Did you ever wonder how long it took to think of and write iconic opening lines to books?
This thought came to me the other night while trying to get to sleep. Actually, Herman Melville came to mind, ”Call me Ishmael.” Wonderful! Hooks you right in. I love it!
And Charles Dickens, one of my favorite authors, how long did it take him to start the Tale of Two Cities? ”It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Incredible opening.
J.R.R. Tolkien, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. “ A wonderful beginning to The Hobbit.
So many books start with a few words that immediately draw you in to the book. Opening lines are important. They are the first impressions, and like your own first impression, they can either elicit sighs of “WOW” or “UGH”. There are no in-between.
Today, after almost thirty years of hesitating, I wrote my own first impression. Will it ever join the iconic list I mentioned above? I don’t think so. But, after much thought, much skirting around the problem and a whole lot more procrastination, I did it!
I still have research to do, and more character development, but, it has begun. So, without further ado, here it is…. Why is it that the bed you wrestled with nine hours previously is now the most comfortable place in the world?
And that friends, is the result of almost thirty years. What do you think? Be gentle, as I don’t have another thirty years to wait for the second chapter!
Thanks for stopping by today, Cathi (DAF)
dearanonymousfriend 