Opening Line Tag Meme
Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!
I wasn't tagged, but I saw the post by @iesnoth eons ago and wanted to do this too.
Ceosung (original fiction) "Taylor, wake up."
2. To the Tragedy Born (original fiction) It all had happened so fast.
3. Tricksters in Tandem (fanfiction, Persona 5) It's been a day since Madarame's heart was changed and he made his public confession.
4. The Rise of Sons and Snakes (fanfiction, Ninjago) Brad was annoyed with Lloyd.
5. Narospel (video game) Congratulations, it's your birthday!
6. Everything's great! (Lasers & Feelings Game) You are receiving an SOS from the Research Spaceship the Marie Curie.
7. The Meta is Unfolding (original fiction) Oakland was a peaceful, green world, with one single kingdom living within its verdancy.
8. The Family Relish (original fiction) Edevane blinked.
9. The Crescent Affair (original fiction, the one I'm pushing for publication, so why does it have such a weak opening line-) Everyone under the sun knew that the Quinnish police had once been thoroughly corrupt.
10. Mirran Phantom Thieves (original fiction) It was a rainy Sunday evening when they met.
11. Cyber Society (original fiction) Corder Neander woke up to flashes of amber light.
12. Changelings (original fiction) Basil Kerr was late to class.
13. Poppy (original fiction) Even from a distance, the village was visibly dreary and miserable.
14. Colour Red (original fiction) He climbed the ladder as fast as he could, ignoring the licks of flame at his heels.
15. The Called but Unwanted (original fiction) I've gotta be honest.
16. Conqueror Cate (original fiction) So, here's the deal.
17. The Bar With No Name (fanfiction, Spider-Man (comics)) If Gwen had to describe the noise Peter was making, she would say it sounded roughly like a whimpering dog right after being caught in a terrible storm.
18. These Things we Have (original fiction) With great difficulty, Eleanor managed to remove the lipstick lid with an unsatisfying plop.
19. Soulful Seagulls (original fiction) Eluned was standing in front of a door.
20. Quests & Coin (video game) Aquestia, kingdom of adventure!
Favourite Opening Line: The Bar With No Name
Pattern #1: About 50% of my stories have a non-gendered opening line.
Pattern#2: Of the other 50% that start explicitly gendered, only ~15% are clearly female (6%). Which is interesting, since 13 of the 20 stories actually have a female character as protagonist or deuteragonist.
Pattern #3: Opening lines are either exposition or passive action. Very few start in the heat of the moment (ca. 6% of stories).
I don't have favourite writers. So if any of you write and are interested in doing this, go for it!
