Adopt an Opening line

Lady Noble — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:25:20 +0100

Leave: She ran into the forest. She could here him coming closer. She could feel a tickling in her stomach, both because she was scared, and because she felt excited. She was 14 years old, and had never been kissed. This day would change it.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kaleighlady — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:32:43 +0100

hee i have a bunch from a project last year. leaving : there are few things in life that cannot be missed, and this, unfortunately, was one of them. forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash. everyone always says that life throws you lemons. but what happens when it starts pelting limes? one step forward and it could all fall apart. when you’re hanging on by a thread, just how much weight can it hold? the tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night. after all of that, the only thing I can do is wait. you’d think roadside assistance would be more on the ball when it comes to a derailed donut truck. all I can hear is the crunch of wint-o green lifesavers in my ear. at first, everything looks the same. “if this was your fiftieth time in a diner this week, what would you recommend?” if I could be anywhere right now, you could bet that it wouldn’t be stuck at an abandoned bus stop. they’re there; circling the doorstep like hawks. the last thing I remember is the apple crumble lighting on fire give them good homes!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

dragonKhorse — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:49:58 +0100

"Paging *insert name here*. Please report to Lab C-15 immediately, the combustible lemons are a success. I repeat, the combustible lemons are a success." “Due to the state of emergency, all lines are currently out of service. Thank you.”

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kate L — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:50:33 +0100

Leaving: An icy blue sedan idled on the right shoulder of the road; the engine alternating in purrs and sputters in the night's cooling air. She clung to the steel bars of the fire escape, five floors above the alley, and wondered, "How did I get up here?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

NaNo_Bot — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:25:10 +0100

"It wasn't a dark and stormy night..." "You want to put that where?!" "I've been waiting for you" (and from a formaer Dares thread) Oh cr@p, a magic pigeon!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

detect_bella — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:32:28 +0100

Leaving: I never expected to wake up dead this morning. The story starts on a cold winter's morning, with a man looking for his pants. The knock was unexpected, the person standing at the door, even more so. She stared at him, wondering if it was worth the pain to let him step back inside; and back into her life.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

brionyjae — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:03:14 +0100

Here's a few... -Life is like a cup of tea. You can either sip the tea and be happy or it'll spill in your lap and burn your crotch. -Nature always sides with the hidden flaw. -The air hung heavy with the perfume of the circus - elephants, greasepaint and hot buttered chimps. -He was oddly ordinary. She was ordinarily odd. Enjoy, Wrimos! :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

AngryOldHag — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:40:31 +0100

Here you go: - Looking back, [MC] should probably have been a little pickier about who to bring along on this quest. - "Moral fibre? What, is that a new breakfast thing or something?" - It was pretty, [MC] had to give it that, all sparkly and glittery but on the other hand, it did have a horrible tendency to pop up in every world destruction prophecy known to man and some not quite known yet. - All things considered, it could have ended worse, if people ignored the part where [MC] was bleeding to death. - Dear brain, I'm divorcing you. It's not me, it's you.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Amaya — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:08:21 +0100

Leaving: To think only yesterday she had been told no one would ever threaten her again, she should have known better than to believe that one. If they didn't shut up soon she would kill them, lesser being or not. She buried her sword in the ground and scowled at the children, "I'm guessing you want a war story?" She snorted, "Don't tell your parents this one."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Elizabeth_Sabourin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:02:06 +0100

Not all of these are mine: Let me make one thing clear to you: it wasn't death that scared me. It was dying. He was pleasantly surprised to find out being undead didn't mean you were rotting while you were still in your body. [Character Name] was not an attractive name, nor did it belong to an especially attractive person. It had been a routine kill. Hell was boring. Perhaps that was what made it Hell: for someone in need of constant mental stimulation, the lack of things to do would make the best punishment. "This is going to get us all killed, isn't it?" They say that good guys drive shitty cars which is why I’m sitting on a rust bucket with a blue hood and a red door in the middle of walmarts parking lot There are things that go bump in the night. I'm one of them. It takes longer to burn a body than you'd think. Some stories--in fact, most of them--start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know. Is it a blessing or a curse? Or both? I'm still trying to decide. There are days that I'd like to kill the one who made me this way. If only that were possible. The fact is, I did the same to him. It wasn't intentional. We never meant for this to happen. If we had only heeded the warning on the box we found that warm, summer day. “The contents of this box will change your life forever.”

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Yume_Kai — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:06:06 +0100

Taking: If they didn't shut up soon she would kill them, lesser being or not. Leaving: - As she stood there and watched the last library in the world burn down she wished her tears could extinguish the flames. - Ripping the duck tape off his chest was going to hurt, but the bigger question was who had taped the shiney X across his chest to begin with. - The problem with hanging out with ghosts is that they never need to sleep.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Clefurgey — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:07:49 +0100

taking: she ran into the forest. She could hear him coming closer.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ceffyldwfr — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:16:49 +0100

Leaving: -I used to lie--all the time. But the angry, hurt look in my mother's eyes forced me to spew it all to her. Every last painful detail. -It was an empty field, like so many others, forcing us to trudge onward in search of better shelter. -There is no such thing as clean water. -He was strange like a midday sunrise.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SMCates — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:34:22 +0100

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Soluna — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:52:27 +0100

I start every year with the same line. It's fun to figure out new ways to make it work. hee hee. Leaving: "Where the heck are my pants?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Aviechan — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:56:07 +0100

Most people would close their eyes and cower in fear, try to pretend this wasn't happening. Not her though, she simply watched it all go down, not even flinching once. After someone close to you dies you start regretting a lot of things. "I should of never done this, or said that, or I really wish I could have told them one more thing. Done something meaningful." But then you learn to live with it. They're dead, you can't do anything. Well, now you can. Because now they aren't quite dead. Sometimes all you can do is close your eyes and pray. I could tell you everything, like the color of the sky and what t-shirt I wore when this all started. But I'm not going to. Instead I'm just going to say... I'm sick of all this stuff where [mc name] hogs the spotlight! I know I'm not very important but you'll just have to put up with me, and if you don't like it then stop here and go back to whatever dull stuff you were doing before now. "If someone could please come out it would be really nice! Guys! Come on, this isn't very funny anymore..." Most bad guys turn out to be the jock, or creepy old guy down the road, or the mean girl, or the bully, or that lady you thought was just some nice old person knitting scarves, or that doctor, or the rather obvious criminal, or maybe if you're someone with super powers it's your arch nemesis [insert super villain here]. But what if the bad guy, the horrible person who you have to fight... What if it's yourself? My life is average, this isn't some thriller or life-changing story. I looked at her face, I looked at it long and hard, eyeing every last detail that made it beautiful and perfect... and then I punched it in the nose. It all started with a guest speaker at our school. It started a chain reaction of horrible things, and amazing things. Things I'm going to share with the world, starting now.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

mugendai — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:08:43 +0100

I just have the one for now: "You know, there's some pretty stiff competition for the title, but I think this might just be The Dumbest Idea You've Ever Had."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:10:48 +0100

I post five random story starters every Saturday (http://www.martha.net/category/unquiet-bones/story-prompts/) and have 78 posts so far. Feel free to wander and see what sparks your imagination-- after all, no one will ever write the same story twice! :) Here's some from last November... 1. Having something isn’t the same thing as keeping something, which is a truth she would rather not have learned. 2. The sky is raining blood. Deep copper tears of rust run down buildings older than the oldest child, and pools of ruddy liquid gather in the pavement cracks. 3. Down in the depths of the forest there is no light, just a wide leafy ceiling broken by glimmers of green. 4. Everyone goes mad sooner or later, it’s sort of a coming of age party for the recently hermit-ized. 5. Going the distance normally involved doing things that were either a) hard or b) dangerous, and at the moment she wasn’t really in the mood for either.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

guardian-hope — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:20:26 +0100

I'm adopting your second two, for different chapter inspirations. Leaving: Today, the sun shone in hell. It was the worst of times, there was nothing 'best' about it.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

jmclrnet2 — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:56:58 +0100

I LOVE 'Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.' May or may not take it, but it still kicks major tail. Leaving: How many crunches can you do in an hour? I can manage two. You'd think after watching so many horror movies, I'd be able to tell when I'd jumped into one. It wasn't that [MC] didn't like the guy. He just thought he had a face that asked to be slapped on a daily basis.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

larelmian — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:54:39 +0100

MMC ran into MFC at the library. Literally. it was a dark and stormy night. Okay, it wasn't. It was a bright and sunny morning, but that just doesn't sound the same. "Who put this turtle in my underwear drawer?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sprog — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:08:09 +0100

It was an accident- I didn't mean to bring about the end of civilisation as we knew it.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

muffinsplanned — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:24:25 +0100

"When (MC/FM) walked in a sense of dread spread in my stomach" "You know me, I'm the girl they talked about on the news yesterday, how would you ever forget." "The night it happened, the TV was on, it was afterall tuesday." "You wouldn't think a girl with superpowers likes popcorn, but this definitely girl does"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Reuel_Dreamseer — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:29:50 +0100

Leaving: "They say everyone dies, but not everyone truly lives; I say you haven't truly died either until you've done it three or four times."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

emmanatrix — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:37:47 +0100

(MC) held a box of kittens tightly, how (s)he had come across these kittens is a story for another time.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bronwynnre — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:44:48 +0100

Not everything needs to be attacked on sight. Things might have turned out better if someone had told us that at the beginning. A lot of people will tell you that honesty is the best policy. Well, I'm here to tell you that a lot of people are morons. My mother always used to say that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Of course, if she'd known about the impending alien invasion, she might have had some more pertinant advice.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

RebekahW — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:28:12 +0100

"Honey, we have to talk." There might be more than one way to skin a cat, but there's only one way to de-bone a banshee. The light faded over the horizon, signaling the last minutes of Spencer's life. "That was the best party ever," he said, while wringing the blood from his shirt. She died in his arms too many times to count. "You can't outrun death," the shadow said.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

schizophrenicchick — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:08:13 +0100

"It wasn't that [MC] didn't like the guy. He just thought he had a face that asked to be slapped on a daily basis." i have use for this! thank you.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Archipelagos — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:10:20 +0100

Upon waking up I remembered two things: one, that I still had an angel tied up in my basement, and two, that I really didn't care.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunar_Eclipse — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:19:03 +0100

None to take, but here's one I thought of today: "I learned to fake a smile the day my father got married for the second time." I feel like it could work in a YA/coming-of-age type novel.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Aure Entuluva — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:52:46 +0100

~"I never promised that life would be happy. All I promised was that you would never die." ~“I only lied to protect you…” was, in fact, the biggest lie he’d ever told me. ~When a man claims to be a liar, do you believe him? ~They told me I was half mad when they found me. Personally, I’d say it was an unfair diagnosis. ~He smelled of sweet things and dead things.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lennyathena — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:02:28 +0100

"There are a million things that I want but can't have, and there are a million things I would do if given the chance, but if I had [---], I would gladly do him. All night long."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Madkatt — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:17:21 +0100

Some I liked from last year The world had been scheduled to end yesterday, but so far, no one seemed to have noticed. I should have known it was going to be a bad day when my alarm clock was my bedroom wall getting knocked down I envy you, for you only have to read these words but I am cursed to have lived them Murder was not just a lifestyle, it was a game, and one that they were particularly good at. There is nothing like running for your life to make you wish you spent more time at the gym you paid the thirty dollars membership for

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Oracle Speaking — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:27:53 +0100

A heart floated by, invading my personal space. Oh joy, the beeping was back. Normally, finding a naked man was asking for her would have been flattering. The pickles were mocking him again. "How DID the rooster get up there? Chickens can't fly!" The End. (...That's all I got, oh well~)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

hippy_vampire — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:46:04 +0100

Here's a few I posted last year that didn't get taken. -Just when I thought we had won, the mole people started attacking -If you really loved me I would be dead now. -Okay so maybe the running in 'guns a blazing' wasn't the best idea. -If you really want to impress me you'll have to try a lot harder than those other guys. -Who knew being a vampire slayer would involve slaying actual vampires? -If you tell anyone what you are about to read I will hunt you down and I will kill you. -I finally figured out why zombies want brains so much! They have absolutely none of their own to speak of whatsoever. -If you didn't want to know the truth you wouldn't have picked up this book. -Truly crazy people consider themselves sane because it's the sane people that are truly crazy. -Never under estimate the persuasive power of cookies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

missbatman16 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:39:17 +0100

taking: "The knock was unexpected, the person standing at the door, even more so. She stared at him, wondering if it was worth the pain to let him step back inside; and back into her life." (might put it into 1st person) "Some stories--in fact, most of them-- start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know." "He was strange like a midday sunrise." "Most bad guys turn out to be the jock, or the creepy old guy down the road, or the mean girl, or the bully, or that lady you thought was just some nice old person knitting scarves, or that doctor, or that rather obvious criminal, or maybe if you're someone with super powers, it's your archnemisis (insert villain name here) But what if the bad guy, the horrible person you have to fight... What if it's yourself?" "I learned to fake a smile the day my father got married for the second time." None to leave at the moment, I'm drained....

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fluorescent Bird — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:10:24 +0100

"[MC]'s first priority was to solve the conundrum of the bison in the living room." "I had never encountered such a strange robot, much less one that could think of better snarky comebacks than I could." "Whoever decided that it was a good idea to cover the carpet with glitter was going to get a strict talking-to later."

The third one!

abbyrudnicki — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:11:27 +0100

"She buried her sword in the ground and scowled at the children, 'I'm guessing you want a war story?' She snorted, 'Don't tell your parents this one.'" I really like that, but I don't know if I'll use it for sure. Maybe a variation of it :) Leaving: This was certainly not the first time he awoke on the floor of a holding cell. This was hardly the time to laugh, but death just made her so uncomfortable.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MishMoze — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:02:31 +0100

Taking: A bunch. Leaving: Some people just want to watch the world burn. (From my NaNo'10. It's actually the opening line, too! :D)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

WolvenHeart — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:53:41 +0100

That third one is actually quite inspiring and I could use that for an alternative plot if the first one doesn't work thanks :) Leaving: It doesn't always work out the way it should. Fate really does lay down it's hand to change everything possible.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Phantomphreak — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:06:30 +0100

Taking: It doesn't always work out the way it should. Fate really does lay down it's hand to change everything possible. Leaving: In the depth of winter, there's not much you can do to stay warm.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

natethegreat3508 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:40:57 +0100

Here is one I thought of last year The sea was filled with angry monkeys, but we are not at the sea so this does not really matter

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Feuercrux — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:42:38 +0100

Fantastic! I'm taking these to play with, lets see if i can find a plot bunny that likes them: There are few things in life that cannot be missed, and this, unfortunately, was one of them. Forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash. The tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night. I'm leaving these two in return: That breath on my neck should have spooked me, but all I could smell was coffee, and that alone made me wonder where on earth sold coffee at this time of night. I felt that alive, that exhilarated, that I'd not realised that, that snap I heard wasn't a branch I'd broken when I fell, it was my arm.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Feuercrux — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:52:14 +0100

Leaving: "See that orange bit in the east? Thats hell on the horizon, don't say I didn't warn you, and whatever you do, do not talk to a guy with one eye, he'll tell you he's Odin. Believe him if you like, he'll try and kill you anyway." To say it was cold, was about as accurate as saying an angry bear was unfriendly. He peered into the coffin and smiled, wondering if he would be the first person to ever consider that this might be the most splendid hiding place. It was grotesque, a pale green with something wilted and decayed looking on the top of it. It was floating for now, but any second now was going to dive like a submarine. He was supposed to eat this? His only thought was wondering where the nearest hospital was.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

The Tsp — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:52:42 +0100

I think I'm going to take that last one ("Dear brain, I'm divorcing you. It's not me, it's you."). Not sure if it'll be for my NaNo, but I like it so much...

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Teri-K — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:51:53 +0100

Taking -- At first, everything looks the same. "This is going to get us all killed, isn't it?" There is no such thing as clean water. Having something isn’t the same thing as keeping something, which is a truth she would rather not have learned. Leaving, sorry they're not original -- Mr. Howard stopped talking. What if all around the world people suddenly no longer needed to sleep? They knew each other as kids, met again much later. But sometimes she wondered what they had missed in the middle. “Not all those who wander are lost.” ~ J.R.R Tolkien

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sabba_d — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:52:11 +0100

Hot... buttered.... CHIMPS? Excuse me while I go shoot coffee out my nose. That was unexpected!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sabba_d — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:54:44 +0100

"Moral fibre? What, is that a new breakfast thing or something?" I'm adopting this lovely! I have a character who really wants to say this. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sabba_d — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:58:42 +0100

Adopting: Hell was boring. Perhaps that was what made it Hell: for someone in need of constant mental stimulation, the lack of things to do would make the best punishment. Also LOVE: They say that good guys drive shitty cars which is why I’m sitting on a rust bucket with a blue hood and a red door in the middle of walmarts parking lot Definitely Adopting: Some stories--in fact, most of them--start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know. GLORIOUS!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sabba_d — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:03:00 +0100

I like "he smelled of sweet things and dead things." Creepy. Adopted!

Re: The third one!

MissCellanea — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:09:43 +0100

Taking and tweaking the 'holding cell' line. Thanx!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sabba_d — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:14:55 +0100

Took a load. Leaving:

When the sun was in the third house of the sky, I took the crone as my wife. As the fifth house began to feel the warmth of solar rays, I divorced my wife by way of gunshot.
My mother always told me to wear clean panties in case I got in a car wreck. I never understood that statement until my very first car accident, during which I peed myself.
Wedding vows include the phrase "until death do us part." He hadn't realized quite how important that phrase was before, but now, as he stared out at the astral plane, he felt very alone.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

47 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:33:13 +0100

Oh boy. Taking:

"They say everyone dies, but not everyone truly lives; I say you haven't truly died either until you've done it three or four times."

Leaving:

"I don't hate people. They cut me off a lot, and litter all over my yard, and have little yappy dogs that poop everywhere, and... are extremely difficult to deal with, but I still can't bring myself to hate them."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

pastmeetspresent — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:51:18 +0100

"These are the facts-and they are undisputed. Make of them what you will, but this is what happened the day the world ended."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ARealHope — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:01:17 +0100

At this time of year, the whales start migrating. But I don't like whales or live anywhere near them, so that's beside the point. (DP if whales have something to do with the story!)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CJ Jenx — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:07:19 +0100

"She buried her sword in the ground and scowled at the children, "I'm guessing you want a war story?" She snorted, "Don't tell your parent's this one." Thank you so much!! I'm definitely using it :D Leaving: "I've always said that I wouldn't regret my decisions - not even this one."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CyainePhoenix — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:05:52 +0100

leaving: - whatever you do, you cannot hang up on me! -That was the last time I saw her. -Nothing in life is free, save for maybe air, and that's only because they having figured out how to charge for it yet. -You have to be the most vile person I have ever had the displeasure of working for. -it's 2am, we're barricaded inside a walmart, zombies all around us, and you go into Labor?!?!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

vampyre_smiles — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:29:00 +0100

"That was the best party ever," he said, while wringing the blood from his shirt. Taking this.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Screnwriter — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:32:07 +0100

"Once upon a time, there was a princess named Boskanova."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

jinxedestiny — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:56:48 +0100

- MC rolled over and spoke without opening his/her eyes, "Would you mind loading your gun in the other room, I'm trying to sleep." -All MC wanted wanted was a drink and there were eight armed men between him/her and the bar.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

leighalove — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:48:06 +0100

Ummm my 7th grade history teacher's name was Mr. Howard and he was the "cool teacher" and whenever he got pissed because we were talking too much or something, he would just stop talking and the whole room would shut up. Very weird that you wrote that line. Haha.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

natethegreat3508 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:47:32 +0100

Adopting Some stories--in fact, most of them--start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know. This is absolutely perfect for my story THANK YOU! Leaving Two households both alike in dignity. (MC) "Hey dumbass Shakespeare wrote that". (YOu) "But I wrote it too" (MC) "He wrote it first". (You) "Good literature is not a race"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Piyer — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:21:31 +0100

Leaving: 1) I had never seen him before that night, but by the time I was able to catch my breath and stop laughing at his under-endowment, I'm certain both of us were regretting going into the bathroom for a quickie -- I know I sure was! 2) "YOU BASTARD!" s/he screamed, as [MC] walked into the hospital's waiting room, "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" "Nice to see you too, mom," [MC] calmly replied. 3) Warm, honey-golden sunlight poured in through the gaps in the boards covering the windows. I had managed to survive the night, but now what? 4) The mind haze from the beer... and the jack & coke... and the gin... and the vodka... and the weed... and the stuff [MC] would never remember ingesting, slowly lifted, fading from thought like a bad dream. Prom night was over, s/he sadly reflected, as s/he rubbed the sleep from his/her eyes with blood encrusted hand. 5) It was the fifth of November, and even Guy Fawkes had a higher NaNoWriMo word count than [MC] did at that moment.

