reusable) containers surrounded with bubble wrap or a recyclable, environmentally friendly material for cushioning. Mail birthday or holiday packages several days in advance to be sure they arrive on time. Some schools offer programs that allow for parents to order goodies through a local shop or even the dining services program on campus.   Mail the Necessities First, check what your child needs. He or she may be allowed to make some food in the dorm, so it can be nice to see if your child would like foods like ramen, hot chocolate, or soup. Items such as oatmeal, microwave popcorn, or pretzels make healthier late-night snacks, and its always a nice idea to be sure to send extra supplies for roommates and friends. However, food storage options may be limited, so get a good idea of how much to send and what can be easily stored. Students may also need school or personal supplies such as pens, notebooks, or shampoos. A child who is feeling under the weather can benefit from an extra set of soft tissues, even if the nurse at school is dispensing the medicine the child needs. Medicine is often not allowed in the dorm, so be sure to keep that at home and out of the care package. Instead, send some crackers, hard candy or a beloved stuffed animal from home. Mail Memories of Home Students may also appreciate personal items in their care package  that help them keep in touch with their family and friends at home, including hometown or school newspapers, yearbooks, and photos. And don’t forget mementos of pets, too, as a way of warding off homesickness. If there have been any special family events while they are away, be sure to make the children who are away feel included, with details about the menus, presents, or other details associated with these events. If there have been changes at home such as a house renovation or new car, be sure to send photos of these new family events to the child who is away- such visual cues about the family life will help them transition more easily back to life at home and will help them continue to feel included. Home-made videos and news and notes from friends and family members are also warm additions to care packages. Don’t Forget That Special Something If all else fails or youre running out of ideas, your student may appreciate a gift card or a few extra bucks in addition to the necessities, and such items are easy to ship, alongside the homemade cookies. And as mature as your child seems, he or she may enjoy a playful toy, possibly something they can share around the dorm, such as a Frisbee for warm afternoons. In every package, be sure to include an encouraging note that lets your child know you are thinking of him or her and awaiting his/her next visit. Though teenagers may not always show it, they need and appreciate the encouragement. Updated by Stacy Jagodowski

PDP (Professional Development Plan) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PDP (Professional Development Plan) - Essay Example 57). It is through such management skills that will not only help in the current situation, but also in others to come. Taking managing conflict and stress as my goal, I have been able to master management skills that help me overcome several situations around my life. I am married and currently pregnant with my child. I am studying abroad and my husband is currently at my home country. I have had to deal with some situations of conflict management and stress. In order to deal with my situation, my goal is to come up with a way on how I can manage conflict and stress. As a student, I occasionally encounter conflict from home in the sense that I have to balance between family and studies. There are my studies that demand my time, and there is also my husband whom I have to give time. Conflict sometimes usually arise when my husband calls just when I am getting ready for a presentation or a continuous assessment test. The two are equally indispensable to me and I cannot afford to ignor e one at the expense of the other. At the same time I have to maintain my pre-natal checks with my doctor at the clinic. For a while I was stressed when I could not find a solution. So what I did was to engage in critical thinking to analyse possible ways out. It was then that something clicked onto my mind. I resolved that rather than wait for my husband to call me, which he could do any time, I resolved I would call him whenever I was out jogging or in the clinic waiting to be attended to. These are activities that I do quite often so it guaranteed that I would be calling him that often. Besides, I also knew it would help us connect with our baby because I could inform him of our progress. This way, I was sure I would eliminate the apparent conflict and put to end things that stress me up. During my free time, I also resolved I would be reading some books that brighten my moods. Using that approach, I am certain that I will manage the issues that were previously a bother to me. Le arning Skills: Improve My Presentation skills In order to improve my presentation skills, I will have to focus on my communication skills. It is through effective communication that I will be able to put across my ideas and impact on my audience as I planned (McKay et al., 2009, p. 39). To begin with, I will be keen to focus on the clarity of the message. Many ideas end up being misunderstood and consequently not eliciting the expected behaviour just because they did not come out as envisioned. As such, I will focus on clarity of voice, word choice and concise explanation in all my presentations. Besides, I will also improve my presentation skills through appropriate facial expression so that my audience is also kept active and interested in the presentation. It has been observed that appropriate facial expressions help to amplify the message being conveyed especially when a vital point has to be made (Steele, 2009, p. 214). In addition, I would also improve my presentation skills b y accompanying my presentation with pictographs where applicable. For instance, where I need to emphasize on deviation from a previous market trend, I will use comparative graphs that indicate the old and the new trends. This way, my audience will be able to easily grasp my ideas and keep up with me. Besides, visuals also help other who may have missed the some bits of information orally. Something else that I will also do to improve my presentation skills is to practice my presentation before hand. Instead of waiting to