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I am an aspiring writer living and working in Hull. I working on a novel, as well as writing short stories to keep my writing skills fresh. I decided to start a writing blog to connect with other writers. So please, take a look around and leave some comments - I'd love to read some of your writing blogs too. Nari X

Monday 16 July 2012

Everyone loves a good hooker...


Today is the first day of the Blogfest: Hookers and Hangers hosted by Falling For Fiction, so I thought I would take part. 
The idea is to post as many first lines as you like from you WIP from each chapter. Here are my first five hookers from The Poison Maiden:

1. Her scream pierced through their ears like a banshee.

2. She heard them calling her name. They were coming for her.

3.The streets were heaving as the two children made their way back through the village.

4.The sun was creeping lower by the minute, so they hurried. 

5. Jonny dragged his feet as he moved away from Visha's door. The realisation was beginning to crystallise under his skin.

What do you think? Any advice?

***

Continuing the theme, I thought I would share a few of my favourite first lines from my favourite books.

- 'The horn sounded. Arlen paused in his work, looking up at the lavender wash of the dawn sky.' - The Painted Man, by Peter.V. Brett

- 'My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6 1973.' - The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold.

- 'Carlos Missirian was his name. One of his many names.
     Born in Cyprus.
     The man who was sat at the other end of the dining table, cutting into a thick red steak, was Valborg Svenneson. One of his many names.
     Born in Hell.' - Black, by Ted Dekker.

Does anyone have any other favourite first lines/paragraphs from books?

18 comments:

  1. That 'lovely bones' one has to among the greatest of all time.

    Your second one is the best of the bunch and intriguing.

    One of my favourites...okay the only one that came into my head...is from a tale of two cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

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  2. These sound GREAT! Suspenseful! Great lines!

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  3. Thanks for the feedback :)
    Nari X

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  4. I enjoyed all of these lines; from just one line you can tell the mood and atmosphere of your book.

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  5. Loved the first line - love the word Banshee ;) Consider me hooked :)

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  6. Your hookers set an intense feeling. And I want to know more.

    I LOVE the first lines of The Lovely Bones. So good.

    Can't wait to read your hangers!

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  7. I liked all of them... especially the first one.

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  8. I agree with Martin - on both the second of your ones (love it!) and on The Lovely Bones one. Oh and on The Tale of Two Cities. In fact I don't know why I'm bothering to comment except to say, "What Martin said."

    Think the fourth one might be better as two sentences. "The sun was creeping lower by the minute. They hurried... [along the street/through the wood etc.]" I kind of like the fifth one - it's a great image, but not sure it quite works written like this? Maybe I just need to know what he's realising though - and I guess a reader of the whole thing would either know that already or would find out in the next sentence. Otherwise it might need a couple of extra words after 'realisation' ("...of what he'd done" "...of what she'd said" etc.) to remind readers of the previous chapter or something?

    Intriguing. Would love to read it when you're finished!

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  9. Glad I found your blog. Nice hooks, especially the second one. I myself am prone to using too many pronouns, but I'm trying to change that in my own writing. Perhaps the first line would be stronger inserting some character names? Cheers!

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  10. Great intensity in your hookers! Nicely done :)

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  11. One and Two were my favorites. Also, I appreciate the first lines you posted from other books! Well done!

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  12. Ooo, love the intensity. So awesome. Thanks so much for participating!

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  13. #3 makes me really curious 'cause I'm not sure if the streets are heaving 'cause of a natural disaster (earthquake/etc) or from supernatural beasties/influences :)

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  14. These are great! Very ominous and intense. It sounds like a real page turner.

    The first line I always remember is by Iain Banks, "It was the day my grandmother exploded". Unfortunately I never remember which book!

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  15. I love that you used lines from your favorite books too. Your hookers were 'edge of the seat' hookers! Great job!

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  16. Nice intense hooks. Number one is my pick!

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  17. Your hookers are definitely intriguing. Nice work! #1 is probably my fave too.

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