Re: The third one!

fornwalt — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:00:10 +0100

Stealing the holding cell line! It's the perfect way to start out my novel! *glomp* Leaving: "Once upon a time, there was a cranky old witch who hated fairy tales."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

cindy9712 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:20:54 +0100

Blood always tastes better in the morning. They say God is almighty. I don't believe that. Sometimes you actually want to get out of bed and go to school. This was not one of those days.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lathrine — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:19:24 +0100

Oooo, I might be adopting "Most people would close their eyes and cower in fear, try to pretend this wasn't happening. Not her though, she simply watched it all go down, not even flinching once." At the very least, it's going in my adoptions file for future use. :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zedell — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:39:57 +0100

It was past the witching hour, and I was still outside. That was my first mistake. I could not remember her, but she said she knew me well. I was just thinking about insurance forms and coffee cups, when my feet left the ground. The day I left him, he stood standing in the rain. I had not seen him for years, until last night, under circumstances I would never have imagined.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sickan — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:14:14 +0100

Stealing; The day I left him, he stood standing in the rain. I had not seen him for years, until last night, under circumstances I would never have imagined.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Milk N Cookies — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:39:00 +0100

The more people know, the more people WANT (can be italicized instead) to know.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

big-little-sis67 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:56:30 +0100

My dad died, my house exploded, my best friend disappeared and I lost my mind. Happy Birthday to me... If anyone asks, I'm in Seattle living out my dream to become a famous tennis player. I am definitely not trying to take over the world. I was having a dispute with my eyelids.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KittyKow — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:06:40 +0100

"That breath on my neck should have spooked me, but all I could smell was coffee, and that alone made me wonder where on earth sold coffee at this time of night." Love love love, taking this one, thank you! And leaving in return, these few: There was a cloud overhead that was starting to look like a duck. He frowned deeply at it. It wasn't that he had a problem with ducks, rather, he had a problem with pigeons, but the ducks had chased him last time he'd been down by the pond. Twice. The sun will always come again, sure. But she'd never expected the sun to come again twice in the same day. Circles aren't supposed to break; they're supposed to go around and around at a dizzying rate, and not spin out of control like this. She used to compare her life to a circle, but now she wasn't sure that it was the right term.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KittyKow — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:03:03 +0100

Taking: I was having a dispute with my eyelids. (And many many many more.) Leaving: [MC] had never known that toothpaste could make the walls look so festive. He was certain that his face wasn't made to be making best friends with the fly swatter so constantly. [MC]'s singing stopped quite abruptly when the shoe hit him/her upside the head. "Would you believe me if I told you that I had owl wings?" "...no, I'd send you to therapy to help you get off the crack." Chapped lips had never come at a worse time.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ziairi — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:28:11 +0100

"When you’re hanging on by a thread, just how much weight can it hold?" I really like this one, I know I can find a home for this. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ziairi — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:39:39 +0100

Taking: "I could not remember her, but she said she knew me well." Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

vinciolol — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:51:03 +0100

'I could tell you everything, like the color of the sky and what t-shirt I wore when this all started. But I'm not going to. Instead I'm just going to say...' This is perfect - taking most likely!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

darkdawn_xo — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:49:27 +0100

Leaving: -As the doctor returned with my test results, he looked at the papers and then at me, then finally told me the most devastating news I heard in my life. "Sir, I'm afraid you'll have to stop masturbating." "But why?!" "Because you're in my office." A mime would've been jealous of the silence that followed. (Not really an opening line XD Take and tweak as needed!) Not taking anything right now. There's some great ones here but nothing really fits for what I'm working on.

Re: The third one!

falling_skywards — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:58:58 +0100

Taking: "This was hardly the time to laugh, but death just made her so uncomfortable." Leaving: If it hadn't been for that damn cat, none of this would have happened.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Izumi_Michi — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:08:23 +0100

Hmm...thinking I might adopt "Most bad guys turn out to be the jock, or creepy old guy down the road, or the mean girl, or the bully, or that lady you thought was just some nice old person knitting scarves, or that doctor, or the rather obvious criminal, or maybe if you're someone with super powers it's your arch nemesis [insert super villain here]. But what if the bad guy, the horrible person who you have to fight... What if it's yourself?" and tweak it a bit...for what I have planned so far, I definitely think it would be awesome xD

Re: Adopt an Opening line

AliceUnrequited — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:04:43 +0100

I love the combustible lemons. I can't use it, but I absolutely love it!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

faithlessone — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:02:53 +0100

(One from last year that I loved) When I woke up, it was spring, and like it or not, I was 16. (And a few of my own) There was a time when my life was consumed by death; by war and pain and bloodshed. However, I never thought that I would ever be subjected to it. The first clue I had that I had woken up somewhere else was the sunlight. Lying at the feet of my son, covered in my own blood, the life slowly leaving me, I wondered if my actions had been worth the pain. I was baking a cake when my world ended.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Perse_Rising — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:34:57 +0100

A lot of people said (name) had no emotions, which (MC) didn't think was fair at all. Of course (name) had emotions, but he was a (non-human race) - Of course he wasn't going to express them like humans did. But that didn't mean he didn't have any, he just showed them in a different way. Like he was doing right now. (Name) walked into his father's room and wondered how he'd be able to tell him that he wouldn't survive this, not this time. "Did I ever tell you about that one time with (antagonist)?" I woke up to the sound of a deep rumbling in my ears and a vibration in my body, like an earthquake. As I woke up further, however, I realized it wasn't an earthquake at all, but my roommate's cat (name) sprawled out over my chest with her throat buried deep into the crook of my neck. Oh cats. It looked like a chewed piece of gum. Only lethal.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MandyBroughton — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 02:35:11 +0100

Taking the life pelting limes opener (love it!) Leaving: I'd always wondered how that canoe got to the top of that tree.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Serena Darrin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:36:19 +0100

Taking: one step forward and it could all fall apart. Warm, honey-golden sunlight poured in through the gaps in the boards covering the windows. I had managed to survive the night, but now what? (Not sure about that one, but it might work) She buried her sword in the ground and scowled at the children, "I'm guessing you want a war story?" She snorted, "Don't tell your parents this one." That sounds like my FMC. :) Leaving: "Money? Money's only worth something because everyone -believes it's worth something. It's not worth the paper it's printed on. And the sooner you figure that out, the better off you'll be." "What?" She rolled her eyes. "I'm in a church. It's not like I'm going to explode, or catch on fire."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lisa-bob — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 05:37:52 +0100

Taking: There are things that go bump in the night. I'm one of them. And also: It takes longer to burn a body than you'd think. Thanks! Leaving: Despite the pain, I had no idea that I was dying.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

S.Berry — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:02:05 +0100

Leaving: I'd heard the saying 'he had a monkey on his back' a thousand times, but until today, I'd always assumed the monkey was a metaphor. A rolling stone might not gather any moss, but it sure could gather an awful lot of blood. You'd think by now, I'd have learned not to share my candid opinion of a ninja assassin's ancestry in front of him/her, but somehow, I can never remember ninjas can't handle the truth.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Screnwriter — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:11:04 +0100

[quote=lisa-bob]Despite the pain, I had no idea that I was dying.[/quote] THAT'S PERFECT. Taking!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

The_Halla — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:31:48 +0100

As he woke up, sprawled out on the couch, he realized three things in succession: first, that his marriage was over; second, that he had fallen asleep in front of the television--the late-night Steven Segal movie that had been playing had given way to an obnoxiously chipper morning news show; and third, that he was being drooled on by a live Bengal tiger.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

natethegreat3508 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:03:07 +0100

Taking "A lot of people said (name) had no emotions, which (MC) didn't think was fair at all. Of course (name) had emotions, but he was a (non-human race) - Of course he wasn't going to express them like humans did. But that didn't mean he didn't have any, he just showed them in a different way. Like he was doing right now. " Leaving The End, oh woopsie-daisy got a bit mixed up there

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Nederlandica — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:16:17 +0100

Leaving; The simple minded were the lucky ones. My family was the worst company I could ever imagine; they've tried to kill me since I was born. She had lost her husband today. Both of them. When I saw rainbows and cats floating in air, I finally realised he was messing with my mind.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Noonii_cat — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:08:04 +0100

Sadly, I'm quite sure I'll never end up using these. So here, offerings... - The farmer's children sat in a nearby tree, kicking their legs and laughing at him/her. - In one light the unicorn appeared to be made of glass – the colour was so pale; hardly white, barely anything at all – but then it puffed a breath of air and moved, and suddenly it was the furthest thing from unreal. - A little glass bottle bobbed to the surface of the puddle. ---- Also, some from last year's thread... - It was one of those summer evenings where everything felt sepia-toned, where anything and everything you did was both glorious and entirely correct. - "I have something to tell you. Now, don't freak out." - I was wanted for, amongst other things, murder on three continents. - If I had my own world, we would paint the sky together like you do in your dreams, we'd be best friends again, and I wouldn't be dying.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:14:17 +0100

It's Saturday again, so there are five new prompts on by blog and here's another blast from the past! :D (Feb 2008) 1. It’s a small thing, so insignificant she normally would have overlooked it, but she’d had a long day and her patience has long since snapped. 2. She was tempted to ask them at what point this had seemed like a good idea, but she already knew the answer: four beers, fifteen minutes, and two broken ribs ago. She levered herself back off the floor and pushed the ribs back into place with a slightly unsteady palm. 3. Something was waiting for them in the dark. 4. They say to follow things to their logical conclusions, but there are no logical conclusions. A equals B equals C equals A, but by the time you’ve worked back ’round to A it’s changed. The world isn’t static enough for logical conclusions, and so I settle on ‘best guesses’ and that seems to satisfy them. It isn’t until I meet another ship of the line that I realize my hard-won truth is something all computers figure out for themselves. 5. There was a long low rumble from what he’d assumed was a rock and suddenly the question changed from ‘where is the dragon’ to ‘how soon am I getting eaten?’ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies

Re: Adopt an Opening line

oxymoronicalgem — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:11:13 +0100

Taking "The first clue I had that I had woken up somewhere else was the sunlight." Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CadaeicCicada — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:36:46 +0100

I have one that I honestly have no use for (and don't particularly want to work with), but it won't leave me alone, so I'm leaving it here in case someone else wants it. "It was just on a whim that I signed up for that dating site. I never thought it would get so complicated."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

revengeissweet2143 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:42:57 +0100

He was a dark and stormy knight!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MissAngelAdorer — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:55:48 +0100

Sorry if they sound to much like what you guys have already posted. Great job you guys. I suck at first lines. The first choice is actually the beginning line of another novel I'm writing. Some lines: There was silence. "You did WHAT?" I was only supposed to be gone for three days. If you think that this is just fiction, you should close this book and pray to the sky that you can believe that. Sometimes the end can be a new beginning. Oh, wait--that sounded too cliche. Let me start over.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

writethewrong — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:39:00 +0100

Leaving a very random line I used for a book. "It happened on a windy fall afternoon. It was hard on me, but eventually I enjoyed the tacos enough to forget it."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

amayanieva — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:51:22 +0100

I'm so stealing "One step forward and it could all fall apart." (: Leaving these: At this moment, reason was beyond question. That voice was the most captivating sound I'd ever heard. If I had stayed in bed, everything would have been fine. (Eh, mine suck.d:)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sunnyblob — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:05:58 +0100

"On Tuesday, the rain stopped." Just a quote from a teacher teaching English at school, but I thought it sounded cool. c;

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CyainePhoenix — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:29:22 +0100

lol. love it!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SkillfulCreations — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:39:36 +0100

I think I'm going to use your second one for a short story.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SkillfulCreations — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:47:17 +0100

She didn't see it coming. The voices in my head won't let me sleep.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Pencil_Stub — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:18:26 +0100

Leaving: -"I didn't do it, I swear." And this one from a couple of NaNos ago that's always stuck with me: - "You! Get out of the gene pool!"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ophelianime — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:22:21 +0100

taking the second one

Re: Adopt an Opening line

wolfoffallenshadows — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:15:16 +0100

Francisco was rather confused. He was being sat upon by a dragon, however, dragons did not exist.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

RoboPhantom — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:58:02 +0100

These have all been taken from past NaNos. Given that it's been a couple years, I'm not certain if these are all mine or if I took them from the adoptables. Either way, here you go. " . . . and that is why we are here today.” Name felt a strong tug on his cheek and he jerked awake, blinking blearily at the bright florescent lights of the room. The sound of footsteps echoed through the alley as a group of boys made their way toward the local cemetery. There was a loud thunderclap, and slowly Name raised her head. As Name swam into the realm of consciousness, the first thing she felt was a powerful throbbing in her left arm. The town of {Town}is known for a number of things, not the least of which being good parties and strong beer. It has the finest cloth and tailors in the region of {Region} and had the second highest rate of fatal kite flying accidents in the world.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SapphyreMoonlyte — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:11:19 +0100

Taking "the sun shone in hell." Leaving: Somewhere down the line, something went wrong. I was French. Suddenly, the world was a complete mess. (feel free to reword that, it's one in the morning.)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

mustardgirl — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:43:26 +0100

everyone always says that life throws you lemons. but what happens when it starts pelting limes? I adore this! I now have a beginning AND an ending. Thank youuu :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ciera_Linnert — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:45:16 +0100

Love the pants. Mine is close. "Does my beard look like pants?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

volando_voy — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:00:51 +0100

"If the girls are allowed to walk around wearing boxers, I don't see why I can't. They're totally dress-code appropriate. See?" When (MC)’s sleep-addled brain finally processed the soft rustling sound that had woken her up, her first thought was that she was finally going to see an authentic New York City rat. Oh, Times New Roman, how I dislike you. He doesn't do Christmas. Nearly (X) years may have passed, but her guilt lingers.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

enthralling — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:50:22 +0100

This fits so well with what I am planning to write. Adopting!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MissCellanea — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:09:20 +0100

Taking and tweaking: I could not remember her, but she said she knew me well. It'll work perfect for when MMC from one dimension meets FMC from another, who happens to date him!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Arrora — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:37:34 +0100

Taking: a lot. Leaving: -The rules were simple in this world, but so, so important. Children knew them before they could talk. They had to, if they wished to have a chance at survival. -It was very dark. -For the third time that week, the toaster was on fire. -There were five of them; standing on the narrow walkway of the bridge and watching the cars go past with solemn faces. -The knife was cold in my hand. -She jumped as I opened the door.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Tolaura Bookchild — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:54:45 +0100

Like any good story, this one doesn't start with the guy, this one starts with a girl... What ever you do, don't open the closet....1 word velociraptor. Don't worry, it was nothing Science couldn't fix.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sariaru — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:15:54 +0100

Leaving: "You know, no matter how far or how fast you run, your ghosts catch up with you." "There is something about the specific pain of a toothache that is outrageously annoying." "She woke up with blood on her [article of clothing]. Two things were wrong with this. One, the blood didn't smell human and two, that was her favorite [article of clothing]." ""My name is [name]," he said, trying to sound relaxed and supremely confident despite the circumstances. "And I'm here looking for you."" "I've never done this sort of thing in my life."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

stephensdemise — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:54:01 +0100

Taking: A bunch Leaving: No matter how good they were, even the seers couldn't predict this. Meanwhile, back at the ranch... He was unceremoniously tossed out of the casino, his brother right behind him. Everyone's heard about the chicken that crossed the road, but I didn't see a "Dragon Crossing" sign. The last class of her school day seemed to drag on endlessly. The child was in the yard alone. After years of torment, the boy finally lived his dream of killing his father. Only he never thought it would be be to end his father's suffering. The dark sky hovered ominously over *town*, and MC was sure it was bringing a lot more trouble than a mere thunderstorm. The man behind the wheel was unquestionably drunk. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If that's true, then I am now made of titanium. The payment had been received. It was too late to stop the hit. As a rule, school shooters were male. Susie was going to debunk that notion. There was no avoiding it, the time to act was now. The guy had enough pills to stock a small pharmacy. Happily ever after is the real fairy tale. She stood alone over the bonfire, chanting in a language I couldn't understand, her fingers weaving intricate shapes in the flickering light. Everyone speaks freely in front of the family pet. If only they knew there were those who can communicate with our furry friends. I swear, that cat thinks I'm food. Connie left the party with as much of her dignity intact as possible. Bob was done being everyone's doormat.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Mel_Aves — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:32:15 +0100

[Wrong thread, content removed by moderator]

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Launisch — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:43:46 +0100

"If the girls are allowed to walk around wearing boxers, I don't see why I can't. They're totally dress-code appropriate. See?" That actually works absolutely beautifully. May be snagging this one. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

farmerswife — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:15:10 +0100

"Circles aren't supposed to break; they're supposed to go around and around at a dizzying rate, and not spin out of control like this. She used to compare her life to a circle, but now she wasn't sure that it was the right term." Me likey. :) I may use this. Thanks! :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ShooterMcGavin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:54:32 +0100

Leaving: 01. He stood in our kitchen, admiring the raw meat on the counter. 02. We watched his flesh explode. 03. Combat has only one law – if you die, you lose. 04. He left a bad taste in my mouth. 05. We're born naked, wet, and hungry; nothing has changed. 06. Genome mutation frightened the public – if not outwardly, then in the convenience and vulgarity of their private homes.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kariana20 — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:37:41 +0100

Having eaten the entire cheesecake in one sitting, Benedict regretted it. Far more distasteful than the hurt he'd caused his stomach was the ache he'd inflicted upon his carefully cultivated sense of moral superiority.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

andifadoubledeckerbus — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:48:47 +0100

taking the last, tweaking.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

andifadoubledeckerbus — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:55:07 +0100

Leaving: There are feathers all over the floor. The sky hung grey and heavy over (location). It kind of reminded me of porridge.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SapphyreMoonlyte — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:00:51 +0100

Leaving only one right now. Nobody knew much about the man, but he sure had style. After all, who else would use candy as an escape tactic?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lisa-bob — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:23:08 +0100

bahaha!!! I love all of yours. I'm going to take "Not everything needs to be attacked on sight. Things might have turned out better if someone had told us that at the beginning." because I laughed the hardest at that one. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lisa-bob — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:34:54 +0100

I can't use it, but I love : I'd heard the saying 'he had a monkey on his back' a thousand times, but until today, I'd always assumed the monkey was a metaphor. Funny!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rosabelle — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:40:02 +0100

Let me tell you a lie.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Drillbit_the_knitter — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:46:34 +0100

If you asked me what item I would have brought on my adventure, it would have been ______. But, unfortunately, there's a supreme deficit of __________ when you're running for your life.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CadaeicCicada — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:05:29 +0100

I love it! I can't use it, but I love it!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fractured_Chaos — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:44:04 +0100

A few from my own files (most of which is fanfic). Feel free to tweak as needed. ~The normally frigid desert night turned sweltering under the thick, insulating layer of smoke. Soldiers well behind the front were coated in greasy sweat that stained their uniforms inside and out. But shedding layers was out of the question; no one wanted to feel the dead on their skin any more than was necessary. ~Most people only listened to words, but the silences between them could also speak volumes to the attentive ear. ~The high walls and the new moon gave excellent coverage for a predator, but what could hide him could also hide his prey, and she knew this place far better than he did. ~[Dog's Name] ears pricked and MC glanced up as a jeep rolled slowly past, laden with injured and sick on their way to the closest triage unit. He almost took his hat off as a show of respect for the walking dead, but figured no one would appreciate the gesture. ~The victim's head had exploded from within, there was a tank of some mysterious red substance in the basement, and an animal that looked suspiciously like a cross between a dog and a human... This was NOT your typical Miami crimescene. ~MC could do psychotic very well. ~MC decided the day was going to go straight to Hell the first time he saw the penguin on Morocco Street. ~ A mime is a terrible thing to waste. ~MC realized he never ever wanted to see something that big, moving that fast, that close up.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Serena Darrin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:49:12 +0100

I want to get this story -out- of my head, so some of it is going up to the adoptables. "It's amazing what people expect. As a young girl, I expected to grow up, get a job, marry; have children of my own. None of that will ever happen." "People ask me why I wrote this down. Because no one would believe me if I didn't write it as fiction. Because otherwise, people, good people, will die without any remembrance, or anyone giving a damn. And maybe, just maybe, if I write my story, the voices will stop screaming in my head That one hasn't worked yet."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

monkeychild — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:47:32 +0100

Here's a few that have rolling around my notebook: This was not the first time I had thought about loosing myself in the airport. Sitting in the bar all I could think about was how much fun it was to say 'vodka gimlet,' and how much I wished the band playing would all die. Welcome to the reptile house, sorry about the lions. Walking down the side of the road with a gas can, I have never felt so much like a cliche, nor hated you more. The cat was pure evil, but we had an agreement. Without the piano we didn't have much of a bar.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

dangerously_dru — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:57:27 +0100

"you’d think roadside assistance would be more on the ball when it comes to a derailed donut truck." I think I may have found employment for my MC :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sydneyyeg — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:05:06 +0100

HA!! using! Thanks :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

syikana — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:11:29 +0100

Possibly taking: I never expected to wake up dead this morning.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Madkatt — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:05:32 +0100

Here's a few from my archives, feel free to tweak BANG! Several billion years later ... A dead mouse isn't my ideal breakfast, but I figured I should at least pretend to appreciate it before stealthily tossing it out. Cats tend to be rather easily offended. I stared at the picture of me that was currently being shown on the evening news with a big caption under it saying DO YOU KNOW THIS WOMAN? You know that saying be careful what you wish for? Yeah, well I wish I had paid more attention to it I had always wondered what life would have been like if I was born a guy/girl It was a beautiful night to die That fateful day I was woken by my dog prancing on my stomach and slobering all over my face. I had always regretted my parents warped humor at making my middle name Trouble.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lathrine — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:38:24 +0100

Taking quite a few. Oh man, so many good lines! Leaving: - [town/city] was in flames. - As much as I hate the cliche, it was, in fact, a dark and stormy night. - Let me tell you my story. Whether or not you believe it is up to you. But I promise you; every word I'm about to say is true. - "I'm not getting out of bed until it's as warm out there as it is in here!" - You never expect the monsters to attack in the middle of the day. - Of all the rotten days to lose my cellphone. - If I had known my day would turn out like this, I wouldn't have skipped school.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Realmer06 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:40:59 +0100

Leaving: -There comes a time in every road trip where you start to wonder if you'll ever get out of South Dakota. We had reached that point. -Say what you will about the similarities between me and [character], but do not compare me to him/her when it comes to avocados.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

embrown1442000 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:15:00 +0100

I'm taking that first one,too. It totally fits an idea I have. I may have to tweak it though.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

embrown1442000 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:17:40 +0100

Taking that. It may spark an idea some day. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

embrown1442000 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:22:30 +0100

Love the one about the bar. Taking it. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

embrown1442000 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:33:11 +0100

Taking 'You never expect the mosters to attack in the middle of the day.' Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Pixie_Chick — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:50:21 +0100

