Great opening lines draw us in, making it impossible for us to turn away and great last lines linger long, long after we’ve read the end. Two of my favorite first and last lines come from Stephen King’s work.
“The man in Black fled across the Desert, and the Gunslinger followed.” The Gunslinger (1982). Ooh…I know I want to follow them both. Don’t you?
“lady fingers they taste like lady fingers.” Survivor Type (1982). That one even makes my husband shiver and he’s never read the story.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write either the opening or closing lines of a story. Start us off with a bang or leave us begging for more. As usual, any genre will do and the word count limit is 100.
Here’s how it all works:
- Prompt: Create the first or last line of a story.
- Genre: Anything goes. Mystery, Western, romance, historical fiction, alternate history, steam punk, science fiction, horror, fantasy, slip-stream, or whatever.
- Word count: 100 words.
- How to share: You can put it up on your blog and link here or (if you don’t have a blog) you can email (sonia DOT m DOT writes AT gmail DOT com) it to me and I’ll put it in a post for you.
- Time limit: From now until the next challenge is posted in June.
- Prizes: No…no prizes. Just the reward of a story well written.
There were some fabulous stories for the March Writing Challenge. I’ll be updating this post with links to them all shortly. In the mean time, cruise on over and read them here (in the comments).
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I’ll posting over at the Life List Club tomorrow. Come on by and say hello.
Photo Credit
keyboard ~ blur by hobvias sudonelghm, on Flickr CC BY 2.0
Sonia G Medeiros 
Ah’ight den. Here’s an oldie for ya, but I think it fits the bill.
Alright! Thanks. Off to check it out.
Great idea. Great challenge. A great way to kick your mind in gear for greater things. Write the first line. Then you have to finish the book.
So very true!
I *love* this idea! Exactly what @CalebPirtle said… What a wonderful motivator to get you going.
Sometimes a first or last line just begs to have a story. Titles do that for me sometimes too.
It’s even better when the first line is the last line, too, huh? I might give this a try. By the way, I love your new banner! Very creepy and wonderful.
I like that idea, the first line being the last line too.
Thanks! I’m loving my new site look too.
I’ll bite.
Goody! 😀
Can’t find your email so thought I’d post my opening here….
I heaved the body of the fisherman out of the boat. The corpse lay upon the water, the blood seeping from the stab wound in the neck. The fishes he had hunted for so many years swam closer, scenting blood.
Oooh. Yep, I’m definitely intrigued. Just what a first line should do.
Sorry about the email. I’ve been posting these challenges for awhile and I plumb forgot about ever posting my addy. *blush* Will go correct it.
Thanks very much, Sonia. I’ll check out the email and send you the opening lines. Isn’t the internet wonderful? I’m on the French Riviera and we can chat like this.
Fabulous. Did you send them along yet? I haven’t seen them in my inbox and I don’t want to miss them.
Still can’t locate your email. Doh!
Oops! It’s sonia DOT m DOT writes AT gmail DOT com. 😀
Thanks very much, Sonia. I’ll email my opening to you.
The Gunslinger’s opening lines are my favorite as well. Any thoughts on King’s return to the Dark Tower saga?
I have only read as far as the 4th novel. I meant to finish and got sidetracked somehow. Must amend that. I heard he published a revised version of the first novel. I’m a little apprehensive about picking it up since I liked the first so much. I’ll probably have to read them all through again and then check out the revised version.
Besides the revised edition of the Gunslinger King is publishing a new Dark Tower novel titled, “The Wind in the Keyhole,” which takes place right between the 4th and 5th novels. I’m just wrapping up the forth one now, so I’m right there with you as far getting behind.
Aha. I didn’t know about the in between novel. Gonna have to get started on the series again right away.
I’ve been desperately trying to finish “The Wizard and the Glass” before the new one releases–thus far the nice weather has stood in defiance.
LOL Our weather’s all split personality over here.
Same. It snowed last week, but then when the weekend rolled around it 80 degrees!
Here is my first impression (hopefully it impresses):
http://politicalstrife.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/sonia-g-medeiros-april-may-writing-challenge-first-impressions-and-famous-last-words/
Thank you so much. Very cool indeed.
I may have cheated by taking the first lines from a story I’ve been working on for sometime but I thought it would be really nice to see if it does capture others attention and so:
http://awrittenexperiment.blogspot.ca/2012/04/prompted-challenge-first-lines.html
Is the challenge just the first line or 100 words worth of first lines?
Generally, the first line which can be up to 100 words long but sometimes you need more than just one line. 😀
I reread the challenge and saw it was lines. so here`s mine:
Later gators.
I second Towsley. I assume the challenge is to write plural lines? 100 words is a long sentence! lol In any case, I wrote a single sentence, if that’s OK. 🙂
And here it is: http://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/first-last-sentence-a-sonia-g-medeiros-challenge/
Hi Sonia! I entered my three novels-in-progress opening lines on my blog today. I hope it’s not cheating that the first two opening lines were written some time ago. The third was written in response to your contest.
Here’s the link:
Be honest. I can take it. 🙂
Whew! I got behind in checking your offerings. I’m off to go set that to rights.
Here’s mine, Sonia! http://swordsoftheancients.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/100-words-aprilmay-writing-challenge/
Here’s my attempt:
The horn sounded again. Its voice spread through the moonlit valley like a flood, almost shaking the pine branches with its power. The wolf howled. The horse screamed with its rider. The horn was held in the air, matching the crescent moon and casting its pall on the chief of the standing stones. A single blood-red rune appeared, and in that moment the truth was made known – the horn had uttered its last cry.
*shiver* *shudder* Definitely hooked.
This challenge is turning out to be one of my very favorites. All of these great lines really make you want to hear the rest of the stories. 😀
Heres my response: http://juanvillagrana.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/so-that-i-might-thrive/
I know I haven’t done these in quite a while, but I found this to be a great opportunity.
=)
I just found this challenge and figured I’d give it a shot since there’s no June challenge posted that I can find. So here goes:
“Criss-cross applesauce” and “pretzel” – had nothing on Indian-style. It’s foreign. Yet, well, native.
Eek! So sorry it took me so long to reply! THanks for joining. I like that line. 😀
I have a summer challenge. I probably should go change it to “June-August Challenge” so it’s easier to find.