I LOVE crafting opening lines, and this is such a fun idea! And I already know what my pattern is going to be 😆 In descending order, from most to least recent of my published works (all of which are Good Omens fics):
1. Abide With Me (human AU, rated M, 56k complete)
When the bicycle died, he knew he was in trouble.
2. What I Never Said (human AU, rated M, 95k complete)
3. In His Hand a Burning Coal (human AU, rated E, 515k complete)
August is a shitty time for busking.
4. Psalm 19:10 (canon AU, rated E, 12k complete)
The lights dimmed briefly before returning to full brightness, which still wasn’t very bright—a soft light from yellowed bulbs, far more conducive to sidles and murmurs and intrigues than to hearty greetings and demonstrative conversation.
5. Jingle Heaven: Christmas Night (human AU, 2k complete)
6. Twenty-Five Lazarii (canon AU, rated T, 32k complete)
There is no darkness in Heaven.
7. Go Out with a Bang (canon AU, rated E, 8k complete)
8. Find Every Sky (human AU crossover, rated T, 48k complete)
When the thunder rolled overhead, AJ gunned the engine in response, and laughed.
9. Something For You, In Return (canon AU, rated E, 2k complete)
“There must be something I could do for you, in return…?”
10. Naked and Afraid: Jingle Hell (human AU, rated T, 24k complete)
Special shoutouts to Sky Clear Blue (Imagine a coffee shop.) and Find the Light (He stood at the window, full in the afternoon sunshine that angled in between the curtains—velvet, once the color of a fine Zinfandel but now somewhat faded on the outer side, with a few trailing threads at the hems that brushed over the floorboards.) because they’re two of my all-time bangers and only JUST missed being in the ten most recent.
Clearly I have a propensity for punchy hooks as opening lines — with Psalm 19:10 as the notable exception 🤣 — and I know and appreciate this about myself. I take my little paper dolls and plop them down into a scene, and the reader had just better catch on and catch up! 😁
I also like that I have a nice spread of ratings and subject matter. Many of my earlier works are rated G, and many are also canon-compliant. So there’s something for everyone, I think!