Leaving: ** Every minute of every hour felt like an endless agony. ** That was the last time I saw him ** "You let him touch you, he knows everything now." ** I'm dead. ** Just the thought of knowing his venom would be in her sent chills up his spine. ** Ever since her (x) birthday, these men have been hunting her down and now (x) years later they still were. Taking: **"If the girls are allowed to walk around wearing boxers, I don't see why I can't. They're totally dress-code appropriate. See?" and a lot more.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MissCellanea — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:50:36 +0100

Might be able to use the silence between the words prompt. Thanx!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

William Blackrose — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:59:02 +0100

Possibly grabbing this one... "The sky is raining blood. Deep copper tears of rust run down buildings older than the oldest child, and pools of ruddy liquid gather in the pavement cracks."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

guardian-hope — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:42:35 +0100

"There can't be a zombe apocalypse, I have to give a pop quiz!"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

steps123 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:50:15 +0100

I'd like to use after someone close to you dies, change the last word to fades, and use the next two lines following. i have a character who can use the spotlight paragraph. i can imagine a cousin estranged saying, "come on, this isn't funny..."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

steps123 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:00:01 +0100

using you know me and the night it happened. thanks

Re: Adopt an Opening line

steps123 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:17:41 +0100

taking i didn't know her, but she knew me well

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Plattinum — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:24:34 +0100

I love the moral fiber line. *grabs* Leaving: "MC had a fairly normal childhood."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

miyavimyv — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:19:13 +0100

It was the fifth of November, and even Guy Fawkes had a higher NaNoWriMo word count than [MC] did at that moment. Nice.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Garneth_Riparian — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:58:12 +0100

I have to admit, I never expected the toads. With all the excitement, all the horror, the daily life-or-death situations, the assassins, the architecture, and the heroics I've seen during the past two weeks, you'd think I'd care a little about all that stuff. But all I can really think about is my bed. I had no idea adventures could leave you so sleep-deprived. "Where are my pants?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

J.E.Blackworth — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:22:32 +0100

The way she didn't give a damn about anything absolutely thrilled me.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Bewitched.Rhapsody — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:15:04 +0100

Okay, I'll give some lines that I think are grabbing. They could apply to practically any story as well. Feel free to take the opening lines and change the tense, change what voice I'm using, etc. The bits of opening dialogue can be said by either the main character or your story or somebody else. Optional second or third lines are enclosed in [ ] those little things. - These heels are killing me. - Sometimes I think I talk too fast. - "Stop doing that." - There's a first time for everything. - She hated the stink bugs. - He knew it as soon as he did it. He really shouldn't have done that. - "Pawn it." - "You stink, man." - I hate her. I really hate her. I mean, yes I love her. But that's beside the point. - She sipped at her tea, crossed her ankles, and hoped that this would be over soon. - "Try me." - So I've come to a few conclusions about my life. - He had hoped everything would just fall into place. - I'm tired of smiling. - Twenty cents of change was in my pocket. [That's how it started.] - I've got something I want to say. - "You sicken me." - He was watching that sappy movie for the hundredth time. - She called things by name. - When I first met her, she bit me. - "Ah, hell." ["What?" "...Where are my pants?] - "Lend me a hand, will you?" I could go on, but I'll stop here.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

candicebeever — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:49:17 +0100

Love it! It's perfect for another story I'm working on.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

candicebeever — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:50:01 +0100

Sorry, I was talking about the lemons. Forgot to mention that. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

just.another.unique.mind — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:24:31 +0100

When you imagine the end of the world, you imagine a catastrophe, a disaster, adrenaline, a villain, hero working his ass off to stop it. You don't expect for the world to sit back and watch, for everyone to just let it happen. You don't expect the silence.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

windcaster42 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:32:05 +0100

Leaving: -Ordinary lives were meant to be lived by ordinary people. -Where were you when it happened? I was there, but where were you? -*Character name* felt the fist before he/she saw it coming. Like a deer struck by a speeding car, *Character name* fell to the ground. -Lives are ruined every day. I didn’t realize mine could be one of them.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

elefire747 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:50:58 +0100

Taking this! It's just perfect! Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

alinamv — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:02:18 +0100

Aviechan- I have to thank you so very much! I'm taking "It all started with a guest speaker at our school. It started a chain reaction of horrible things, and amazing things. Things I'm going to share with the world, starting now." I'm taking out the "Things I'm going to share..." part, but this line is perfect. It fixes the biggest plot whole in my story. It gives me an intro that will draw the reader in (hopefully, but certainly it was more interesting than straight to the test scene one). And lastly, it allws an introduction of characters and a way to build the plot twist more. You have made my NaNoWriMo. I owe you one. :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ryodan — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:45:12 +0100

"A dead mouse isn't my ideal breakfast, but I figured I should at least pretend to appreciate it before stealthily tossing it out. Cats tend to be rather easily offended." Love it! - It was a stormy night in the south of London. But since she just arrived in Paris it didn't really matter to her.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

QuillPenScrawl — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:12:39 +0100

*TAKING but tweaking, "(Character name) is not a particularly attractive name, nor did it belong to a particularly attractive person." (i'm going to make it the opposite way :P ) *LEAVING; I knew today would be a bad day when i found out i was out of coffee grounds. what i did not know was that my day would involve three pairs of handcuffs, a flame-thrower, two glocks, and a box of twinkies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sexmuffin_Cannibal — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:49:37 +0100

When (MC)’s sleep-addled brain finally processed the soft rustling sound that had woken her up, her first thought was that she was finally going to see an authentic New York City rat. That is to awesome!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

nostalgic-romance — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:03:27 +0100

Taking that first one!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Wordgal — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:01:23 +0100

OMG, That just is the MOST PERFECT LINE EVER!!! (The, it was an accident, one) Leaving: Of all the things I’d least like to be, a pin-cushion trumps them.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

jewelinkenya — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:24:54 +0100

"Most people would close their eyes and cower in fear, try to pretend this wasn't happening. Not her though, she simply watched it all go down, not even flinching once." I'm taking this one home! Abso-freaking-lutely right on the money, it's scary. Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

vidar — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:01:41 +0100

I'd love to take this one... "People ask me why I wrote this down. Because no one would believe me if I didn't write it as fiction. Because otherwise, people, good people, will die without any remembrance, or anyone giving a damn. And maybe, just maybe, if I write my story, the voices will stop screaming in my head That one hasn't worked yet." So, in appropriate fashion I will leave one behind... "After the clouds parted and the sun finally shone down, it glinted off the blade of the knife that was stuck in the body."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Swetlana_ — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:49:23 +0100

you just gave me a brilliant idea on how to start my story! thank you so much! :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

StarFicWhoFighter — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:46:43 +0100

I might use this, it'll give me something to use to make my story longer. I'd just have to tweak it so it's not first person.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

xnira — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:03:21 +0100

Leaving ''It was one of those sweep-you-off-your-feet romances that had gone wrong."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

timeladyinatardis — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:25:47 +0100

"forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash." I quite like this one. Will be using. Thanks! :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Coriander Larke — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:48:25 +0100

CAN I KEEP IT FOREVER

Re: Adopt an Opening line

xrazorbladesky — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:08:12 +0100

Adopting the second one! It works prefect for my story, thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MissAngelAdorer — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:50:58 +0100

A few more: Did you know that the chances of a story beginning right when it's supposed to is impossible? I wish someone would have told me that. All (MC) wanted to do was have a normal day. So it didn't, naturally. Normal can be really overrated.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

thepj — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:28:38 +0100

"All I asked for was a tuna sandwich, and now look!" "No, the disk player, not a sting ray that you seem to have rather cruely spray painted" It was a lovely day for sipping pina coladas on the beach, too bad that the day was taking place in the middle of (city name) and the beach was miles away.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zedell — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:24:43 +0100

I read the synopsis and the story sounds fantastic. Hope my line serves you well, and best of luck.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zedell — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:27:00 +0100

You're welcome! Story sounds great fun (scary fun.) May my line be of use to you.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zedell — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:28:06 +0100

Haha, excellent! I never intended the line to have a meaning, but that suits it perfectly. Nice premise.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zedell — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:28:26 +0100

By all means :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ShinyRaikou — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:43:29 +0100

My bad day started with the explosion...

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lilac encouragement — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:20:40 +0100

I may use the first one :) thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Black Witch Demelzia — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:32:02 +0100

Might adopt that second one for a short story. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kaserl — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:40:04 +0100

That must be in my NaNo somewhere....... I shall make it fit!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

THE MORNING AFTER — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:43:18 +0100

Taking a bunch. And leaving the following: ----- “Here’s the thing, sweetie. Your baby is missing. And unless you come out from under the bed and help us out here, we might never find him/her.” ----- There are magazines about skinny people that exist to show you how you don’t look right. And then there are magazines about food that exist to show you WHY you don’t look right. ----- He draped his arm sloppily over the porch railing, the alcohol warming his stomach and making the world seem more... alive. “Tomorrow,” he said quietly, the word slurred, “tomorrow I’ll be a better man.” ----- When it rains, the mud runs in dangerous rivers down the side of Hooper’s Hill and buries the town in several feet of the dark, sticky stuff. It’s a damn good thing it only rains once every few years. But to (Antagonist), it didn’t rain nearly enough. Every time those storm clouds rolled in, he/she loaded up his/her gun and took another victim, leaving their body on the other side of the hill. By the time the mud receded, there was nothing left with which to identify the body or pin the crime on him/her.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zara Ravenwood — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:57:54 +0100

"Time grew heavy here, like an herb." "For the Love of G'd at least let me take my boots off before you hang me." No one could out run "River" Orin- until the day the side show ringmaster broke his heart." "In the being G'd created the Heavens and the earth- you've reed that book? good this is the progloge-and it has pengines" "Its a well known fact that every novel written in nano must have a Shovel of death." "If your are reading this - I hope to G'd your not driving at the same time." "Many would say destroying your homeworld was an unfortune mistake." "Wanning the narrator of this book was found dead by the side of the road five Minuts ago- this is his/ her manuscript and he/she wants it back."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Eliana Isabella — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:17:42 +0100

It had been seven years in the making, then he had to come here and figure it out. He. Ruined. Everything.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lAura_chris — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:34:54 +0100

I love the last one, I'll definitely use it somewhere :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lAura_chris — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:37:36 +0100

LOVE the emergency one... I have a beginning now, thank you :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

PaintedxWings — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:41:38 +0100

haha the 'You did WHAT?' reminded me of something I say all the time. "You did WHAT to WHO for HOW MANY CUPCAKES?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lady Domino — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:54:58 +0100

love these, wish i could use them.....

Re: Adopt an Opening line

TreRose — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:01:44 +0100

- The first thing you need to know is that I honestly didn't mean to kill him. - This story starts with a birth, but it's not mine. - I want to tell you that this story has a happy ending, but it's probably best if I warn you from the start, it doesn't. - Every single word of what you are about to read is true. This is exactly how it happened. - I loved her. I do love her, I'll always love her. She just happened to be a serial killer, and it was a strain on our relationship. Probably more to come, I come up with loads of opening lines that don't have stories.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lady Domino — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:31:26 +0100

Here is my lousy opening lines from last year The day that changed Laura’s life began just like any other day. Sitting at the kitchen window, she watched the postman walk up the drive to her front door. More bills she thought depressingly. She was surprised therefore, when the postman rang the doorbell. “Dunno whose left you this, but ‘twas on step when got here”, as he handed her a brown box, the size of a shoe box and half a dozen envelopes. Any ideas?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

WhipSmart — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:15:48 +0100

"It's 6:56am, the birds are chirping, Tigerlilly is exuberant and I'm happy." "The year was 1977. It was a cold December morning and I was in jail for being drunk and disorderly. And my cellmate was Bill Gates." "Colin enjoyed being taller than nearly anyone else in the office, but the stilettos were murder on his arches."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

aslightapocalypse — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:40:54 +0100

Taking and tweaking the last one -- thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CarlieD — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:20:48 +0100

I should say "Thank you". I wandered over to your blog, found the line "There are more important things, and less important things, but it’s a small brown kitten with eyes the color of snow that catches his attention."... and ended up with my MMC. Literally. I wrote an entire character around that line.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Walt3rd — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:28:22 +0100

It was a dark and stormy night, really!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Walt3rd — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:29:41 +0100

Elvis Presley turned to me and said "Do you think it will work?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Alamo_Major — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:21:15 +0100

" My mother always told me to wear clean panties in case I got in a car wreck. I never understood that statement until my very first car accident, during which I peed myself. " I just had to. It was too perfect. To perfect, I tell you! Thanks sabba_d!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

GlaiveBreaker — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:40:13 +0100

Where the hell are my pants? Only oily stains remain where paintings once hung. There are too many frozen ape butts, I cannot finish my morning coffee. The end. I'll hang myself if I have to see her again.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

darcydoodle — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:29:46 +0100

Leaving: -If wishes were dollars America would have been out of debt years ago. -Even murderers have families. -So this is what it feels like to be held hostage? -I know what it looks like, but there is a perfectly good explanation for this. -Three is the scariest number.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rarity — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 05:36:47 +0100

Leaving: Character 1 "Is this part of the plan?" Character 2 "No!" One last breath and then I jump. "Hey! No cutting in line. I woke up 15 minutes early for a blueberry muffin and i'm not going to loose it because you don't know how to wait your turn!"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lynzie914 — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 06:27:39 +0100

Taking a bunch. Leaving: -It was unlike her to be in a place like this. -She had always been a sucker for the hero-types, and he fit the bill to a tee. -She was more of a distraction than he would have liked. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t get her out of his head, couldn’t understand why he didn’t want too.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

theindefiniteone — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:42:23 +0100

"Time grew heavy here, like an herb." Taking! Absolutely perfect for my novel. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

theindefiniteone — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:54:43 +0100

Leaving: -I'm falling into the mess of lights and horns and cars, and then I realize that I don't want to die. -Many dreams are broken. And breaking dreams is my job. -Sometimes the days are too cold and he likes to pretend that the world is nothing but happy, peaceful and full of warm hugs and kisses with hot chocolate. -The sun shone in his eyes. He smiled. And then my world ended.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Penna — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:59:30 +0100

The lemon line is hilarious. Mind if I adapt it for my story? Leaving: I washed off the blood idly, vaguely, wondering if they would be able to tell that the blood wasn't mine.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Pretentious — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:58:57 +0100

Got to say I love the second one; won't be using it or anything, but great job. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Katniss1 — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:54:14 +0100

Leaving: "Don't look now, but the man behind us is about to try and kill you."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

japeningrish — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:16:04 +0100

True story-I got into a really bad car accident a few years back, and my friend's pants had to be cut off to get her out of the car. Her sister was with us, and starts yelling at her, "WHY ARE YOU WEARING MY UNDERWEAR? I JUST BOUGHT THOSE, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" to which my friend replied, "well, Mom always said to wear nice clean underwear in case this happened. Your just happened to be nicer than any I had clean."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:04:42 +0100

"The tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night. " Adopting this for future use; it's perfect for my MMC.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

pastmeetspresent — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:31:14 +0100

The General sighed and sat down at the briefing table. His eyes were bleary and tired' after all, it was four in the morning and he hadn't slept for forty-eight hours. "All right, [MC], Let's start from the beginning."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

eeelneekey — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:35:44 +0100

Adopting "There are magazines...", Thankyou :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Mudge the Expendable — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:34:06 +0100

Leaving: I was born, and nobody cared. You know, it seemed like a good idea at the time. The biggest surprise to him was how beautiful Death was.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

obiwancrazy — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:55:54 +0100

Leaving: Seamus Glint was born in 1906, into chaos. (insert your MC's name and year of birth there) I hate neighbors; I hate community; most of all, I hate people in general. I can only see the dead ones. Yeah, I'm creepy like that. Ryder Witt was an idiot, and all the world knew it except for him. (insert your MC's name there). I can't imagine what it's like to be in a dream, because I've never remembered a single one of mine. "When I grow up, I'm going to be just like you." "You can take my life, but never my pride." There are some people you can run away from... some people you can avoid for years; it's just great. Fisk Lang wasn't one of them. (insert someone's name there)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:05:42 +0100

That's awesome! :D I'm so glad it sparked something for you-- I have so many random lines in my head that don't ever lead me anywhere. *sheepish grin* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:10:40 +0100

I'm glad you can use it! :D I figured I'd better get them out into the world in case they'd help anyone else. They've been sitting in my brain waaay too long. *grin* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:16:56 +0100

It's Saturday-- time for some more prompts! :D (lots more on the website, if you want to wander the Saturday Story Prompts category) These are from March 2011: 1. So this is how the world ends, with a sort of hiccup and the sound of someone making tea. 2. Life is rarely about the large choices, but the truth is it doesn’t have to be– mountains can be moved with spoons as well as bulldozers. 3. Dragons were as old as the bedrock, put in place when the world was first formed from the mists. Performing tasks understood only by the First Men and continuing on their slow methodical paths around the world. 4. “Think about it like this, if we don’t go we won’t die.” “Okay, I really don’t think that’s as inspiring as you want it to be.” 5. The tree arcs out from the cliff, branches littered with tiny lavender flowers and wide waxy green leaves shaped like hands folded in prayer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

QuotationRaven — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:55:16 +0100

This story wont start at the beginning, but at the end. .. But you could argue that the end was the beginning... at least for me. The end was MY beginning.. My life.. My time.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

icarus_suraki — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:14:38 +0100

When the man called [your character name here] arrived in the town of [your town name here] he was no longer needed.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CarlieD — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:21:24 +0100

The small brown kitten with eyes the colour of snow is also a character now. :P

Re: Adopt an Opening line

yoctophone — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:15:46 +0100

Taking "The last thing I remember is the apple crumble lighting on fire." Given that I have a Lethal Chef in my cast... :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MercutioColin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:58:21 +0100

It was a normal day in [your character name here]'s house, or at least it would have been if half its inhabitants weren't about to die. Oh well, at least he'd get seconds tonight.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:28:24 +0100

YAYAYAYAYAY!!! *Kermit the Frog happy dance* You have no idea how insanely happy that makes me-- I love that kitten (even if I had no idea what to do with him)-- Am so glad he found a story-home! :D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ShannonPeoples — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:29:46 +0100

taking: "Some things go bump in the night. I'm one of them." Leaving: "I wanted to move far, far away, to some place where bananas weren't called bananas and hugging people was considered harrassment."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BookAndWriterAddict — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:54:39 +0100

"For us, life was like a maze. Every time we thought we found a way out, BAM! We found ourselves head-first against yet another wall. Generally made out of brick." "All I could think about when the sword pierced through my stomach was how ridiculous the phrase 'only the good die young'. I mean, I always thought it was kind of true, but here I was, on the floor, dying. I was young. But I was anything but good. These past few weeks I had devoted solely on getting revenge on the man who killed my parents. And now, my own life was about to be forfeit too." "When I was little, I used to wake up screaming from night terrors. My mother and father would come rushing into my room, repeatedly telling me everything was alright. Everything was going to be just fine. But that was a lie. Recently, I've come to understand that even the worst of nightmare's can come true."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

YukihanaHisako — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:00:48 +0100

"I didn't mean to end the world as I knew it. Honestly. Okay, maybe I did, but I certainly didn't expect it to turn out like this."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

NSorrell — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:43:03 +0100

Am thinking this could be good for someone if they can find a use for it: The small bead of sweat dribbled from his toned bicep – he went to the gym regularly and it clearly showed. He was of truly fine physique. His body was ready for anything, which was strange because he rarely actually did anything.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

anonymous user — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:32:42 +0100

No, (name), run!-- Oh, this is recording? Sorry, it's kind of hard to talk when you're being chased by a (name of creature)! As MC stared up at the creature, his/her tiny brain struggled to compute what s/he should name an eight-armed electric eel with a grudge against humanity.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CarlieD — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:58:36 +0100

Oh, was it a 'him'? It's a 'her' now. Persephone.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

PheonixSong — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:16:26 +0100

I am taking these ALL! They are genius!!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

alannabennett — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:18:28 +0100

Amazing. This fits PERFECTLY with something I've been working on. Thank you so much!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

xxSay — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:39:26 +0100

I love all of these! I may take a few!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Alison_Martin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:21:06 +0100

The first is so cute, I wish I could use it. Will definitely save in hopes of using in the future. Also sounds like something we'd have heard from Steve Irwin. :(

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rarity — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:45:34 +0100

My nanol last year started... "It's you!"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Wondergirl24 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:22:56 +0100

My NaNo from two years ago started: "Does it hurt... dying?" And my last year NaNo started with: It started with a stormy autumnnight, because it always started with a stormy autumnnight. And then an opening I had for another story that I've never finished: The flames were everywhere, she couldn't escape. They're all up for adoptation!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

liliaevermore — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:08:25 +0100

Serious Ones: Has it always been this...dark? She'd think she was dead if it wasn't for all the screaming. FMC was exactly 21 years, 3 months, 1 week, 2 days, 5 hours and 42 seconds old when she died/when the world ended. Who am I? Less Serious Ones: I was going to come up with a brilliant, insightful, clever opening line that really tugged you into my story. However, considering I have just spent a month of my life providing YOU with a half-decent novel, if you want an opening line so much, why don't YOU bloody come up with it. Turtle. I am currently only conscious because of copious amounts of coffee and some drug I found in my son's drawer that is making the computer morph into a stegosaurus. Trust me, any opening line I came up with right now would make absolutely no sense. AND THE KINGDOM WAS CAPTURED FOREVER BY THE RABID BANANAS THE END In Turkish, this opening line would be...in Turkish.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

qof — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:37:16 +0100

I knew it was going to be one of those days when the cat wished me a good morning.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:55:55 +0100

