First Line of 20 Stories
This is a meme that I swiped from hieispike that really surprised me. I have random spurts of inspiration that lead me to start writing stories, most of which I've never posted online. I don't want to post multi-chaptered stories that I'll take years and years to finish (except for those I've already posted), especially since I have such little free time these days.
I cheated a bit and didn't really include the last twenty -- I've written a lot during the interim, but most don't go past one or two pages. The lines I've posted are from stories that are (mostly) finished.
20. Kaylee was thirteen years old when she heard an orchestra play for the first time. (Until Then, Firefly: Kaleigh, posted here)
19. Seated in the chair with her arms around her knees, she stared at the little figurines. (Say Something, Firefly: River, posted here)
18. It wasn’t as if Draco Malfoy took that much pride in who he really was. (To the Moon We'll Crawl, Harry Potter: Draco, unposted)
17. When the world is turned upside down by change, it's difficult to press forward. (Paths to Perdition, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
16. Hermione stopped when she felt the gentle chill brush past her face, and for the first time in the two years that she walked the forested path to work, she observed the small grove. (Untitled, Draco/Hermione, unposted)
15, The sun faded below the horizon only fifteen minutes before, but it was already dark. (Written in the Ashes, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
14. Draco Malfoy leans heavily against the crumbling building, breathing in the stench of blood and gas. (White Sand Castles, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, unposted)
13: Nothing remains the same no matter however many millions of prayers are whispered during the night. (Angels in the Stone, Draco/Hermione, unposted)
12: “just breathe,” she whispered in his ear, pulling him up from the icy blackness that tried so desperately to swallow him up, screams and all. (Just Breathe, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, unposted)
11. When they brought in Draco Malfoy, no one could correspond the bloody pulp of a face as his. (The Babylon Project, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, unposted)
10. They were all dead here -- humans, beasts, and youkai alike. (Oft in the Stilly Night, Inuyasha: Sesshoumaru/Kagome, unposted)
11. It smelled as if it would snow. (Stuck in the Middle, Harry Potter: Blaise/Hermione, unposted)
10. Rei stumbled through a dark cavern, guided only by the soft glow of candlelight. (Canto Alla Vita, Sailor Moon: Senshi/Shitennou, unposted)
9. The tip of the candle flame wavered. (Falling Rain, Yu-Gi-Oh: Kaiba, posted here)
8. Baronness Rodmilla de Ghent, once illustrious and honored, washed the royal linens with her bare hands. (Reflections of the Fallen, Ever After: Rodmilla, unposted)
7. Even a Malfoy, no matter how vile, did not deserve to be alone on Christmas Eve. (Star, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
6. The Tower spiraled up like a child’s plaything in a world of giants. (The Day the Music Died, Dark Tower: Roland, posted here)
5. The black shore glittered with shards of pearls and a few tears. (Open Wind, Harry Potter: Lucius/Narcissa, posted here)
4. When was it that I first saw you? (Leap of Faith, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
3. She did not know who she was. (Bride, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
2. “Jean!” Laure screamed as their arrows struck his back. (Before Hogwarts, Before Kingdoms, Harry Potter: Salazar/Rowena, posted here)
1. Dead whispers sighed the mournful song. (Castle of Dreams, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
Patterns? Not so much, I think? I try to use hooks that really interest readers. First sentences really set the mood of the story... I'm not too fond of #9 or #11. The sentences seem way too general; I feel they can be the opening for any story.
I cheated a bit and didn't really include the last twenty -- I've written a lot during the interim, but most don't go past one or two pages. The lines I've posted are from stories that are (mostly) finished.
20. Kaylee was thirteen years old when she heard an orchestra play for the first time. (Until Then, Firefly: Kaleigh, posted here)
19. Seated in the chair with her arms around her knees, she stared at the little figurines. (Say Something, Firefly: River, posted here)
18. It wasn’t as if Draco Malfoy took that much pride in who he really was. (To the Moon We'll Crawl, Harry Potter: Draco, unposted)
17. When the world is turned upside down by change, it's difficult to press forward. (Paths to Perdition, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
16. Hermione stopped when she felt the gentle chill brush past her face, and for the first time in the two years that she walked the forested path to work, she observed the small grove. (Untitled, Draco/Hermione, unposted)
15, The sun faded below the horizon only fifteen minutes before, but it was already dark. (Written in the Ashes, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
14. Draco Malfoy leans heavily against the crumbling building, breathing in the stench of blood and gas. (White Sand Castles, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, unposted)
13: Nothing remains the same no matter however many millions of prayers are whispered during the night. (Angels in the Stone, Draco/Hermione, unposted)
12: “just breathe,” she whispered in his ear, pulling him up from the icy blackness that tried so desperately to swallow him up, screams and all. (Just Breathe, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, unposted)
11. When they brought in Draco Malfoy, no one could correspond the bloody pulp of a face as his. (The Babylon Project, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, unposted)
10. They were all dead here -- humans, beasts, and youkai alike. (Oft in the Stilly Night, Inuyasha: Sesshoumaru/Kagome, unposted)
11. It smelled as if it would snow. (Stuck in the Middle, Harry Potter: Blaise/Hermione, unposted)
10. Rei stumbled through a dark cavern, guided only by the soft glow of candlelight. (Canto Alla Vita, Sailor Moon: Senshi/Shitennou, unposted)
9. The tip of the candle flame wavered. (Falling Rain, Yu-Gi-Oh: Kaiba, posted here)
8. Baronness Rodmilla de Ghent, once illustrious and honored, washed the royal linens with her bare hands. (Reflections of the Fallen, Ever After: Rodmilla, unposted)
7. Even a Malfoy, no matter how vile, did not deserve to be alone on Christmas Eve. (Star, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
6. The Tower spiraled up like a child’s plaything in a world of giants. (The Day the Music Died, Dark Tower: Roland, posted here)
5. The black shore glittered with shards of pearls and a few tears. (Open Wind, Harry Potter: Lucius/Narcissa, posted here)
4. When was it that I first saw you? (Leap of Faith, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
3. She did not know who she was. (Bride, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
2. “Jean!” Laure screamed as their arrows struck his back. (Before Hogwarts, Before Kingdoms, Harry Potter: Salazar/Rowena, posted here)
1. Dead whispers sighed the mournful song. (Castle of Dreams, Harry Potter: Draco/Hermione, posted here)
Patterns? Not so much, I think? I try to use hooks that really interest readers. First sentences really set the mood of the story... I'm not too fond of #9 or #11. The sentences seem way too general; I feel they can be the opening for any story.