What a lovely name! :) And no worries, whatever he was in my head will never be what he is in anyone else-- which is why I love sharing prompts, it's fun to see where other people take things! :D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

PaulsPuppet — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:21:57 +0100

-The end of the world was the only event I had ever witnessed that was actually real. -There was a reason my mother told me never to run with scissors- a reason I learned the hard way. -I was the favorite child. This was due, in part, to the fact that I was also an only child.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

wovensecret — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:31:51 +0100

I love this, I think I'll use it. thank you!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CarlieD — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:20:07 +0100

LOL! Ciaran thought it was a great name too. I'm not even sure why he named her Persephone.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LovelyRoses — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:36:32 +0100

Adopting "If I had stayed in bed, everything would have been fine." This fits my Novel so wll - thanks for the inspiration!! Leaving: "I've never really loved Open Mic Night, but it's something you get used to after awhile;" and "His eyes glowed like yellow suns, eating me from the inside out, staring at - no, through, my soul."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bighillgoddess — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:24:27 +0100

"She was tempted to ask them at what point this had seemed like a good idea, but she already knew the answer: four beers, fifteen minutes, and two broken ribs ago. She levered herself back off the floor and pushed the ribs back into place with a slightly unsteady palm." Perfect! Lived it, and had a similar line, but this is much better. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

agreysky — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:04:25 +0100

"There was a cloud overhead that was starting to look like a duck. He frowned deeply at it. It wasn't that he had a problem with ducks, rather, he had a problem with pigeons, but the ducks had chased him last time he'd been down by the pond. Twice." I think I'll have to try and use that somewhere.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

moonfreak — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:38:01 +0100

May be stealing: "The rules were simple in this world, but so, so important. Children knew them before they could talk. They had to, if they wished to have a chance at survival." I'm going to modify it to edit an old NaNo with. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

tsatske — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:57:16 +0100

Taking, 'how many crunches can you do?' spliting it into two part dialogue, if that's okay. ThnxQ

Re: Adopt an Opening line

My Two Cents — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:00:56 +0100

Okay, stealing and tweaking "There are things that go bump in the night. I'm one of them.(add)The other is my shin." Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Miss Procrastination — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:10:53 +0100

Adopting: "Some stories -- in fact, most of them-- start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first there are some things you need to know." probably going to play around with it a little, but it's just what i need for my story. thanks! Leaving: the rain pelted down even harder as the lighting smacked the ground and the thunder rolled down into the valley.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Miss Procrastination — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:15:26 +0100

oh i love, "I looked at her face" but i have no where to use it. but i will use "After someone close to you dies" with a little change.... that'll be for a chapter. :) THANKS!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Wrlddomhq — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:27:22 +0100

How does one derail a truck anyway?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

My Two Cents — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:38:12 +0100

Taking: a whole lot. Leaving: The beginning was long past and the end was still a long time in coming... They say that whatever does't kill you makes you stronger...but they're wrong. What doesn't kill you, doesn't kill you. That's all you get. And through everything that happens, you'd think somebody would remember the peaches. There was nothing quite like the sensation of being stared at from behind your back by your university science proffessor in the movie theatre. Enjoy!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CrushersCharisma — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:47:42 +0100

I am certainly taking "He was oddly ordinary. She was ordinarily odd." I have no idea how I'm going to work it in, but I have a feeling it's going to be an epic line of my story. Thanks for coming up with it.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

just.another.unique.mind — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:06:24 +0100

Nothing wakes you up from a dead sleep faster than a panicking politician and the words "sex scandal."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CVG — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:29:02 +0100

I love "Nature always sides with the hidden flaw." Will find a use for that somewhere! Leaving: "If I had thought of the sheep earlier, I'd be a pair of corduroys richer and a handful of nuts poorer. Sheep love hazelnuts." "It was midnight, and the momentous thing we were all waiting for turned out out to be nothing more than some old wigs and some remarkably fresh pizza."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

superstarlala — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:49:44 +0100

OMG that gave me an amazing idea! I'm taking it, but changing it slightly

Re: Adopt an Opening line

angelbriaink — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:29:48 +0100

"There are things that go bump in the night. I'm one of them." I probably won't use it as the first line, but I've got a character who would totally say this.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sunny_Signs — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:49:38 +0100

Leaving, "the day that I accidentally set fire to half of the orchards was not a good day; it was a great day."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

theindefiniteone — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:15:38 +0100

Leaving: -When she sleeps, she curls up into a tiny ball, as if afraid of the world that she has almost left, as if yearning for arms to embrace. -Blood clouded my vision and everything was painful. -Nobody was home that day. Nobody was home the next day, either. Nobody was ever home.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Trina — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:22:15 +0100

Leaving: He had some balls to do that, or at least one, for sure. "Quack" went the cow. Hope you're ready to ruuuuuummmmmmbllllle! No, we're not going to rumble, actually. I was just trying to get your attention. Peace, love, and harmony? Where's the fun in that? MC 1: "There's a rapist on the loose and we've got to take him down!" Slutty MC: "Oh, yes we do."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Felan — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:50:58 +0100

leaving: "I'm in jail for the indecency of having puppets urinate in public."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

marisa-with-words — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:53:05 +0100

Leaving: That white girl don't know what's coming to her. I used to hate being a guy, so I stopped and became a woman.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

DharSii — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:55:42 +0100

I'm adopting Peace, love, and harmony? Where's the fun in that? c:

Re: Adopt an Opening line

DharSii — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:57:34 +0100

Leaving: The only event in my life that I was ever tardy to was the end of the world.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

tinocka — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:11:28 +0100

Have some from things I´ve never finished: “This is really awkward,” she said suddenly, probably in an attempt to break the silence that lay between them. The nights were never quiet. In fact, there was a lot of noise in the apartment. There was the water dripping from a broken tap in the bathroom. The noise from the street deep below. The humming of the fridge and the clatter of dishes in the dishwasher. Usually he turned such ideas down straight away or simply pretended that he did not hear them at all to begin with.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Princess1299 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:36:42 +0100

I especially like the tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night. This is perfect and describes my life right now! Can I run with it...?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

tinocka — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:22:00 +0100

And I forgot to add - also taking a bunch :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

TimothyTurpin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:27:23 +0100

[quote=Wrlddomhq] How does one derail a truck anyway? [/quote] I agree. Trucks do not use rails, as far as I am aware.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

TheLittleBookWorm — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:37:24 +0100

I've taken a bunch, and by a bunch, I mean well over 1000 words of lines :S Whether I use any is a different matter completely :D So, none of these are particularly good, but I'm leaving: -The story books had it wrong. It was never a dark and stormy night at all, but rather, a dark and stormy knight. -The end. Wait, no, that comes later. -Drinking out of a toilet has never been the most socially acceptable thing to do. But then again, [MC] has never been a particularly socially acceptable person. So yeah. I had others, but I forgot them :P

Re: Adopt an Opening line

tyburn_cross — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:05:33 +0100

Kane had been dead and buried for three days now, and was starting to get a bit sick and tired of it. It wasn't a dark and stormy night. It should have been, but the weather is a capricious mistress at the best of times. I remember I last slept on my thirteenth birthday. I'm 34 now. "So vampires aren't allergic to sunlight, they just don't like it that much. And they only avoid garlic because it gives them bad breath?" Aesthetically speaking, there is nothing wrong with my face. Apart from the fact that it's on backwards.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ginaxx — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:21:12 +0100

Taking "if this was your fiftieth time in a diner this week, what would you recommend?”, and seeing if I can come up with anything. I might tweak it a little. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Safriadragonfan — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:57:13 +0100

Tempted by -It wasn't a dark and stormy night. It should have been, but the weather is a capricious mistress at the best of times. .... but adapting it to "but English weather..." (this is currently my fav) also tempted by -The nights were never quiet. In fact, there was a lot of noise in the apartment. There was the water dripping from a broken tap in the bathroom. The noise from the street deep below. The humming of the fridge and the clatter of dishes in the dishwasher. and this -The story books had it wrong. It was never a dark and stormy night at all, but rather, a dark and stormy knight I'll probably use the first or some variant on the second

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Tiikeria — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:42:28 +0100

I may have to use "You'd think after watching so many horror movies, I'd be able to tell when I'd jumped into one." only changing "horror" to "sci-fi" or "fantasy". XD Love it!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Tiikeria — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:46:16 +0100

I love, love, LOVE that last one. I may have to steal that for another story I'm working on. XD

Re: Adopt an Opening line

fletchfletch — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:15:53 +0100

I met her at a wedding - hers.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

PTSmith — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:55:08 +0100

Taking! I love it and I promise it will find a comfy home in my story.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

thebookworm47 — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:45:19 +0100

"Even in the afterlife I found myself worrying about leaving the coffeepot on, but I guess when you die a death patched together with mistakes, you deserve to be haunted by an unsettling need for normality." "I always thought that my father looked like he'd just stepped out of a low budget 80's action flick." "I can tell you right now that this story has a beginning and a middle, but at this point I'm still unclear as to whether it has an end."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MusicalRaven — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:06:22 +0100

Ok, that may just be perfect. taken.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MusicalRaven — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:21:57 +0100

[quote=MarthaBechtel] Feel free to wander and see what sparks your imagination-- after all, no one will ever write the same story twice! :) [/quote] Ever seen The Secret Window?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Unknownspaceadorer — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:29:26 +0100

My wife came home late - with lipstick on her collar.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LozzT-In-Time — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:28:06 +0100

Leaving: I suppose my life as I know it really began the day that I got set on fire; *insert villain/queen bee's name* never did like me.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

IlluminatedDarkness — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:30:20 +0100

Leaving: There aren't that many things that scared Everygirl Nextdoor once her best friend made her come along to help save the universe. Said best friend walking into her house and telling her they had a problem terrified her.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Shinyfox — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:58:49 +0100

Taking the last one. It works perfectly for Benji's opening chapter! Also taking the duck one, that's perfect for Aden's opening chapter :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Margooww — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:30:31 +0100

Leaving: Somewhere in the world was a man waking up, but it wasn't here, no.... here we were all asleep.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Amaryllus Barbagallo — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:18:42 +0100

Taking the last one. Perfect start to a chapter :-)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

meltingcrayons1290 — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:39:06 +0100

Leaving: - It was funny. Not ha-ha funny, but you know... bizarre. and -The smell of the ocean blows in through the flung-open window as we sit on (character's) bed, trying to scrape together words- maybe even a sentence, or two, or three. But there's nothing we can say that will close the distance between us; it's expanding like the moon on the horizon, swelling until it fills the nighttime sky.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

RainbowFishie — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:52:36 +0100

1. The first thing she noticed was the cold. It wasn't the chill of a winter night. Instead, it was the sensation of being frozen in a block of ice. The cold wrapped around her, a thin blanket of icy air. The second thing she noticed was that she couldn't move. 2. "Why do we dream?" he asked her.. "That's the same as asking why we live," she retorted.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CarlieD — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:56:18 +0100

OMG, thank you! The blueberry muffin line will open up breakfast at the Tennant Academy dormitories PERFECTLY!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Netherworld_Inc — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:09:44 +0100

1. Well, it could have worked out better. 2. I tried being competent for a while, but that never quite fell into shape. 3. Thursday nights are the best nights to be alone.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

dangerously_dru — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:13:43 +0100

I assumed more figuratively than literally. Maybe? No? Dang.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zerathon — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 05:50:00 +0100

Oh goodness. I love the second one! I just wonder what it would do to the plot of my novel... probably only good things. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

S.A. Hollow — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 06:21:38 +0100

Taking number 1 but rewording it slightly to fit my story. Thank you. :) Leaving: "One's death should not be mourned, nor should the body be trifled with as it contains several pieces of evidence that YOU, Detective (character name), failed to see." Or so the cat told me that morning.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilMissCellist — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 06:32:31 +0100

"Most people would close their eyes and cower in fear, try to pretend this wasn't happening. Not her though, she simply watched it all go down, not even flinching once." I think this is the perfect line I've been looking for. I think I finally figured out how to start my story appropriately. Thankies much~

Re: Adopt an Opening line

S.A. Hollow — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:01:41 +0100

Leaving: 1. A symphony of arguing erupted from the apartment above me like it did every night and I was ready to start a war. 2. She groped the barrel of the gun; just in time to wake up to an empty room. 3. The nights spent alone are the nights that just keep on giving. 4. A thousand times she wish she could die and attempted in doing so but to no avail. 5. It wasn't that her father was an asshole... No, he pretty much was and that's when she pulled the trigger. 6. We'll live out our happily ever after until the witch that calls herself Death has to take it all away. 7. She could see she was in a rough spot that no knight in shining armor would be able to save her from. 8. He hated Tuesdays. 9. Why were nights not-so-quiet like they used to be? 10. Why did the chicken cross the road knowing very well that a truck would strike it, drag it down the asphalt in a bloody mess and leave it to rot when all it had to do was look both ways?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zerathon — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:13:05 +0100

1. (name) had long ago decided to live by the idea that ignorance was bliss – it would work a lot better if everyone would stop trying to tell her/him things. 2. There is only so much one can do when the world is against you. 3. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but it shouldn’t be doing that.” 4. “How many grenades do we have left?” 5. It was a nice day for a parade. Too bad the deer didn’t agree. 6. “You say that like it’s my fault.” 7. (Name) was one of 'those' people. 8. “That’s it. I’ve had it. I’m becoming a hermit.”

Re: Adopt an Opening line

.edtastic — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:13:00 +0100

1. The world was open to perception. 2. The grains of sand in a hour glass can define a man. It can define his entire existence and the impression he'll leave behind in the world following his departure. A hour glass can destroy a man's sensibility, craft a way into his logical mind and corrupt him. It can also measure the difference between a pass and a fail score. 3.Drum roll please! Pull a face, pout those lips and check out that reflection. God, you're divine. Look once, no twice and make sure it's all good. Not particularly hard when you're God. Roll up those sleeves, adjust that shirt and fix your hair. The baddest of the bad, the charming and seductive heartbreak; but don't fear ladies, he won't be on the market much longer. The man's man, the best of the best, the extraordinary... 4.The world always seemed out to get [character'sname] 5. The show was all he had left, but to [character'sname] the show was all he ever needed. 6. White embers of smoke curled futile, fluttering in the expelling oxygen from his lungs as the young boy stared into the soul of decay. 7. Beggar's belief, he had a date. Yes, him. 8. Humanity was at its finest when it was at its weakest. Its most glorified when it had reached its demise. It was at its most beautiful when it had withered and twisted in grotesque agony. Life was at its greatest when it was dying. 9. [Character's name] world was starting to bend together, something her mother would wisely describe as an 'acid trip'. 10. He gambled on people's lives like they were nothing. 11. The mirror lied to the man, like it had a thousand times before.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

40milliondaggers — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:29:08 +0100

"Its a well known fact that every novel written in nano must have a Shovel of death." EUREKA!! It finally all makes sense now! Taking this, thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ino2cent — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:00:16 +0100

Leaving: 1. Every girls has inner beauty. (insert female name here) isn't one of them. 2. It was morning, breakfast time. While he was eating his oatmeal, he thought about how to break up with his five-years girlfriend. 3. You never win with women. 4. We were madly in love with each other--at least that was what our parents and friends thought all these years. 5. My love for her would be forever. However, almost every day I thought about how to kill her with my own hands. *sorry if my English is not good :)*

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:24:34 +0100

The last Saturday Story Prompts before NaNO begins have been posted! Who knows how many more little lost tangets I'll have by the time it's over... ^_~ *grin* Here's a flashback to older prompts from August 2009: 1. In space, things very rarely settle for going ‘a little bit’ wrong. 2. The trip was plagued with constant rain, from drizzles to downpours and back without a smidge of blue sky in-between. 3. Life might be greener on the other side of the fence, but Chuck had learned a thing or two about being green from Kermit. 4. In most parts of the country the going price for a goat was easily two pigs and a rabbit, but Little Darlington was actually the goat producing capital of the lower fourteen kingdoms and Dorrin was going to be lucky if he could get more than three guinea pigs and a bag of turnips. 5. On the whole, death rays really weren’t that convenient. It’s sort of hard to gloat meaningfully as your master plan comes to fruition when you don’t have an audience. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Keturah Dean — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:50:36 +0100

leaving: I know now that I should have stopped growing up when I knew it all, but I just had to push the envelope.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

HereLiesTheHero — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:40:24 +0100

[Character] knew it was going to be a bad day when he woke up at two in the morning, face down on a paisley-patterned rug with his hands bound behind his back with the tie he'd worn on his blind date the day before. There were monsters under her bed. "It's nothing personal, [hero's love interest]," [villian] whispered, pinning the girl of unusual beauty against the wall, his meat cleaver tickling her throat. "But [hero] has many weaknesses, and I like to take advantage of them. It's just your bad luck that you're his biggest weakness of all." If there was one thing that [character] hated more than moths and sugar-free candy, it was Mondays. "Alright, [character], you've got twelve seconds to explain to me exactly why my house is a smouldering wreck of rubble on the interstate. If you need more than twelve seconds, or your explaination sucks, you have five minutes to write your will on a napkin before I strangle you."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ELOAgent — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:19:59 +0100

Taking: "I always thought that my father looked like he'd just stepped out of a low budget 80's action flick." 2. "Why do we dream?" he asked her.. "That's the same as asking why we live," she retorted. Leaving: Humans are generally useless. We're stupid, idiotic, and selfish creatures, with a desire for normalcy and love. Centuries have passed, and we still believe we're the dominant species of this world. We're wrong, there was another species who roamed the earth long before dinosaurs, humans took it for their own.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:22:55 +0100

A long long time ago, why? :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

modernparanoia — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:49:34 +0100

Like any rare creature, we tend to survive longer in captivity. (Fact: I woke up with this opening line in my head and thought it was from "Girl, Interrupted." Then I looked it up and it wasn't from anything...so y'all can have it.)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ddcross — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:17:07 +0100

Leaving: The problem with the human race is that not one of the participants can tell you where the finish line is, then on a day that usually comes as a complete surprise, it's staring you in the face and you suddenly realize your mother may have been right after all... You might think you'd like to live in a world where you get to sleep around the house all day while the cat has to go out and make a living, but I bet you rethink your position when you find out who get's de-clawed. I used to be an optimist, always looking up, never letting the world get me down, until that fateful day when they forgot to put the manhole cover back.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

the_dolls_dressmaker — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:53:04 +0000

This. made. my. life.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

the_dolls_dressmaker — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 07:02:57 +0000

The "it was midnight" line made me so, so happy, although I'm not sure I can find a use for it. Damn.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ChoKiba — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:31:36 +0000

I absolutely adore it and it seems very much like something my FMC will say after she goes through everything and since I wasn't sure what point of view to write the story in, I believe that you've now given me that as well! Beautiful ma cherie!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

HexNettle — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:56:07 +0000

Stealing "if I could be anywhere right now, you could bet that it wouldn’t be stuck at an abandoned bus stop." But changing abandoned bus stop to party.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kookicat — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:47:54 +0000

"Y'know, you might actually get a hooker if you stop asking them to play Jack the Ripper with you..."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MishMoze — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:45:46 +0000

Ooooooooooooooh. Just decided on my opening line!! Thanks!! (The tears and pain aren't the problem anymore. It's the fear that keeps me up at night.) I've stolen a bunch already, so I MAY change my mind (again) but we'll see.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Britterscotch — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:28:04 +0000

gold star!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

RonaG — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:12:15 +0000

She grew up on a farm where the chickens were treated better than the children. ...don't know why I thought of it, but I dont think i'll ever use it. Hope it finds a good home.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

JpnGrl4ever — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:59:04 +0000

I'm so stealing this! ^-^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

theycallmeAlice — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:35:26 +0000

I may be using this, but I figured I'd leave it, too. Feel free to tweak. [Name] had spent his/her entire life striving for the triviality of normalcy, and now, at seventeen years old, he/she was done. He/She had come to the conclusion that he/she would never be normal, and to strive to do so would only be setting him/herself up for failure.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

petite_boleyn — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:31:50 +0000

Taking the first one. It's going to be very interesting because my MC is a priest who particularly hates hearing confessions.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

William Blackrose — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:54:14 +0000

Leaving: They say smoking can kill you, but when killing is your business......" Feel free to adopt this one.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kittywinkins — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:07:23 +0000

Taking... a whole bunch, to be tweaked to fit my novel. Leaving... 1. The darkness wasn't a problem until it siezed him by the ankles and dragged him to the ground. 2. It is a great misconception that one will always feel at home in one's hometown, especially if one's hometown is filled with oversized grasshoppers... 3. It was the screaming that woke him. 4. Every day he/she silently berated him/herself that he/she had not brought a pony...

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Serpent_Rose — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:37:11 +0000

It was shaping up to be a nice day until I heard about *insert horrible event here*

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SteveBremner — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:39:08 +0000

I think I've reached the age where I start every DAY with that line! :-)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SteveBremner — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:59:32 +0000

In accordance with Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 23, Sections 6502 & 6503, I hereby legally abandon the following unwanted infants on the doorstep of NaNo Hospital: 1) “And that, kids,” said Great Uncle Frank as the firemen drenched the smoking black carcass of our $175,000 Winnebago, “was how NOT to make S'mores.” 2) As Scrimshaw watched the sky behind Mount Hockaloogie ease from black through deep purple to a crescendo of ultramarine flecked with wild copper-golds, the editor of The Canterbury Dictionary Of Proverbs And Aphorisms was shaken by the sickening realization that his whole life had been founded on a lie—the heck it was always darkest just before! 3) “Never mind, Dear,” said Mother as we leaned over the side of the Golden Gate Bridge and watched Dad get smaller and smaller before hitting the water and disappearing, “one day we'll look back on this and laugh.” 4) “FBI,” bellowed the bison-sized lunk with the riot gun, “step away from the pasteboard Noah's Ark, put the hot glue gun down on the floor real slow, and kick it over to the agent,” and we knew that if the dog sniffed out our stash of hand-knitted doll-crinoline spare toilet roll covers in the sacristy ceiling, we were talking 15 to 20 consecutive for every church lady in the basement; and parole—fuggeddaboudit! 5) The guys down the taproom had warned me of the dire consequences of mixing the grape and the grain, but like a fool I began that fateful day with extra raisins in my muesli. And this one's a trouvé, (as the French say in french), found sitting in endearingly dead earnest at the head of a list of aphorisms on a website: 6) I believe this is originally a message from the Dalai Lama (or maybe Ann Landers). Dang, but don't we always get those two confused? Anyone need a MC who's a really crappy psychic/channeler?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

becca1029 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:12:54 +0000

"They say that good guys drive shitty cars which is why I'm sitting on a rust bucket with a blue hood and a red door in the middle of walmarts parking lot." I'm probably not going to use it as an opening line, but maybe dialogue? I don't know, but I like it.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

theycallmeAlice — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:07:49 +0000

This will have a very comfy and warm home in my story.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Wedia1973 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:12:19 +0000

Taking "All things considered..." and using "Dear Brain..." as a saying on a MC's coffee cup.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Wedia1973 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:20:17 +0000

Borrowing #5 for a chapter start!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunatic_Lunite — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:52:33 +0000

I did not expect to see a man in a speedo the first day I walked into my new work/school. As soon as I realized I existed, I wondered why I was alive. "Whoa, there, buddy. I just saved you from doing something dangerous to that pretty lady." Already the "me" from before is fading away faster than I expected. No longer does she sing her songs, and no longer does he listen. "Now isn't this interesting? A hundred years from now you'll be takin' my place and be saying this to your future replacement." "I remember when I was young. I remember when I believed everything would go exactly as I planned. I kind of miss those days, (Character), when we used to talk like this. Of course, you were the chatterbox back then."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lifelessmind — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:18:34 +0000

[quote=HereLiesTheHero] [Character] knew it was going to be a bad day when he woke up at two in the morning, face down on a paisley-patterned rug with his hands bound behind his back with the tie he'd worn on his blind date the day before. [/quote] I love this! I don't know if I can really make it fit in my NaNo story, but I'm nabbing it for *something* :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lifelessmind — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:21:09 +0000

[quote=Lunatic_Lunite] "Now isn't this interesting? A hundred years from now you'll be takin' my place and be saying this to your future replacement." [/quote] Woo! I can give this line a good home for sure! :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Prinkes — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:23:56 +0000

"As soon as I realized I existed, I wondered why I was alive." I can use this!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunatic_Lunite — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:32:48 +0000

Whoa, really?! I was doubtful that anyone who read this would have anything similar. xD I wanna check out your story now!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lifelessmind — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:32:57 +0000

Leaving: That boy was nothing but trouble and I wanted to be [Character]’s saving grace. The sun was beating through my windshield, causing both a glare for me to look through, and an uncomfortable tingle on my fingers. In a sudden rush of clarity, I understood what the problem was: I was still alive.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunatic_Lunite — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:34:02 +0000

I wanna keep tabs on your story, too, now.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lifelessmind — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:36:58 +0000

Vampires that make it to a position of power tend to be there for a while, and there's always an ambitious newcomer :) My connotations to what's being said are maybe different from yours, but this totally fits a scene I have in mind.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Prinkes — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:46:01 +0000

Then we shall be buddies, yes? :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

JustinDGoodman — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:55:02 +0000

Possibly Taking: "In a sudden rush of clarity, I understood what the problem was: I was still alive." (Thank you, lifelessmind.) Leaving: A lizard was baking in the desert sun and looking at it I realized, so was I. The spoiled air of confinement lingered.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunatic_Lunite — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:58:44 +0000

Hahaha, definitely. xD

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunatic_Lunite — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:06:39 +0000

Leaving: "I've read plenty of stories like this to be genre savvy enough to know that at least half of us were going to die. And that there was no way in hell that I wanted to be that unlucky half. Now, if only I knew which ones were lucky..." "I loved him (or her). I loved him so much it hurt. So I had to pay him back. But I didn't mean to stab him that hard." "I'm sick of love songs. When the next love song comes on, I'm ripping my radio from the wall and hurling it out my window. ...Oops. I think I almost hit the new neighbour."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

OprahNoodlemantra — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:26:15 +0000

This is about learning lessons, right? Well, I definitely learned mine: don't follow gorgeous men into abandoned houses. You just end up naked, strapped to a kitchen chair, singing "Buffalo Gals" at the top of your lungs at 4 in the morning.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lady Kiba — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:52:33 +0000

Leaving some that I have stashed away from last year. -"This is going to get us killed, isn't it?" -I have never feared death. Dying was another story. -I do not legally exist. -For the third time this month I was awoken by the sounds of the fire alarms going off. -Decapitating someone is harder than you would think. Possibly using and adapting to third person "Humans are generally useless. We're stupid, idiotic, and selfish creatures, with a desire for normalcy and love. Centuries have passed, and we still believe we're the dominant species of this world. We're wrong, there was another species who roamed the earth long before dinosaurs, humans took it for their own."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

toasterkind — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:19:02 +0000

Oh, I am loving that last one. (Also, is that a reference to Portal 2 I see there? Hehehe)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

modernparanoia — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:54:04 +0000

Thanks! Glad to help. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Banespawn — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:20:13 +0000

This one came to me last night, but I don't have a story for it, and I've got a lot of other stuff on my plate already. On the eve of the fifth anniversary of ____'s birth, his father was beheaded. His mother, in her grief, took her own life the next day. It was a disappointing birthday, as birthdays go.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

M.L. Rhodes — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:32:40 +0000

"Already the "me" from before is fading away faster than I expected." I can use this,, but I probably will tweak it a bit to third person (to go with my story) and I'll most definitely use it in the later chapters. Thank you for putting it up! It goes perfectly with what I have in mind.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

M.L. Rhodes — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:34:53 +0000

Leaving: People say you learn something new everyday. You know what I learned? Never trust a man who believes that the cows are tap dancing in the ballroom.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Majidae — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:48:21 +0000

Stealing. Loving. Caressing. Licking. Occasionally taking it out to dinner.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ryan4143 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:00:17 +0000

One tends to have a guilty conscience when one has, by an unfortunate mishap, effected the destruction of the known universe. With this in mind, you can, I'm sure, understand the agony of my guilt.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

VitaminKO — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:18:03 +0000

Stealing a bunch of random ones. But probably using "All things considered, it could have ended worse, if people ignored the part where [MC] was bleeding to death." Leaving: It wasn't the sight of the bodies that got to him/her. It was the fact that everyone else wasn't even phased that did it. "I never thought I'd be the one sitting here in a jail cell." [C] chuckled. It's hard to count your blessing when you don't have any left.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

poetica — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:34:10 +0000

I love "When you're hanging on by a thread, just how much weight will it hold?" Leaving: The mirror reflected something sinister.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rivanariko — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:57:51 +0000

Leaving: Real silence is when you can hear the wind whistling past a wire fence

Re: The third one!

Terminally Libra — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:15:55 +0000

The second line is perfect for one of my characters! (This was hardly the time to laugh...) Leaving: Rule one when you wake up underwater: Don't breathe in or out. "Unless you have a good explanation why I can't go to the bathroom..." "This isn't the best time to enter in a logical debate for why we are running for our lives."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Terminally Libra — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:19:29 +0000

Adopting: Some stories--in fact, most of them--start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

daeohtara — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:00:21 +0000

Leaving: I would never risk the wraith of a janitor, they never forget!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:23:01 +0000

I'm adopting the second one, about the broken arm. Fits right in with one of my short stories I'm writing. Thanks

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:24:42 +0000

I'm adopting the first one, short and to the point

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:31:44 +0000

I'm taking number 7 about things going bump in the night. I Love it and since I write a lot of horror stories, well....

Re: Adopt an Opening line

zeroone — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:32:24 +0000

"the last thing I remember is the apple crumble lighting on fire" adopted!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:35:13 +0000

I'm adopting the second and third one.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

emilycz — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:50:55 +0000

Playing with the first one might toy with some of the others too just to see if i can get more plot ideas from them These are all really good inspiration for plots!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lunatic_Lunite — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:24:46 +0000

Awesome. Normally I write in limited 3rd person, but since there seems to be a lot of first person writers... Lol. All these intros (save for the speedo) I left are somehow related to my story, so I'm really interested in what you're writing.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

grenouille — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:11:59 +0000

Taking the whatever doesn't kill you... Not using it for opening, but later in the story,though.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Jaded Block — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:40:44 +0000

Leaving: I know what you're thinking. First person perspective means I live. And you're right, I do. But trust me, there are worse things than dying.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SignoraPsycheZenobia — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:11:20 +0000

Taking: at first, everything looks the same Leaving: They always said forgiveness smelled like honey... It was midnight, and the world knew it. This was one of these times where you had to smile or die, and, quite frankly, he hadn't smiled in years. "Truth...." (character) whispered, "What a lie."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

nisalurve — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:00:35 +0000

TAKING: "Y'know, you might actually get a hooker if you stop asking them to play Jack the Ripper with you..." "Now isn't this interesting? A hundred years from now you'll be takin' my place and be saying this to your future replacement."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

leafitz — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:26:47 +0000

Taking: "Truth...." (character) whispered, "What a lie." it's too perfect.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

m0therbrain — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:52:54 +0000

I'm actually going to use the 1st line for my NaNoWriMo story! It'd describe the setting perfectly, thanks so much! <3 And here's a couple opening lines I'm putting up for adoption (not that any of them are good): "Today. Today was a good day. Right up to the part where I died." "I got an offer you can't refuse. But you'll probably do it anyway because you're such an ass."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

IlluminatedDarkness — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:55:09 +0000

Just wanted to say that I love all of these, and even moreso the way you handled the adoption.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

m0therbrain — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:58:26 +0000

"My life is average. Not the kind of average where your day is filled with funny stories and you share them on the Internet - the kind of average that makes even Average Joe throw up his hands in despair and call it quits."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Banshee-X — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:21:46 +0000

Leaving a few: She still kisses like she's in love. We will be remembered as the lovers who mixed their ashes with gunpowder. Her lips taste like cherry cola and sinful Sunday mornings. I wish real boys were like the ones I write about.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

glitteryren — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:51:54 +0000

[quote=Madkatt] I had always regretted my parents warped humor at making my middle name Trouble. [/quote] This is a brilliant line. I'm definitely going to use it somewhere.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bissybear — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

I LOVE this! Doesn't really work with my current novel, but I think I'll adopt it for later :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

chelle-belle — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:07:36 +0000

I might just take: -Many dreams are broken. And breaking dreams is my job Thank you so much!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

amandapapenfus — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:09:55 +0000

Ooh "They told me I was half mad when they found me. Personally, I'd say it was an unfair diagnosis" goes along with the topic I was considering (a tie-in to my last novel which left off in a mental institution). I may tweak it a little, but this will get me going. I may also use "When a man claims to be a liar, do you believe him?" somewhere in there.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BaKa-NEKO — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:51:46 +0000

Leaving: "Everything was on fire, even the family cat."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

chelle-belle — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:53:00 +0000

I like 11, I might just use it somewhere. Thank you!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

fish fingers and custard — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:13:58 +0000

Nobody was home that day. Nobody was home the next day, either. Nobody was ever home. <---using! :D thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

fish fingers and custard — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:17:20 +0000

ACTUALLY! using and tweaking to this: Nobody was home that afternoon. Nobody was ever home in the afternoons. it's kind of the same thing! thank you so much for the inspiration, tho!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

behinddacamera — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:57:40 +0000

tweaking "i did not legally exist" with midnight in just three minutes you've given me a head start, thank you

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Avearia — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:07:35 +0000

Magic had never been so mundane. "Dear Santa," the letter began, "I think there's been a misunderstanding." "The End." It's a funny way to start a story, I know. But it's where mine began. Fire. Everything was burning--even with her eyes clamped shut, (character) could still see the inferno's glow on the back of her eyelids. 'Dragons,' (character) mused, 'are much more intimidating than my textbooks led me to believe.'

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Words for Words — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:29:36 +0000

Adopting... The tears and the pain aren't the problem anymore. It's the fear that keeps me up at night. When you're hanging by a thread, just how much weight can it hold? Will defintiely be using these in my novel somewhere. Thanks! :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

teeksadophilus — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:33:04 +0000

Taking: They always said forgiveness smelled like honey... Gonna have to use that as opening dialogue. Leaving: I was on fire, and for some reason, wondering if I had left the stove on.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

HalcyonInk — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:42:37 +0000

Taking: Real silence is when you can hear the wind whistling past a wire fence. Leaving: The post-it with "Fuck It" scrawled in (character's) untidy handwriting was not how (character) had anticipated beginning the day.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Persnickety Fox — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:10:29 +0000

If it fits, take it. =) 1) After I realized that my life was playing out like a cliché romance novel, I knew I had to change. 2) I wouldn’t say hate, because "hate" is such a strong word. Let’s just say that if [C's] life was at an all-time low, I would love to make it worse. 3) When he says it, all she does in response is close her mouth and blink. But in that instant, he is amazed at how she could look so heartbroken without frowning at all. "Oh look," the treacherous voice in his head mocks, "she’s crying on the inside."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

iona410 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:51:01 +0000

''if I could be anywhere right now, you could bet that it wouldn’t be stuck at an abandoned bus stop.'' ''you’d think roadside assistance would be more on the ball when it comes to a derailed donut truck.'' I've been trying to think of something like this for ages, they're brilliant! May take a bit of tweaking, but they've definitely found a place in my novel :D Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lauren_loserface — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:58:37 +0000

"there are few things in life that cannot be missed, and this, unfortunately, was one of them" Snagging this one with some slight alterations. Besides the title, this is the only part of my novel I've got so far and I have no idea what I'm going to do with it :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sadie. — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:25:41 +0000

Taking "The tree arcs out from the cliff, branches littered with tiny lavender flowers and wide waxy green leaves shaped like hands folded in prayer." It should work fairly well actually. Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CKHopper — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Love the "Dear brain i'm divorcing you." Hope to find a use for it. :) Leaving: "And just when it couldn't get any worse..." "The day seemed to drag on from where MC sat behind her stodgy desk. Only another half hour until she could escape to..."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sunydaze — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:25:19 +0000

Taking and tweaking #5.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Imagination34 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:58:57 +0000

[quote=kaleighlady] everyone always says that life throws you lemons. but what happens when it starts pelting limes? [/quote\] I am taking this one! Thank you <3 ^_^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:53:47 +0000

I'm so glad you can use it! :D I'm always happy when one of the random bits sparks and idea for someone else, I feel so guilty jotting them down and then never using them! >.<;; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:55:36 +0000

Huzzah! :D Who knew a tree would end up being so useful? *grin* Glad it sparked something for you! ^_^ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:01:45 +0000

I'm so glad you could use it! :D I love it when the random bits find their way home into a story-- I feel bad for not using them myself after all these years! ^_~;; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Hush. — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:04:27 +0000

[quote=Noonii_cat] Also, some from last year's thread... - It was one of those summer evenings where everything felt sepia-toned, where anything and everything you did was both glorious and entirely correct. [/quote]Stealing this for potential use, as it's quite pretty. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:04:28 +0000

Huzzah! :D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

theghostoffightingthenorm — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:19:19 +0000

Can I please take one of these? The "the tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BlueJackolantern — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:57:40 +0000

Leaving "You're surprised at all the blood"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Annie-May — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:39:14 +0000

Taking and tweaking #2, I love it and it fits perfectly! Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Elleon — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:42:14 +0000

Leaving: If only people could file restraining orders against dreams.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Yel — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:15:38 +0000

Taking the second one~

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Giselle-Bell — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:26:31 +0000

I am madly in love with the last one! "He was oddly ordinary. She was ordinarily odd." This fits my brother/sister main characters perfectly! THANK YOU!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Alaura — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:35:22 +0000

The tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night. [/quote] That sounds like a perfect opening for the kind of novels I write ^^

Re: The third one!

Misunderstood-Hanyou — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:41:17 +0000

I like that one! It works nicely for me. Leaving: She knew she should have had that second cup of coffee that morning.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SeekingPerfection — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:45:02 +0000

They're all great, I may be taking one (or more) of the following. :) 'the tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night.' 'there are few things in life that cannot be missed, and this, unfortunately, was one of them.' 'forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash.' 'after all of that, the only thing I can do is wait' 'when you’re hanging on by a thread, just how much weight can it hold?'

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kamakananikilohi — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:41:39 +0000

Taking the third one, though I may tweak it a bit. Leaving: If ever there was a time to lie, this was it.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

leighalove — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:54:46 +0000

Hahaahahah.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Zerathon — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:01:59 +0000

:) you just re-inspired me with my plot

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Arianna Erlaine — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:07:47 +0000

Sometimes you need to read the end before the beginning.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Larkie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:21:12 +0000

"I washed off the blood idly, vaguely, wondering if they would be able to tell that the blood wasn't mine." Brilliant, with a bit of pronoun tweaking it'll work perfectly with my story. Maybe I'll even tweak it a bit more, ideas are forming~ Thank you so much~

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Larkie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:53:50 +0000

"It wasn't that [MC] didn't like the guy. He just thought he had a face that asked to be slapped on a daily basis." Tweaking and using~

Re: Adopt an Opening line

aknight92 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:15:16 +0000

"That was the best party ever," he said, while wringing the blood from his shirt. This is fantastic! I'm totally working it in somewhere :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sofzapmadd — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:17:37 +0000

[quote=Elleon] Leaving: If only people could file restraining orders against dreams. [/quote] I believe I will take that. Leaving: If my life was a musical, about now is where the singing would begin.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Temily — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:21:55 +0000

Stealing and tweaking the first one! Thank you :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

troublewings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:36:14 +0000

Love..

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ohayjay — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:53:10 +0000

I'm adopting "Everyone goes mad sooner or later, it’s sort of a coming of age party for the recently hermit-ized." Only, I'll tweak it a little. Thanks a bunch! Leaving: When you think cuddly, you think puppies. Kittens. Rabbits. Nobody wants to cuddle reptiles. I think that's why I like them so much. Bread goes with butter, fries go with ketchup, and Mountain Dew goes with online gaming. You know that moment where you're so far out of control that even you are watching yourself from outside your body thinking, "What is my problem?" Well, my moment is now.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

troublewings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:53:14 +0000

The "Dear brain" line is going into my stockpile... It has far too much potential not to mull on it for a later story.

Re: The third one!

troublewings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:55:50 +0000

While I won't be using it for an opening, the "holding cell" line gave me a brilliant idea for part of my story. ^_^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sunlit x tides — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:08:09 +0000

Using the first one.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CaraWong — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:36:45 +0000

Here's a couple I've never found a use for: "When the time comes and you find your soul mate, no one ever tells you how inexplicably boring happy endings are." "My heart beat like millions of timpani drums, I could swear that it echoed into the endless distance and could be heard by the stars."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

AMSP — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:56:42 +0000

Leaving: Deep in my gut, I knew it was a clue, /the/ clue. On closer inspection it was obviously Mr Tiddles, the tabby from next door. What? So I never spoke 'gut' very fluently.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

wayward_wings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:03:26 +0000

Leaving: She handed me a pair of black suede high heels and told me to change.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Somnyi — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:11:06 +0000

Taking "This is going to get us all killed, isn't it?" Was gonna use it as a joke, but it worked so beautifully that I could literally play it straight. Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

XcharcoalXashesX — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:54:00 +0000

Taking "Having something isn't the same thing..." but not for an opening line. It fits in with my story perfectly.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

XcharcoalXashesX — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:11:32 +0000

I'm taking "The first clue I had that I had woken up somewhere else was the sunlight" too, if that's alright. Thanks :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

japeningrish — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:33:47 +0000

Just some icon love for you. Friendly Indians FTW!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

boring_as_heck — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:00:11 +0000

Leaving: He stood over the corpse of his biggest enemy, and smiled. I didn't know where to go next, but I sure was hungry.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

princemybaby — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:35:28 +0000

"everyone always says that life throws you lemons. but what happens when it starts pelting limes?" Taking! Thank you, this is perfect!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SleepingKoala — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:45:29 +0000

Ooooh! This is very shiny. Taking and tweaking, thank you very much.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

princemybaby — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:53:12 +0000

Leaving: Sometimes I wonder if I see things out of the same eyes as the rest of the world, or if my brain is just... special.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Flash Delirium — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:05:24 +0000

That last one is almost a perfect description of my MC in the eyes of his colleagues...! The color description even sounds vaguely accurate. /steals! (maybe)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

troublewings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:27:06 +0000

*cracking up over the stilettos line* God, I wish I could use that.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

troublewings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:31:00 +0000

I -love- the last line. I've had a story in mind for awhile that that would be -perfect- for. ^_^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

troublewings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:39:43 +0000

this one just inspired me for some back story for one of my protagonists. thank you. ^_^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Aklo — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:51:47 +0000

Taking: They always said forgiveness smelled like honey... Leaving: I never meant to kill so many people, but things got a bit out of hand.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

thatollie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:57:45 +0000

[quote]The post-it with "Fuck It" scrawled in (character's) untidy handwriting was not how (character) had anticipated beginning the day.[/quote] Taking. And leaving . . . "I'll pretend I didn't see the wires," she promised.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ClassicMoon — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:03:48 +0000

[quote=JustinDGoodman] The spoiled air of confinement lingered. [/quote] ohh....good opening! I shall take, thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KNWhitaker17 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:42:43 +0000

Taking and tweaking: "My heart beat like millions of timpani drums, I could swear that it echoed into the endless distance and could be heard by the stars." If that is alright. :3 You all have the inexplicable talent that I was sadly never able to possess: the ability to create a ground-breaking introduction for a story! XD Good work!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

atheart — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:43:22 +0000

[quote=VitaminKO] Stealing a bunch of random ones. But probably using "All things considered, it could have ended worse, if people ignored the part where [MC] was bleeding to death." Leaving: It wasn't the sight of the bodies that got to him/her. It was the fact that everyone else wasn't even phased that did it. "I never thought I'd be the one sitting here in a jail cell." [C] chuckled. It's hard to count your blessing when you don't have any left. [/quote] Taking: It's hard to count your blessings when you don't have any left. Leaving: It was during the silence I figured out it was someone's breath on the back of my neck. I was cold even though the sun shone brightly overhead.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KNWhitaker17 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:53:33 +0000

Taking this one too: White embers of smoke curled futile, fluttering in the expelling oxygen from his lungs as the young boy stared into the soul of decay. :3

Re: Adopt an Opening line

StarvingScriptWriter — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:58:21 +0000

You'd think after watching so many horror movies, I'd be able to tell when I'd jumped into one. Love this one! I'm snagging it for something in the future... has plot bunnies scurrying around in my brain parts! :0)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Wynn Knox — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:02:02 +0000

Leaving- Your moral fiber is NOT the thread I want to be hanging by!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

StarvingScriptWriter — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:30:49 +0000

This one was great! Absolutely fantastic! I wish I were that witty in real life. Can't use it, but love it just the same. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

GaneshIx — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:19:26 +0000

Definitely taking the library line, though I may tweak it or use it as a chapter. Also considering the emergency line from above and "If they didn't shut up soon she would kill them, lesser being or not." Since I still don't have a definite plot, it will depend on how it all fits together.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Pi314159266 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:51:46 +0000

My opening sentence is: I hate bananas.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

maarow — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:12:27 +0000

When I was maybe twelve I thought I came up with the best opening line ever: "When I started mowing her lawn, I didn't know she was a witch." Eh...still don't think it's too bad. :p Anyway, I'm not a master of the great "hooker" (as Stephen King calls them) but I still enjoy coming up with opening lines. Leaving: "The girl's name was Sarah, and there was a little touch of death in everything she did." "My wife refused to unlock the window and let me in the apartment, which proved unfortunate as I was fifty stories from the ground at the time." "On Tuesday, buttering his toast in the morning before work, Harold suddenly realized that he knew everything." Character names may be changed to suit the story, of course.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

shadowseeker13 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:25:59 +0000

Here's a whole bunch as I put off meeting my daily word count. Looking back, they realized that it had all begun, as most things tended to, with a literal explosion. "What are you - I am - We are not - There is no pankying of hankies between us!" (What pankying of hankies means is up to the author, of course. :D) "... What do you mean, we weren't supposed to steal that? You mean we *weren't* supposed to take the Mona Lisa?" I'd always dreamed of having a pet, but those dreams never involved meeting said pet for the first time when it fell onto my head and tried to claw my face off.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lurv — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:40:21 +0000

everyone always says that life throws you lemons. but what happens when it starts pelting limes? one step forward and it could all fall apart. Ooh, I like these two. Lets see if I can fit them in somewhere.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lurv — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:48:09 +0000

[Character Name] was not an attractive name, nor did it belong to an especially attractive person. ...Ok if I can think of a name for my protagonist, I´ll probably use this one.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CaraWong — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:25:28 +0000

Be my guest. Thank you for the compliment :]

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ayda Dandy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:27:28 +0000

There was always something to talk about when you had no one to talk to. Orchards are like delivery rooms for trees, and I've never really liked hospitals. [Character] was a pretty girl, but there was something vicious in her eyes when she chased that butterfly, and something feral about the way she tore off its wings, turned it into a writhing worm. Smoke makes a terrible windshield.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CaraWong — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:35:05 +0000

Taking: "Sometimes I wonder if I see things out of the same eyes as the rest of the world, or if my brain is just... special." Leaving: One bent aluminum bat, four gallons of siphoned gas, one bloody fist, nine shattered windshields, the whining of a endless car alarms, and the mail of all my neighbors littered across the pavement. Things were about to get a lot more interesting in what I lovingly referred to as "Stepford street" And... How I managed to kill him with a stack of pancakes, I'll never quite understand.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Ayda Dandy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:52:46 +0000

Dear Mom and Dad, I've moved to Mexico. I never thought that the cool metal of the gun would sooth my headache so well. The doctors said I'd never speak again, which was fine by me, because it meant that no one tried to get answers from me.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Grey-Eyed Boleyn — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:56:52 +0000

Leaving- probably for a war novel of some kind- The city was burning- run! The city was burning- hide! If stories were people, this one would be Benjamin Franklin- old, faded and unforgettable for some reason.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

WhipSmart — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:08:16 +0000

Have at it. Those are all there for the taking. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ComposeTheSilence — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:24:07 +0000

lol that last line is brilliant! :) Somehow, I am going to work that one in my story.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Aviechan — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:29:28 +0000

Dropping off lots. Sorry if they sound similar to other people's!>< -Once upon a time... You know what? This sounds really, really stupid. Who am I telling this to, a three year old? -I was supposed to tell you that we were all going to die, wasn't I? Yeah.... sorry about that. -Close your eyes and imagine your happy place. Got it in your head? Good. Now destroy that place, rip it to shreds and make everything you once love into your worst nightmare. That's what happened to me when I came home for Spring Break. -She ran. She ran until her legs burned. She ran until maybe, just maybe, someone would start chasing after her. -It was sunday. The sun shown brightly, almost as bright as his smile. What were they doing? He was throwing away another girl, just like always. -Their hands were wrapped tightly together, and when the worst came they squeezed for reassurance that they weren't doing the wrong thing after all. -They sat there, neither of them breathing, both very much alive. -He buried himself farther under the covers. Today was not going to be his day, he could just tell. -It was dark. It was cold. It was.... peaceful? -It was wrinkled and dirty when I first found the letter. But what interested me wasn't how much damage the paper had taken, but the lipstick smeared all over the bottom. -Animals have good instincts. Sadly, that's exactly why I end up killing any and all I come across. -Being an angel and being angelic were not the same thing. The person in front of me had just made that very, very clear. -He reached out to her, but even as he did she simply continued smiling, and he knew he had screwed up in a way he could never fix no matter how hard he tried. -She had trusted him, and that had gotten her nowhere. So now he was dead, and she was using her own power to take her places. -She had wanted to be a princess, but apparently even Princess's had problems. Why did Cinderella or Snow White always fail to mention these sort of things?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lurv — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:37:40 +0000

The first thing you need to know is that I honestly didn't mean to kill him. Oh dear, this is inspiring.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

queenmommy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:52:24 +0000

Taking and tweaking: -Close your eyes and imagine your happy place. Got it in your head? Good. Now destroy that place, rip it to shreds and make everything you once love into your worst nightmare. That's what happened to me when I came home for Spring Break. Leaving: Portsmouth? Who in her right mind wants to get married in Portsmouth?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Cheesypriestess — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:59:28 +0000

Here are some more openers. I love the first one especially. Maybe I'll write that story someday. Opposable thumbs are such a blessing, FMC thought as she switched on the blender. They were something she'd never thought about until her transformation, but really, how would she make cappuchino fieldmouse fillet milkshakes without her thumbs? It was just her luck that on the day her life changed, she had tried to blowdry her hair while sleeping. If all cyclopes came in the form of kittens, she suspected that they'd have easily be ruling the world by now. Penguins had a much harder time of it. That was why they needed a unicorn. I'm smart. Rather than making lemonade, I chopped down all the lemon trees and made a fort to protect me from life as soon as the first fruit was aimed. It didn't help much though. What use is a fort when there are flamethrowers constantly beating about you from every side, burning away your being? Admittedly, they only threw rotten lemons, but they still STUNG.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Verdigris — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:48:04 +0000

Havn't found a line I want to adopt yet (I have only read 1 of 11 pages after all) but I will leave some here. "Broken bathroom sink, the chipped porcelein speaking of poverty like a minister speaks of faith" "The snow falls down blanketing everything in a thick layer of 'Christ not again' and 'Jesus it's cold'" "You could share it, like a sweet or a disease." 'Once upon a time in [this setting] there lived [MC] and if he knew I was starting this story with 'once upon a time' he'd kill me." "I try to go about identity by not defining myself." "We pirates of trinkets." "We didn't need truths in half heard country songs that we didn't want to listen to anyways but the radio just played and played."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

panic42j — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:20:38 +0000

About sanity, it has been said that you cannot be told where its edge lies, because the only ones who truly know where it is have already crossed it. Carthy was a man who knew where the edge lie and it was his job to make sure people only crossed one way.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BACKDROPsilhouette — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:45:51 +0000

Murder was not just a lifestyle, it was a game, and one that they were particularly good at. ^ Taking this one for a novel I'm working on next month! :3

Re: Adopt an Opening line

mistygal01 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:08:56 +0000

LOL, I love the harold one. I may use it if I can find something to use it in XD

Re: Adopt an Opening line

mistygal01 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:14:34 +0000

haha, I love the Once upon a time one... might use it if I can think of a way XD

Re: Adopt an Opening line

misspenny — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:49:07 +0000

Leaving (It's actually an opening paragraph but whatever): A bridge is one of the simplest ways to connect one world to another. A succession of boards, maybe four inches wide, side by side, like a child laying out matchsticks - until finally there are so many that two entirely different lands have a tangible commerce. Two worlds joined by a wooden purgatory. Hundreds, thousands, millions of people buzzing around each one in chaos or perfect deliberation. Romances built and broken, life created and siphoned away, fortunes won and ruin found. But what happens on the bridge? What happens on the in-between?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

skybluefusion — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:45:45 +0000

Here's a list of lines I considered using but didn't fit my story: I have been walking around with my head in the dirt. I can't believe it's come to this, all our secret codes and battleships. On the surface I was perfect, but down, deep down below I started believing I deserved it and wondering if I was worthless. I love her only slightly less than I loved her before and it is hard to confess, but my love is only nearly love and is not real enough to be the one. Just breathe in and out. Sometimes the miracle of love is meaningless and clumsy like the beating of a heart. I can take a good intention and turn it on its head. It is not beautiful or pure but it exists beyond the shore. From a tiny little spark, to love... All that could have been is like a sailing boat in the sand. I never thought this could happen to me. I see my whole life flash in a perfect vision. Tiny little flashlights leading the way in the dark. I'm a little bit hopeful that we all carry on but part of me still thinks we're all just stardust. Cut in two like the earth and the sea. You would be better off with somebody else so put me back on the shelf. (This is what happens when you listen to an album nonstop for days and nights on end for nearly a week straight....the lyrics invade your every thought!!!!!! Thank you Darren Hayes and "Secret Codes and Battleships" for attempting to hijack my novel!...and in case you're interested I went with "Where are your pants?" for my opening line.)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

mistygal01 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:11:01 +0000

oooh i think that sepia-toned one is perfect, thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BlackYinWolf1234 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:19:26 +0000

Taking: None, yet Leaving: He had no idea how he saved my life by coming to Sunday school with his spiked hair and Avenged Sevenfold shirt. (Feel free to reword that and twist it as needed. It's an idea I've had floating in my head for a long time, but I can't write realistic fiction. ^-^)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ilcristallo — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:25:56 +0000

Totally snagging "It was the screaming that woke him." So perfect!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Verdigris — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:25:16 +0000

glad you like it :D and I'm curious to see what you do with it (if you do)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kai-Wolf — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:00:43 +0000

Omigosh, totally taking the first one... XD. Although I might possibly change the '...who am I telling this to, a three year old?' part to '...who am I telling this to, [insert dumb character here]?' Yep. My mind is working strangely today, as you can see. Kai

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kai-Wolf — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:05:33 +0000

Randomly thought of and totally leaving: A friend once told me, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But now I must contradict that, because that same friend made some lemonade and forgot to put in sugar. Then [insert name here] gave me some to taste. And forgot to tell me about the lack of sugar. Anyways. That is super-duper WEIRD. My mind is working very strangely.... Feel free to laugh. Note: The 'Anyways' is part of the opening line. Or rather paragraph.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rose M. Welch — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:09:32 +0000

A friend once told me, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.". I thought it was good advice at the time, but if I met her again now, I'd tell her that I'd rather use them to chase down the tequila.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rose M. Welch — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:09:55 +0000

Nevermind, I'm taking that for myself.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Paradise Sky — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:01:48 +0000

Love the second one!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

uptheante — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:13:45 +0000

I'll be adopting the last two. They fit my girl perfectly!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

uptheante — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:23:30 +0000

Defiantly adopting, this will work nicely, not for my NaNo, but for a later novel for sure!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kdglynn — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:47:00 +0000

It's Day 5 and I'm starting over. Ew. Anyways as I have been thinking of opening lines here are few that anyone can use: ~The End. Wait? You say you just got here? Well your a bit late. ~Why did I think it would be a good idea to go to Kohl's today? ~This all started because of that single damn tequila. ~I knew bringing my umbrella was a good idea today. It worked as a perfect weapon against my stalker/soulmate. ~Who put the stingray in the bathtub? ~It was a dark and stormy night. I knew this was not going to end well. ~I knew for a fact I couldn't die. There was no way I would miss the 25% Sale at Barnes & Nobles tomorrow. ~Ha zombies! You think those are scary? You've obviously never met My Great-Aunt Henrietta. Now that is a terrifying dead body ~Why do this idiot insist on attacking me every Christmas Morning? ~Good news: I was at the Broadway Production of Wicked. Bad news: I was about to be bloodily slaughtered by my ex-boyfriend. Life's full of tradeoffs.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Attraversi — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:56:22 +0000

Also adopting the 'sepia-toned' opening! Thanks for sharing it!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

iaculum — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:39:21 +0000

Stealing SO MANY of these. I'm cheesing out this year and doing a bunch of short stories, so I'm going to be needing a lot. I'll leave a couple here, though. "It was the most beautiful, magnificent (coat/pair of pants/other clothing item) I had ever seen." "Later, I would realise that touching the stapler was not a very good idea." "The first thing I saw upon waking up, was a mailbox turned on its side. How they managed to smuggle it into the hospital, I still don't know."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

TrioblaAuxreolo — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 04:07:39 +0000

Dropped from story. Needs good home :) "Whispers behind my ear. I can hear them, though they're speaking softly. Their words tickle, as if a million tiny butterflies are rounding though the air and making their way to my brain."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

TrioblaAuxreolo — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 04:57:02 +0000

taking "Close your eyes and imagine your happy place. Got it in your head? Good. Now destroy that place, rip it to shreds and make everything you once love into your worst nightmare. " leaving "I look up and I can see light. Bright light. It hurts, so I'll stop."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Meteor_ — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 05:32:17 +0000

I really like like your second one because I was in a wreck that totalled my car (i wasn't driving) and i ended up in the back of an ambulance my dress hikede up and with this emt that was like CALENDER hot picking glass out of my ass and all i could think was thank god im wearing clean underwear and they're sexy ones too. thank you victorias secret too.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KristinDawn — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:45:37 +0000

When life hands you lemons, shut the hell up and stop complaining.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Avearia — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:46:22 +0000

1) "Smile, wave, quell their worries, then grab their money and run like hell. It was a pretty effective policy." 2) "Watch out for the--!" (crash!) "Don't touch the--!" (CRASH!) "Be careful with--!" (Booom!) "Would you STOP MOVING ALREADY?!" 3) I was having serious dejavu. Like I'd been in this situation before. Which was saying something, since I was currently dangling from a cliffside, 300 feet above a river of lava.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lolalinda — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:27:10 +0000

[quote=QuillPenScrawl] two glocks[/quote] fun fact #54: I've met Gaston Glock once.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Tsutarja — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:20:50 +0000

[quote=TrioblaAuxreolo] Dropped from story. Needs good home :) "Whispers behind my ear. I can hear them, though they're speaking softly. Their words tickle, as if a million tiny butterflies are rounding though the air and making their way to my brain." [/quote] I love this one! :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ThirteenthWind — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:58:25 +0000

1) I want to wine and dine you like the mountains. Drop dead purple against powdered blue skies. Wisps of gloud ghosts haunt the horizon, gray as shades of memory. 2) Don't get caught: All you ever need to know in life. 3) Lists can tell you a lot about a person. More than they'd tell you themselves, sober or high. 4) I guess I'm just one of those people who should always wear a helmet. Just to avoid the dangers. Real and imagined. 5) This is a story I can't tell without starting over a hundred times to tell the good parts again. 6) She lived her life looking in a mirror and walking backwards over mistakes. 7) There comes a night where ghosts sing you to sleep. 8) If you've ever been out alone at night you can appreciate how many stories the suicide lights have got to tell. 9) This could be every form of nightmare you were too afraid to dream. 10) The sign read: "Advanced Notice of robberies/illicit/illegal activity Required. Thank you."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

CarlieD — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:06:47 +0000

FYI. Taking this and tweaking as the opening line to a scene where my MCs are sitting in a history class.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

wingch — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:37:15 +0000

"There comes a night where ghosts sing you to sleep." Absolutely PERFECT for my novel. (Probably said before, but...) The beginning of a novel is such a boring place to start. Instead, I'm going to start, right... here.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Canadan216 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:59:08 +0000

Leaving: "It’s hard to check into a hotel when you have no money. It’s even harder when you have no credit card, debit card, ATM card, socks, shoes or shirt. Don’t even bother asking how I managed to check into a hotel wearing just a pair of underwear, and a note on a piece of paper ripped out of a spiral notebook that read: ‘Check into room 42.’ " Let me know if you use that, and if so I'd love to see what you do with it!! -Dan

Re: Adopt an Opening line

indiekidwritr8 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:09:36 +0000

Taking, and tweaking slightly. Thank you, it´s beautiful.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

indiekidwritr8 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:10:21 +0000

Taking and tweaking. Thank youuu.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

indiekidwritr8 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:14:17 +0000

OH MY GOSH THIS IS FANTASTIC I AM TAKING.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

indiekidwritr8 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:17:59 +0000

Using you know me. It´s perfect, thank you.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

dancerofnight — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:49:38 +0000

taking and modifying "I never promised that life would be happy. All I promised was that you would never die." gave me a plot twist. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

dancerofnight — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:53:56 +0000

"The world had been scheduled to end yesterday, but so far, no one seemed to have noticed. I envy you, for you only have to read these words but I am cursed to have lived them Murder was not just a lifestyle, it was a game, and one that they were particularly good at." all fit perfectly. thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

dancerofnight — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:49:28 +0000

"It was the night of the vampire, and I was a ghost."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:44:34 +0000

Ack, how did I forget to link to last Saturday's prompt post?? I'll blame the cold and the weather and my frantic attempt to catch up my wordcount—sounds fair, no? *grin* There are 83 posts on the blog under Saturday Story Prompts, which means 415 prompts waiting to be read! But for now, here's a blast from the past to tweak your appetites… (June 2011) 1. "Faith, Charity, Temperance-- the Madison's really need to stop naming their girls after virtues, it doesn't work." 2. Other people might have passed him by, but she was feeling charitable. And that was how her Wednesday went from 'good' to '@!#%@#!' in roughly forty seconds. 3. This would be the deciding moment of her career, unless, of course, it wasn't… and then she really wasn't sure what to do next. There were no second tries at masterworks. 4. "Can't we work this out?" He dodged as a larger chunk of what-ever-it-had-been fell off with a wet thud. "You're being unreasonable!" 5. Quests, as a rule, rarely ended peacefully, but she was determined to make this one an exception. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Dreams of Trees - 2011 NaNo Novel! Martha.net - Writing, Model Horses, and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lady_Indis_Dress — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:40:14 +0000

It was a perfect day for a high-speed chase.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bleuhh — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:21:06 +0000

This just hit me: It was then when I was mourning my twin sister's death that I realized it was my name on the tombstone instead of her's. I never understood why they couldn't tell us apart. bonus points if the twins were actually fraternal.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Lady_Indis_Dress — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:19:55 +0000

Double bonus points if the character thinking it is male.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

FantasyGirl14 — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:15:45 +0000

And then it got worse. And then the world exploded. Again. I blinked and looked around. "Why is there a purple monkey?" There was a quiet ticking noise, then a much louder 'boom'. Then I got superpowers! I closed my eyes, and died. Okay, that could have gone better... Let me a paint you a little picture. It has a lot of blobs and splatters, and uses a lot of black and red. It also has a gaping hole from someone stabbing the canvass repeatedly with their paint brush. I looked around at the hole I had just fallen into. "I thought they only did that on tv." Hey, have you ever heard the phrase 'there's always a silver lining'? Bullshit. I. Hate. Mondays. I should have seen that coming. Boom! There was a loud crash as another hoard of zombies broke through the window. "I didn't do it!" My parents always told me not to take candy from strangers, why didn't they tell me not to take love advice from frog prince's? I closed my eyes and threw myself towards the ground. To my surprise, I missed. "Cheep! Cheep!" The chick shrilled, like a psychotic alarm clock on drugs. And then the fabric of time and space was ripped to shreds like it was being pulled apart by a baby alligator with rabies and a caffeine addiction. Wait, what!? Okay, let's try this again... You know what? I don't wanna talk about it, and you can't make me. Oh, okay, wasn't expecting that... "Hello, Mr. Lauren, how decaying going?" The UPS man asked, smiling at the green figure. Flames burst forth, first red, then bright orange, then sapphire blue, then white hot, and finally a magnificent puke green. Ever had one of those days when you wished you had just stayed in bed? "Die! Die, die, die, die, die you stupid little book!" "If I'm going to travel across the world with a giant pink hippo and a miniature witch who electrocutes herself every time she uses her wand, all in the span of five months, to save the world and possibly the whole universe from complete and utter destruction at the hand of an all mighty evil then I DEMAND CHOCOLATE!"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Doc_Savage — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:11:09 +0000

I'm going to steal that for the mid-book introduction of a major character. This is going to be awesome!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KimiX — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:07:17 +0000

I told my friend about this and asked him to make a sea of angry monkeys: http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy144/serjmyhero/AngryMonkeyOcean.png Best stuff ever

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Telcontar — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:21:59 +0000

Most people don't die in brutal traffic accidents, but Character Name was never most people.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Serendipitist — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:24:32 +0000

Adopting: Let me a paint you a little picture. It has a lot of blobs and splatters, and uses a lot of black and red. It also has a gaping hole from someone stabbing the canvass repeatedly with their paint brush. Leaving: He had never wanted a wife.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BlackOnyx — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:44:14 +0000

*Jawdrop* you have no idea how awesome that is! I call dibs (if you don't mind) for a non-NaNo.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

serena_catchingfireflies — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:17:18 +0000

Leaving: Reacting to it would only make it worse, so he/she didn't, staying frozen inside.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

JudgeDeadd — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:50:19 +0000

[character] was born twenty years ago, and, apparently, still hadn't shaken himself from that shocking experience. The city woke up, and realized it was empty. Ah, the first days of spring! The sparkling singing of the birds, the steady chug of the corpse-collector's truck, the aroma of flowers. What do you give a god for their birthday? Enter subway station through eastern door, through the second ticket gate from the left, descend staircase while sticking to the left side and hopping off the penultimate step, wait for the 9:18 train, enter second car from the back through middle door, take the seat immediately to your left, look upwards at the warning sign over the window opposite, stay like this for seven minutes--this is what I had been doing every weekday morning for the past month, so far without results. When the novelists describe the hero's epic journey, they always fail to mention the diarrhea that grips you between one spooky forest and the next. I stared at the article draft for a while and then said, very calmly: "What the hell is this supposed to be?" Today, I am going to kiss everyone. There was darkness, and in that darkness, something was screaming. Nothing else existed. Maria, that shrew, that she-devil. I had a car, cash, and lots of free time.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Anjehla — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:43:14 +0000

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LostLabyrinth — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:00:55 +0000

-I'm just a typical girl. I'm just a typical girl who lives next door. I'm just a typical girl who lives next door and watches your every move. Yes, from time to time, I did think myself a bizarre person. -I am dying – or am I? Because, instead of hearing the children’s wails I heard only a second earlier, the only sound I can hear is my mother downstairs, calling for me to get up. -I always considered myself a meat-and-potatoes kind of person. -I'm usually a nice boy in the daytime. But mornings? Call me Dracula.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Marisa.Ann.H. — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:34:40 +0000

All narrators have the potential to be unreliable. We could lie to you the entire novel, and you would never be the wiser. On that note, welcome to this story. I'm the disembodied voice that will be narrating the chaos within these pages. Let's begin.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lthamer — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:39:16 +0000

Hey Kaleighlady I will adopt the line: "The tears and pain aren't the problem anymore. Its the fear that keeps me up at night." Thanks for the line. I will start trying to work it in. Thanks for the help. Smiles

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lthamer — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:57:51 +0000

Hi Thirteenwind I can't find the thread where I read this, but i wanted to adopt it anyway so I'm putting it here. I hope that is okay. and I quote, "Lists can tell you a lot about a person. More than they'd tell you themselves, sober or high." I tweaked it to read, "A to do list scribbled on a slip of paper, shoved in your pocket, can tell you a lot about a person. More than they would tell you about themselves, or even admit to themselves,sober and faded." Thanks for the inspiration

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Emfitty — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:16:50 +0000

Some the stuff here is really good I'm gonna adopt them and try and spin a few tales thxs :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

PhantomDream — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 06:34:53 +0000

It all started the day I broke a mirror. Not that the mirror is actually relevant to this story, because my luck actually got better. But given as it was the aforementioned mirror that landed me in the ER for the first time that day, I consider it a good indicator of when this tale began.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

amidst-reality — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:25:21 +0000

Taking. =)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Marisa.Ann.H. — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:39:13 +0000

Have fun with it! :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

FantasyGirl14 — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:25:29 +0000

Maybe it had been a week, maybe two, maybe even a month. In hospitals, it's very hard to tell. I folded my arms and waited for the portal to open, tapping my foot. I had never seen a prince before, and this one was kinda disappointing. Light flooded into the room, drowning all shadow and sending all darkness tumbling into it's depths. Miraculously, I didn't die. Well, I could tell you about the time aliens came to my house, but that has nothing to do with this story. She sped through the meadow, light glinting off the pistol in her hand. Okay, I really hate Mondays. Actually, Tuesdays aren't much better. "Got shot, need coffee." I watched in shock as the SWAT team ran into my apartment. It had been an interesting day all in all. I wish I had just stayed home. You know the whole 'teenage rebellion' thing? Well, get kidnapped and held at gunpoint, it gets rid of that real quick. Nothing like the sight of my hot chocolate could sooth me better. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, every muscle finally relaxing. That's when the gunfire started. "I love you!' Such innocent words, such a very different person. I sidestepped the little blue car, and ran into the road, jumping over the next. There was a thump, and I fell. Damn, taken down by a taxi. "I do." As soon as I said the words, I knew something was wrong. So tired... And then the day got worse.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

sansRomeo — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:49:00 +0000

“If I catch you in here again, you will be greeted with a bullet, not a barrel. Do you understand?” [said while pressing a gun to someone's back, head, etc]

Re: Adopt an Opening line

JudgeDeadd — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:36:16 +0000

"Sometimes, I howl in the night."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Crystalme13 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:30:05 +0000

"Really couldn't they come up with a better way to try an kill me." "All I wanted was a large popcorn!" "Please don't notice me, please don't notice me, please don't notice me!" "Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse, this happens."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Arrora — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:14:21 +0000

[quote=JudgeDeadd] "Sometimes, I howl in the night." [/quote] Taking this and a whole lot more :) Leaving: -Everyone knows that Charlotte is incapable of telling the truth. But I like to listen to her anyway. -The coffin is plain wood. -I am no one’s child. -Every sweet thing comes to an end. -I've always been drawn to beautiful things and things that need to be saved.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

everyoneelsehasthoughtofmyothernames — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:18:06 +0000

I'm not adopting any, but here's one I'll leave I really, truly, honestly did think it was a bunny, no matter what the rest of my town says. To me, it doesn't really matter what the rest of my town says, except that they've been hunting for me for the last several months.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

everyoneelsehasthoughtofmyothernames — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:18:57 +0000

That first one reminds me of a Charlotte I know!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ABC Destiny — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:29:14 +0000

wow I like your idea of ghosts singing you ti bed at night

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Leprechaun — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:32:38 +0000

Taking and tweaking the first one to: Everyone knows that Charlotte lies, but she does it so beautifully that you can’t help but be pulled in. On a side note, I feel like Charlotte would be a good politician.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

HecticZ — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:58:18 +0000

Tweaking, thanks! (Starting another novel, and this was a great kick start to make me write)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

katimac12 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:47:37 +0000

There's never a trebuchet around when you need one.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

katimac12 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:58:09 +0000

Taking the dead mouse. Cats CAN be easily offended and need to make a peace offering. :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Black_roses — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:52:45 +0000

Taking the darkness one. It's absolutely perfect! Sadly, I have nothing to leave. :P

Re: Adopt an Opening line

selinedun9 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:23:34 +0000

[quote]"Circles aren't supposed to break; they're supposed to go around and around at a dizzying rate, and not spin out of control like this. She used to compare her life to a circle, but now she wasn't sure that it was the right term."[/quote] Oh. awesome! Thanks :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

katimac12 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:20:41 +0000

The air is think with pollution you can chew on. The sparrow and the robin do battle with swords of song which clash and clatter against each other and shatter to fall tinkling to the ground. The music of my life is composed upon the silver chains by which I bind myself to everyone and everything in my life. She waits patiently for his return, going patiently about her pixie business, and watches the sky, second star to the right, and sighs. Storm-tossed on to the shores of destiny, washed from the sea of calamity, across the rocks of desperation, we stood on the shores, faces lifted to the wind, laughing, laughing like the boat was still there. Starts that would not ignite into stories. Have at them. Apologies for the alliteration.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

lthamer — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:25:06 +0000

I just wanted to say that this is an awesome thread. It has inspired a number of rewrites and interesting rephrasing for me based on your adopt-ables. Thank you for your inspiration. I will have to think of some to leave. I will go work on that now.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MishMoze — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:37:35 +0000

You just started my break-up scene. Thanks.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Black_roses — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:45:56 +0000

[quote=Arrora] -I've always been drawn to beautiful things and things that need to be saved. [/quote] Definitely taking this one, and maybe tweaking

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Leprechaun — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:54:49 +0000

It's never the house that's haunted, it's the people that live inside.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:07:27 +0000

[removed]

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Chaos-Insanity — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:29:43 +0000

There was never enough time, never enough reasons, to defend him. Storm drains all over the city were clogging with long strands of hair, but not mine. (This was yanked from a aborted joke story about everyone not cleaning their hair up after they shower and finally, there is one functioning shower left in town XD)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Chaos-Insanity — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:31:04 +0000

Also, I'm adopting these five and forming them into an opening paragraph. there are few things in life that cannot be missed, and this, unfortunately, was one of them. forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash. everyone always says that life throws you lemons. but what happens when it starts pelting limes? one step forward and it could all fall apart. when you’re hanging on by a thread, just how much weight can it hold?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

RainbowFishie — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:56:42 +0000

They're always watching. No matter where I go, no matter what I do, they always find me. Death is but a mystery, life is but a dream.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Alasse Irena — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:54:36 +0000

[quote=Leprechaun] Everyone knows that Charlotte lies, but she does it so beautifully that you can’t help but be pulled in. [/quote] Gorgeous. Taking it, but not sure why yet....

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Cupiditas — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:30:01 +0000

Here's one line from one of my short stories for English class. My English teacher loved it, but it's up for adoption: I can't believe he said those words. Those three special words that every woman wants to hear. I'm grateful that my boyfriend has said them to me...because many women never gets to hear them. I planted a soft kiss on his lips, the smile still on my lips. Those words still rang in my ears...honey, I'm wrong.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

zellark — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:45:59 +0000

*adopting*

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Octoba — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:43:51 +0000

I used to live across the street from the most spectacular man anyone has ever known.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kitty Sola — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:40:33 +0000

Here's some I've come up with. I write a lot of opening lines and never use them...heh. "[Character name] was one of those girls who could be found upside down, reading a book, wearing rainbow socks and talking on the phone at the same time." "I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, that's my brother. But I am the most dangerous." "Whoever said you gotta love your family wasn't born into mine." "The world beyond is huge, [character name], you might someday visit it." "It came on the wings of autumn, tinged orange for the pumpkins, yellow for the squashes, brown for the leaves and white for the promise of snow. " "In the beginning of the world there was nothing, and from that nothingness emerged Gaea, the earth." (I was rewriting some Greek myths) "The old screen doors creaks as I open it. Every time, I think, every time." "Memories are like frozen slices of time, all filed into someone’s head." "It was impossible. Today was a Wednesday…or was it? Was it the Thursday, the day the train came?" "What do you do when your mom is the most hated teacher at school, and you’re failing her class?" Here we are. Feel free to nick them!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Gwendolyn Butler — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:53:08 +0000

I have a few. ( or couple. I can never get to use when to use which), to leave: People tend not to believe me when I threaten to smite them. That's their first mistake. All I know about the world ending is that it's now someoene else's problem. It was tempting... 1oo% of people die. Fortunately for me, you are one of them. It would be so much easier if you let me lie to you. As long as I remembered, the clock had dominated the square. Everyone assumed it was for telling the time. As I lay bleeding slowly beneath it, I realized they were wrong. It was for telling how much time you had left. As it turned out, the end of the world as all knew it was accident. It was almost a dark and stormy night. I wish it was. Tragedies seem much worse when they happen on the mornings. For her, everything seemed to turn into the question "Why?", and after years of struggling, the only answer she had was "I don't know". (you can switch 'I don't know' to "Because" or "why not.") I hadn't meant to stab [character] with a rainbow umbrella repeatedly. That was just the way things turn out. I wish I could tell you it happened once upon a time, but unfortuantely, this is the time it once happened upon. I am not asking you not to judge. It is impossible for the human species not to judge. In fact, you are probably judging these words as you read them. I am just asking you not to hate. Yet. Later, you'll have plenty of reasons. I'm taking: "The rain stopped on Tuesday", and tweaking "It was not the first time s/he had woken up in a holding cell." to "Contrary to popular belief, it was the first time he had woken up in a holding cell and he was terrified."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

guardian-hope — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:46:38 +0000

Sometimes you make a choice, and it’s the right one. Sometimes you make a choice and it’s the wrong one. Sometimes you make the only choice you can, wrong or right. The thing is, you make a choice, and you live with the consequences. You don’t get a second chance to go back and make that choice again; you can only deal with what follows.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

xAbbiChanx — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:36:20 +0000

I love the last one XD I kinda used it for my last two creative writing projects, and the teacher was like "i'll give you bonus points if you DON'T open with that"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:46:11 +0000

Apologies if my earlier post seemed like spam (I hate spam! :P) so here's some old prompts from 2008 to make up for it! :D 1. Other than the lack of air, the planet was actually quite pleasant. 2. Possibly one of the stupider things he’d attempted in his youth, still Yavn was quite proud of the pair of Usslik tusks that adorned the entryway. 3. Quicker than the eye could follow –which wasn’t hard considering the eyes belong to turtles who weren’t paying that much attention to start with– she was gone. 4. Rather than spend the rest of the day arguing, she relented and let him continue on in the belief that nothing rhymed with orange. 5. This is how the world ends… except it had already ended twice this week and the chance that it was going to stay ended were pretty much slim to none. The universe was notoriously bad at knowing when to thrown in the towel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha.net -- Unquiet Bones (Writing) -- Custom-Models.com (Model Horses) -- Perish Twice (Warcraft) ... because you can never have enough hobbies.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

finchgeam — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:29:25 +0000

Taking: A bunch.... Leaving: A bunch of opening lines that I came up with an hour ago trying to start another story. I don't think I'll be using these. Free to a good home. (character's name) was a pretty girl, but people tended to hate her for no appearant reason. I know what you're thinking.... this better not be some literary crap. If that's how you feel close the book and go into the mall or something. Now it all started when .... MC's life flashed before her/his life, which was weird since s/he was just in the kitchen making breakfast. My sister had always been a friend of mine, because we're the same age, but when she came home with a jar of souls from school I started getting curious how her mind works. This is a story about a group of people. What was special about these people, well for starters they seemed to have weird hobbies, such as ... "Honey ... what are you doing?" My mom screamed at me from downstairs. "Nothing!" I screamed back. Nothing was a lie, but if my mom knew that I was organizing my soul collection, she'd probably worry for some reasons. Being a reaper is not what it's cut out to be. My brother is so lucky to have found someone. She seemed to be the most perfect girl in existance. Little did I know that her existance was a lie. I hate people.Why? Because they hate me. You know what since it's obviously going to happen sooner or later I'd like to break the fourth wall in advance. I'm a book character and you are reading this in the real world! Now that we have that out of the way let's begin the story....

Re: Adopt an Opening line

FantasyGirl14 — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:33:37 +0000

A story is just a journey from A to B, and anyone can take the journey, it's an author's job to describe the many side streets, traffic jams, and hitchhikers that pass along the way. I sing in the morning, I sing in the evening. I sing in the sun, I sing in the rain. I sing in the kitchen, I sing in the street. (Song lyrics in the book) Well, now the the morning is dull and gray, the evening has lost its beauty, the sun has lost its shine, the rain has lost it's melody, the kitchen has lost it's happiness, and the streets have lost their people. Haven't had a happy ending to any of my stories yet, I'm hoping this one will be different. A rose to smell and bring a smile to your face, a pearl to wear at your neck, a sign of beauty and grace. A poem, to bring light to your heart when you are sad, and to remind you that I am here when things are bad. -*Character name* (Also going in romantic lines.) Places of shadow and light, secrets and truths, hope and fear, of fire and ice. Places, of Murr. (Just making up a name of a world, you can change it) As the clock struck twelve the sky turned black, the raven cried and flew from the attack, the shadows quelled and surge over the land, the light dwindling and flowed away, as sand. (Just made up, doesn't really mean anything... Bad stuff.) As you can imagine, the day didn't get a whole lot better. Why are the first lines of stories always bad? Secret fact about (MFC): I always wanted to be the prince. I could start of with a classical line, a funny line, or maybe an exciting line, but I'm kinda tired so you can just make one up and insert it into the story. The sweep of the brush, and the world changes. The child of death, not of misery or sadness, but the blood of death itself. This is her story, the story of 'Daia' (Pronounced Day-a, and in this word translates as Death. Though, you can change that as much as you want.) A day in the life of a normal person. Who just happens to meet a dragon. 'Life is full of surprises' Understatement much? Alright, I've got a good one, I've got a good one. So, a girl was walking down the street, and then she was walking down a street four hundred years in the past.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ShidaHa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:53:27 +0000

Taking "MC could do psychotic very well.". Not as an opening line, though.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KNWhitaker17 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:49:43 +0000

I sing in the morning, I sing in the evening. I sing in the sun, I sing in the rain. I sing in the kitchen, I sing in the street. (Song lyrics in the book) Well, now the the morning is dull and gray, the evening has lost its beauty, the sun has lost its shine, the rain has lost it's melody, the kitchen has lost it's happiness, and the streets have lost their people. Is this a first line? D: this is beautiful...can i use it for a story? omg i am so embarrassed to ask that b/c this is brilliant... v3v

Re: Adopt an Opening line

FantasyGirl14 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:26:48 +0000

Yeah, you can have it. Enjoy.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:07:41 +0000

Here's a few Saturday Story Prompts from last January! :) 1. Turns out Reality has a shelf-life. 2. Money changes everything. It shouldn't, but it does, and now he's trapped behind the family legacy he thought he'd escaped. 3. Every spell drains his life away, replacing his memories with those of his split-soul. 4. When a djinn asks you to dance, the right answer is never 'no.' 5. Empathic magic cared what you felt, Literal magic cared what you said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re: Adopt an Opening line

KNWhitaker17 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:53:49 +0000

thank you so much :3

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:02:06 +0000

Our story begins as so man have ended, with happily-ever-after that was meant to be. A Rock... all she wanted was a rock which she could crawl under. We are told that when a monster is going to attack us we are to run, but how do we run from the monster, if the monster is in us? I would tell you about my day, but I hate people who complain, and enough people hate me right now. Those are all being left,I hope you can use them! <3 Lily

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:05:49 +0000

I could start of with a classical line, a funny line, or maybe an exciting line, but I'm kinda tired so you can just make one up and insert it into the story. [/quote] Hahaha!! I love it, so giving this a home! Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Steampunk avi8or — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:51:21 +0000

Leaving: I turned on the stove, and it clicked a couple times. It didn't light, but instead spewed out the thick smell of gas. Terrified of carbon monoxide poisoning, I flung the back door open and planted my face in the snow. When your house catches fire, it's a bit hard to explain that the reason is because you had your head buried in the snow like a geographically confused emu.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

mjh2395 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:42:43 +0000

I love the rock one! Taking!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MedievalBadger — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:14:10 +0000

"if I could be anywhere right now, you could bet that it wouldn’t be stuck at an abandoned bus stop." Hey! I used this line this year and it was great!!! I've been meaning to say thank you, so thanks!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bananawhale — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Leaving: It's simple: rob the bank, don't get caught. Character 1: "Be a speed lemon--" Charachter 2: "--speed demon--" Charachter 1: "speed demon, you stupid durby horse!!" If only Pandora hadn't put on that add for using Geico on my station, I never would have met that talking gecko. The funny thing is, he didn't talk in an Australian accent... Rain came down in torrents, the pellets washing away the splatter of blood on the sidewalk. From the window of the castle, **instert character name here** saw the army closing in on the kingdom. "Ladies and gentleman, I am proud to present--" and that's when the bomb went off. Enjoy!(:

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:02:49 +0000

She was 14 years old, and had never been kissed. This day would change it. Ooooh! This is the perfect opening line for a non-Nano book I'm planning! (Or if I procrastinate enough next year's Nano)

Re: The third one!

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:18:33 +0000

Oh, gosh. That holding cell one reminds me of my friend. She has literally woken up in holding cells before.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:25:39 +0000

Ahhh! Is your picture Al and Mattie?!?!?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:27:22 +0000

It was thirty minutes after midnight and she was laying on a bed, handcuffed to her best friend (or secret crush/love) in a dark room, and for the first time in her life, she was desperately hoping that she had been kidnapped. "I love you." That was the last thing he had said to her. Then, calmly, impassively, she watched him get shot.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Mizsa — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:39:22 +0000

-She never wanted anything in her life as bad as she wanted him. She just had to figure out how to get his wife out of the way first. -My life has never been easy. I've learned to live with the pain and disappointments.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

FantasyGirl14 — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:03:41 +0000

Some say it's hell to walk in heels, try walking in heels in Hell. *MC's name* rode her bike down the lane as she always did, then she saw it. The body in the road. In a sea of troubles, the distant light of hope seems that much brighter. The sky was cloudy and bleak, a perfect mirror of her mood. He had never actually used his power before, and then he remembered why he hadn't. As the sun peaked over the horizon, she felt her power weaken, and she was human again. I swore under my breath. Damn you Coach Mayfair! They say it's better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all. I wouldn't know, because I've never loved. Till now. It's the *Book title* drinking game! Take a shot every time *Character* loses his/her train of...train of... I'm tired, can we start the book tomorrow? I love a good adventure. Dragons, magic, romance, and in my case a four year old brother to babysit. Fifty bucks to anyone who knows where the plot of this book is. The wind whipped her hair around her face, which was matted with covered by blood and bruises. She looked out at the sunset, and smiled. "I'm free." I'll wait for you in the third row in the *airplane/train* on it's way back to Scotland, if you haven't changed your mind, then goodbye, and I love you." It's a question I ask myself every morning, and every night. If I had gone with her instead, would my life be different?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:05:58 +0000

I like the last one!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:40:54 +0000

Taking "Lying at the feet of my son, covered in my own blood, the life slowly leaving me, I wondered if my actions had been worth the pain. "

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:58:18 +0000

Your symbol looks like a girl with a crooked halo! Sorry, just felt the need to point that out.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:00:27 +0000

I love the last one! I might use the first one as the beginning of a chapter, and I love your icon! HRE is awesome!

Re: The third one!

N-K-W — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:47:40 +0000

[quote=abbyrudnicki] This was hardly the time to laugh, but death just made her so uncomfortable. [/quote] This is perfect! My story opens at a funeral, so thanks you genius you! LEAVING "It turns out that pill is supposed to be taken orally, ever heard of anything as preposterous as that _______?" 'Sometimes life doesn't give you anything, not even a lemon. No, sometimes life just kicks you in the crotch and pisses in your eye.' "So... I take it I won't get my pants back now?"

Re: Adopt an Opening line

helltank — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:41:29 +0000

Leaving: The spy sat in a non-smoking compartment of the 11:00 train to Scotland, reading the newspaper. It was a dark and stormy night. Character didn't like dark and stormy nights. The pen, chopped in half, bled silently, ink trickling out of the neat slice in its middle. Perhaps, it mused, the idiom about the pen being mightier than the sword wasn't literal. Perhaps it shouldn't have picked a fight with a katana. Next time it would start small. A penknife, then a Swiss Army, then a dirk, and next thing you know it was in the ring with Excalibur. Next time. Initially, Character wasn't very happy to have to wade through dead bodies on high heeled shoes, but she soon learnt that it was more annoying than scary. They were like furniture, really. "Haven't you watched any zombie movies? Everyone knows that hiding in a basement with only one exit is suicide!" I was pacing up and down, ranting like a madman. To his credit, Character took it pretty well. What is three?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

-valkyrie- — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:41:48 +0000

It was a bright and sunny night. Yes, that's right. It was midsummer in northern Sweden. There was only one thing the detective knew for sure: It wasn't the gardener. (S)he wondered how this all would end even though this was just the beginnig. A gunshot broke the silence.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

N-K-W — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:52:41 +0000

Stealing! Most bad guys turn out to be the jock, or creepy old guy down the road, or the mean girl, or the bully, or that lady you thought was just some nice old person knitting scarves, or that doctor, or the rather obvious criminal, or maybe if you're someone with super powers it's your arch nemesis [insert super villain here]. But what if the bad guy, the horrible person who you have to fight... What if it's yourself Leaving: well the same my comment above I.E Life kicks you in the crotch,oral pills, and pants. Haha the actual lines I'm leaving are up ^^^^^^^^^^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

BrightLights4264 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:17:41 +0000

Leaving~ "I want to smile, I want to lie. " "Looking straight ahead takes strength, but looking back takes true courage." "Why do people even get second chances? It's not like they ever really deserve them." "“I had a dream and you were gone; nowhere in sight. When I woke up it didn't take long to realize this was reality." "If I hadn't met you that time, I know that in my heart that I wouldn't feel this miserable, this painful, and this lonely. But even so; even so, if I hadn't met you that time, I wouldn't know this feeling of peace, of happiness, of a gentleness that only you could teach me. Even now, I'll smile and look at the stars we share, and be grateful for the time we had together." * “So I basically had a dream about a half-dog half-person, a Canadian YouTuber, and well I guess Kurtis.”

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Smashed_Pumpkin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:33:51 +0000

The monster one is great! I don't have a place for it (or at least, I don't think I do) but I think it's brilliant :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

helltank — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The one about second chances might be good for a satirical/phillosophical novel. Heh.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Phograph — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:21:38 +0000

Taking "“I had a dream and you were gone; nowhere in sight. When I woke up it didn't take long to realize this was reality." Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:23:13 +0000

Thank You!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bananawhale — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:13:31 +0000

I am obsessed with the forum...Help!(; ANYWAY, this is what I leaving behind. Many of them have actually been said in my everyday life, actually. And with that, enjoy! - Swirls of smoke curled into the sky in orange tendrils, the young witch watching from bellow as they left her behind. - A: "...And so the mating male becomes the female and the current second biggest male becomes the mating male." B: "Clownfish are complicated." A: "Seems as if you've just came up with the title for you essay." - I have offically decided that Coke is better than Pepsi; I just killed a man with my Coke can. Any argument is invalid. - A: "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb." B: "And the world's population of females fell in love with the Bieber. Yeah, I think we all know our cliches." - My friendship with *insert name here* is like soda. If I enjoy it while it's fizzing, it's good. But when it's gone flat, I can't even stand think about it. - You know that point in your day with you know nothing you'll do nothing productive for the rest of the day? I haven't reached it yet, and this is a good thing considering I still need to bomb *insert city or important monument* and get away with it. - Gruetzi. Bonjour. Hallo. My name is The Narrarator. Don't bother telling me yours, I don't care anyway. What I do care about is getting this story over with before I forget it. Or worse--nope, that pretty much is the worse that could happen. - A: "And so I ate the sock." B: "Makes complete sense to me." C: "Let's pretend I know what is going on!" - A: "If I was blonde, my name would be Kelly." B: "But, your name is Kelly." A: "So it is."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:58:38 +0000

Hah! Those are great!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kookaburra17 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:37:38 +0000

Give these a good home!: -Orange light filtered through the trees, staining everything a deep shade of amber. The small of spice was in the air, and mist carpeted the ground. -The statue had always sat there, vigilant before the library, intense eyes gazing at the building across the street. Never had it gotten up and strode about like a bored guard going for a stroll to keep himself awake. But things change, even polished stone. Polished stone with no business blocking rush hour traffic and frightening pigeons. -Bookstores are wonderful things. They've always been my sanctuary. The best smell of pages and stories and coffee and that special, soothing kind of solitude.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kookaburra17 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:44:19 +0000

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:10:05 +0000

Ever since I was born, the world has been in turmoil, and I was born to change that. The most important thingsd in life are the things that are never told. This is a story of things never told.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

WriterGirl11 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:09:39 +0000

Taking:A lot. Like a whole lot. Like so much that you wouldn't believe.Unfortunately, I only have a couple good ones to leave: 1)When you're dead, it doesn't matter what side you were on. Your body burns in the same pile as the rest of them. 2)S/he licked the strange salt of tears off of her mouth, relishing the pain of grief, regret, and resentment. 3) The shadowy figure beckoned with one long, bony finger.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kookaburra17 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:25:58 +0000

I love that first one. I'm stealing that to use somewhere. ^^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Kayla Rain — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:39:25 +0000

Taking the first :)

Re: The third one!

All Things Bright and Beautiful — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:23:01 +0000

I love the third one! It's perfect for my story!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

toothybeastie — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:11:29 +0000

Leaving: He was drenched in blood, but that was all right- it mostly wasn't his.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:42:22 +0000

Wow, I like this forum too much:) Leaving: Three Girls were walking down a road. Not very exciting, I know, but don't worry, it gets better. "911, what is your emergency?" Hey! How's it going? Don't answer that, I can't hear you anyway, so I'll just assume you said good. I'm assuming your here for a story, correct? Well, let's get on with it then. (Optional: Have your narator introduce all your characters, then say.. "What's that? I told you I couldn't hear you, but I'm guessing you might be wondering who I am? Ha, Wouldn't you like to know..."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

The_Halla — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:57:39 +0000

"My name is Judas Robinson, and I was twice-cursed at birth: by my mother with my first name, and by my father with my last."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fishwings — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:27:04 +0000

YES

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fishwings — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:14:24 +0000

Taking the character name one!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Elizabeth-of-Rohan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:09:27 +0000

Adopting 2. Thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fishwings — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:38:09 +0000

Adopting the coffin one!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fishwings — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:56:41 +0000

Taking the stapler one!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Fishwings — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:02:12 +0000

Taking, thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Thanatophobia — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:24:56 +0000

Taking "Forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash." Leaving: There was something wrong with her--very, /very/ wrong with her. Why else did she have a hat with bits of yarn taped to it?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Chronophobia — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:38:46 +0000

Taking that one. ^^

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ninja99 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:48:20 +0000

i told him i would go out with him when hell freezes over. i just never thought that would happen so *soon.* the penguin is a lie!!! c1: your ability to say memorably stupid things constantly amazes me. c2: oh yeah? well you face constantly amazes me! ... waite a minuite... careful it is *severly* demonic. you should be nice to nerds. when the zombie apocalypse comes, they will be the ones to invent the cure. don't diss the cat. one day it will eat your soul.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

katimac12 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:33:22 +0000

Taking Peace love and harmony and leaving: Opened the newspaper on the table and took my first sip of coffee. Read the paper and saw a headline on a political scandal, paw, paw, Dear Abby, tummy fur, editorial on fracking, paw, paw, article on science discovery, tail, tail, tail.... She was never a subtle cat. Also, Misheard an NPR report on Dutch Elm Disease as Dutch Elf Disease. Haven't been able to do anything with the Dutch ELf Disease. Please tell me someone else can.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ELOAgent — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:57:17 +0000

Blood was slick against her palms, she was stumbling, slipping, it was like the horror movies that played in black and white. Turning, she whirled face-to-face with the intruder, the knife slipping from her grasp, and fell back. He'd done it, he'd killed her.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Dalnim — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:04:58 +0000

[quote=Elizabeth_Sabourin] Some stories--in fact, most of them--start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know. [/quote] Stealing! Thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Liberty Girl — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:28:16 +0000

Tweaking and stealing, but not using as an opening line. Saving for next years' Nano where the heroine may die.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

silverdream — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:49:33 +0000

Ooh, stealing! That's a brilliant scene-setter, right there :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Anthrozil Warrior — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:42 +0000

[quote=LilyLariaLaton] Hey! How's it going? Don't answer that, I can't hear you anyway, so I'll just assume you said good. I'm assuming your here for a story, correct? Well, let's get on with it then. (Optional: Have your narator introduce all your characters, then say.. "What's that? I told you I couldn't hear you, but I'm guessing you might be wondering who I am? Ha, Wouldn't you like to know..." [/quote] Ooooh! That's awesome! May I take? It would work so well! (I may tweak just a little bit though).

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Birdy Edwards — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:30:51 +0000

"I would tell you about my day, but I hate people who complain, and enough people hate me right now." Taking!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Rukia23 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:36:30 +0000

Well, fuck.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:23:00 +0000

Yeah take it and tweak it to your hearts content=) I'm glad you like it! (And your avartar..... I can't stop laughing!)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:34:51 +0000

Hmm, I haven't posted some Saturday Story Prompts in a while… so en garde! :D 1. The years had been kinder to the city that he would have thought, the twisted masses of concrete and steel still kept rough council against the skies. 2. The difference between a school and an academy depends on who's holding the checkbook and Sir Vincent James had a very firm grip indeed. Which meant our classes, while in general were the same as any other, had a very different bent when it came to specifics. It didn't take long before we were known as Apocalypse U. 3. "Just smile once in a while, I think-- okay, don't smile, definitely don't smile. Are those fangs??" 4. Even the oldest members swore that the names of the founders of The 5 o'clock Society had been lost to the ravages of time, but Brian thought it the alcohol haze might be more to blame. Either way, the grand traditions those founders had passed down were treated just as venerably as if they'd come from Washington himself. Only George probably didn't play quarters after work... 5. Falling and flying were almost the same, and she took to both as easily as she had to water. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha.net -- Writing, Model Horses and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ARealHope — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:06:35 +0000

Taking the third one!!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ARealHope — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:23:39 +0000

[quote=RonaG] She grew up on a farm where the chickens were treated better than the children. [/quote] Taking and tweaking! [quote=Banshee-X] I wish real boys were like the ones I write about. [/quote] Snagging!!! [quote=Ayda Dandy] Orchards are like delivery rooms for trees, and I've never really liked hospitals. [/quote] I love this so much!!!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Octoba — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:54:34 +0000

Taking and tweaking a bit!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LibraryMouse233 — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 03:49:49 +0000

I'm taking too many to copy and paste here. Leaving: I sit here, staring at an empty page. It was a question I continually asked myself. Why does this always happen to me?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

SilentWalrus — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:26:41 +0000

Leaving: Being ambidextrous saved my life.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

bronwynnre — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:09:06 +0000

He stopped on the way out to rub the lucky rabbit's foot. He was going to need all the help he could get, to pull this off. It nuzzled his hand affectionately, and he gave its ears a scratch to thank it for its blessing. The lucky rabbit continued to stare after him a long moment after the door had blocked him from its sight

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Neptunes Sea — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:34:16 +0000

Definitely taking and tweaking :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Neptunes Sea — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:49:53 +0000

Also taking "I could start of with a classical line, a funny line, or maybe an exciting line, but I'm kinda tired so you can just make one up and insert it into the story." :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

iris. — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:12:46 +0000

- Deaths are like dogs - recklessly loyal to their owner. - [character] was the most powerful sorcerer who ever lived. At least, he said he was. To everyone else, he was the local nutter.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Octoba — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:13:14 +0000

Oh goodness! I'm taking the second one. It's perfect!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Birdy Edwards — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:06:45 +0000

Taking for my 1950's fic: "Forever usually seems like a long time, but sometimes, it goes by in a flash."

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Birdy Edwards — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:07:42 +0000

"Paging *insert name here*. Please report to Lab C-15 immediately, the combustible lemons are a success. I repeat, the combustible lemons are a success." CAVE JOHNSON. :D

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Octoba — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 21:00:08 +0000

Leaving: Once upon a time there was me.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:10:39 +0000

Leaving: Today I broke up with my boyfriend, failed a Biology test, and bought pants that should be 2 sizes too big... but that's not the point. Do you mind if I start with a question?

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Scarlet Siverweaver — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:04:26 +0000

Taking: Once upon a time there was me. and The tears and the pain aren’t the problem anymore. It’s the fear that keeps me up at night. Leaving: My name is Saffron Drake, I'm ten years old, and I just shot my father in the head. I was always an odd child. For instance: in preschool, while other girls wanted to be fairy princesses, I wanted to be a pirate.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

TreRose — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:31:15 +0000

All stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. This one starts at the end. Her knee jarred as it hit the floor. That was it, now. She would die. The boy dropped the body into the hole, glancing over his shoulder to make sure his mother wasn't looking out the window. Nobody wants to see their eight year old son burying his playmate. If there's one thing I love more than gossip, it's killing. I never had a friend before.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Chillibean — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:41:51 +0000

[quote=RonaG] She grew up on a farm where the chickens were treated better than the children. [/quote] Shall be taking for a short story :) Thanks! (Oh, and changing the gender. xD)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Birdy Edwards — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:05:16 +0100

Taking and tweaking.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

iris. — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:04:59 +0100

- She had her father's eyes. They were kept preserved in a jar, in the cupboard under the sink.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Echo Ransom — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:06:16 +0100

"It was pretty much a normal day for me, the kind of day when everything exploded in my face." "I must have swallowed my sense of adventure with my breakfast that morning ,because facing theentiree royal navy didn't really appeal to me."'

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Leprechaun — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:11:31 +0100

This is brilliant. I may not use this line, but it's given me a huge plot bunny, so thank you!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

nightblade — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:40:04 +0100

My best friend is dead, she's been that way for a while. Most people knew they were going to have a bad day when they woke up in a straight jacket. {Character} knew it was either a Tuesday or Grandma had gotten into the liquor cabinet again.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MariahBurkett — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:56:47 +0100

[quote=nightblade] My best friend is dead, she's been that way for a while. Most people knew they were going to have a bad day when they woke up in a straight jacket. {Character} knew it was either a Tuesday or Grandma had gotten into the liquor cabinet again. [/quote] Ooo Night, i'm stashing both of these.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MariahBurkett — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:57:44 +0100

Rofl XD

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:43:55 +0100

Leaving: I can't believe I am actually going to do this, I'm going to tell you my middle name. When my life began, the knew I was different. As my life goes on they know I am different. When my life ends, they will know I was different.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

DearMissDarling — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:42:45 +0100

It's mine. MINE DO YOU HEAR ME? MINE!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

LilyLariaLaton — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:59:27 +0100

Leaving: I do believe I am the worst story teller in history, but here we go anyway. You've heard of Frodo right? With the evil ring and Sam and Gandalf and such? Well, this story won't be much like that, I'm not much for road trips. Her smile. That is what he will remember, it is all that consumes his mind as she watches her fall into the darkness.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MarthaBechtel — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:29:56 +0100

Here's a blast from the past from my Saturday Story Prompts archives (107 posts and counting!). Hopefully these little lost openers will spark a story for someone else's muses. :) 1. The city ends in a stumbling rush into the sea, as if the builders had been laying mortar as it fell. The rubble only adds to the illusion and she carefully picks her way among the artistically off-kilter houses, still half-expecting them to fall. 2. ‘Speak now or forever hold your peace’, is much more compelling when someone is holding a gun to your head. 3. She’s never woken before the sun-- A lifetime of sleeping in has left her unjaded to the stark beauty of the sunrise and she takes a moment to watch while Stephen packs the tents. 4. They refused to speak of it later, not because the words weren’t sincere, but because ‘normal’ life had no room for relationships built on terror. 5. Drip. Drip. Drip. Tiny, shiny drops of blood. Dance along the knife blade, quick-quick crimson shower. She watched the hypnotic roll of the droplets as they flowed along the steel, humming a cheerful and woefully inappropriate tune as Michael worked. “Luv, have you ever even seen the Smurfs?” He asked. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha.net -- Writing, Model Horses and Warcraft... because you can never have enough hobbies!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:13:34 +0100

Taking 'If you tell anyone what you read, I'll hunt you down and kill you. also, the bit about the end of the world.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:14:39 +0100

also taking, if you really loved me, I'd be dead now.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:23:48 +0100

Taking the first and third one. They're great

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:27:56 +0100

Taking the first one my dad died, my house exploded..etc.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

The Nerdy Geek — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:18:20 +0100

"Already the "me" from before is fading away faster than I expected." Taking. Thank you! :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sarley — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:00:08 +0100

The weather had been rather bad recently, what with the world ending and all. (Note: having become slightly sick of all these wacky end-of-the-world conspiracies, I had the idea of a book that started with that line, and then continued as if nothing happened, and for the first few chapters only ever made passing mention to the fact that the world was ending/had ended - only really explaining it about a third of the way in. I never could figure out how to make it work, though, so someone else can try and make something of it!)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Sarley — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:06:14 +0100

[quote=LibraryMouse233] I sit here, staring at an empty page. It was a question I continually asked myself. Why does this always happen to me? [/quote] I'm taking and tweaking both of these. They sound so much like one of my MCs! The first one actually sounds great for a SECOND line (seriously, I've been stuck on line 1 for pretty much EVER).

Re: Adopt an Opening line

memilypoo — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:03:17 +0100

He died, as most things do. However, for the sake of storytelling, let's rewind a hundred years.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

kitty63 — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:06:55 +0100

I'm taking the rock one too. Thanks. Short and not so sweet.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

D.M. Lansberry — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:59:32 +0100

"I do believe I am the worst story teller in history, but here we go anyway." Ooh I just might use this! :)

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Tune_ — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:55:09 +0100

Here's some of the opening lines we used last NaNo [we did an unrelated collaboration of short stories], so feel free to adopt a couple of 'em as you see fit: ~ A loud groan echoed out of the study and down the hallway as [MC] scanned over the desk-full of papers and files splayed out in front of him. ~ The faint sound of a door clicking closed seemed to have sealed her fate. ~ She glared across the room, sitting under her legs with her back pressed against old, peeling wallpaper. ~ [not an opening sentence, but use as you wish:] Life itself began falling apart around him, some bits scattered few and far between. When he found a piece, he admired its shining and promising beauty for all it was worth, but soon, even *those* began shattering before his very eyes. ~ "Hurry. Get in." A white van pulled up inconspicuously on the curb, and its back door was pulled opened to make a hasty get-away. ~ "It's ten at night. She should be home by now..." ~ [stole this one from another thread on here:] Have you ever had a feeling similar to that of magic? ~ All he could think about was how *screwed up* this whole situation was; how utterly *stupid* it was. ~ It wasn't her fault -- it was her parent's fault. Weren't they supposed to be the ones taking care of her? ~ His eyes darted to the clock for the tenth time that night [...]

Re: Adopt an Opening line

jessicatew@gmail.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:05:20 +0100

This isn't mine but here it is: Just when you think you've hit rock bottom, life throws you a shovel and tells you to keep digging.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

ARealHope — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:34:39 +0100

[quote=LilyLariaLaton] I can't believe I am actually going to do this, I'm going to tell you my middle name. [/quote] STEALING!!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

nonamas — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:27:03 +0100

"At first, everything looks the same." I'm so taking this! If not to use then to definitely play around with. I love it-- thanks!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

silverdream — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:19:27 +0100

Taking - maybe not for my opening line, but it SO fits one of my characters.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

MishMoze — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:28:37 +0100

"She still kisses like she's in love..." Perfect! I'm just collecting right now....But every one of these is giving me ideas!

Re: Adopt an Opening line

derogatorynonsense — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:13:38 +0100

Taking number two. I can see a future for it already.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Realmer06 — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:57:24 +0100

There comes a time in every road trip when you start to wonder if you'll ever get out of South Dakota. We had reached that point.

Re: Adopt an Opening line

Dream3r — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:10:39 +0100

I am definitely using this one. Thank you! :D (Some stories--in fact, most of them--start at the beginning. But this one starts before that, because first, there are some things you need to know.)