#first line analysis

[kiwiana-writes]

First Line Analysis

Thanks @energievie for the tag! It's been a hot minute since I played this, to the point that I suspect I've posted more than ten things since last time lol. So let's see what the analysis shows this time...

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions.

OPENING SENTENCES

The sharp rap on the door startles Henry out of his stupor, and it’s only then that he realises he’s been fiddling with the knot at the base of his throat for several minutes—never mind that he’s been able to tie a perfect Windsor knot since he was seven. [I pictured you with other girls in love]

Alex is having one of those ‘can’t concentrate for shit’ days. [Never want to live (or die) without you]

There is no place in the world so invigorating as Olympia. [Naturally adapted for bodily exertion]

Henry takes a moment to roll the crick out of his neck before rounding the corner to the patient waiting area. [A midnight medication (just show me where it hurts)]

Alex is, in his heart of hearts, a simple man. [Just let me get that, slick back]

It’s through sheer unadulterated stubbornness—and an innate desire not to lose his job—that Alex manages to keep a hold of the very expensive fabric in his hands when the door opens and closes again. [With his educated eyes (and his head between my thighs)]

Alex has been on Mars for a grand total of half a sol when his world flips upside down. [One day we'll be living in the stars]

Henry kisses Alex for the first time at sunset, moored off the coast of Campeche. [A compass that fell silent at the sound of song]

It’s been a while since Alex has been this nervous. [When a man has fallen down upon his knees]

The bar’s backsplash, mostly hidden by bottles stacked in front of it, is a mirror. [The wind in our free-flowing sails (and the liquor in our cocktails)]

ANALYSIS

I fucking LOVE a single-sentence paragraph opener, apparently. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 ALL fit this pattern: the sentence listed here is the only sentence in that paragraph. And for two of the three that DON'T fit this pattern, the opening sentence is instead over thirty words long 🤣

Not a single one of these opens on dialogue.

Only two of the ten fail to immediately make it clear whose POV we're in (3 and 10 -- which are, probably coincidentally, both Alex POV)

1 is canon-divergent and 5 is post-canon; of the other eight, only 2 and 9 don't give any real hint as to the nature/setting/general backdrop of the AU.

THREE of my last ten fics have been gifted to @sparklepocalypse???? Seems a bit greedy babes 😜

TAGS UNDER THE CUT

@agame-writes @affectionatelyrs @anincompletelist @blueeyedgrlwrites @cactusdragon517

@celeritas2997 @cha-melodius @clottedcreamfudge @cricketnationrise @dumbpeachjuice

@everwitch-magiks @firenati0n @getmehighonmagic @happiness-of-the-pursuit @hgejfmw-hgejhsf

@indestructibleheart @inexplicablymine @junebugclaremontdiaz @larkral @leaves-of-laurelin

@lilythesilly @littlemisskittentoes @lizzie-bennetdarcy @myheartalivewrites @ninzied

@nocoastposts @nontoxic-writes @notspecialbabe @orchidscript @piratefalls

@porcelainmortal @read-and-write- @rmd-writes @sherryvalli @ships-to-sail

@sparklepocalypse @stereopticons @thesleepyskipper @thinkof-england

@tintagel-or-cockleshells @welcometololaland @whimsymanaged and, as always, anyone who wants to play! 

[sam-loves-seb]

First Line Analysis!

i was tagged by @energievie @mybrainismelted @sgtmickeyslaughter 💙

rules: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions.

Light seeps in from the gap in the curtains, casting a sliver of a sunbeam right over Ian’s face. (x)

He never, in a million years, thought he’d come back here. (x)

Forty-eight hours goes by in the blink of an eye sometimes. (x)

Mickey has never been soft. (x)

When Ian first brought up this ridiculous idea, Mickey honestly thought it was a joke. (x)

It was a beautiful ceremony. (x)

Things have been… a little off. (x)

Nobody knows exactly when they started. (x)

Their anniversary has become something of a game. (x)

Mickey’s playing videogames when Mandy comes home. (x)

hm. the thing is 9/10 of these give absolutely no indication as to what the fuck you're about to read, but i kind of like that. vague-ish one liners. most of them are even in their own paragraph. i guess i do like to start with a single line when i'm writing, like making my own starting point in the sand. i kinda like all of these, so that's rad

this was fun, tagging some friends: @jessbakescakes @thefinestmuffinswrites @suchagallabitch @svltburn @roryonic @gallawitchxx @suzy-queued @crossmydna @zaritarazi

[onthewaytosomewhere]

first line analysis

ok so i got a few tags for this so why not i guess (now that i've posted 2 more lolz) thanks @sparklepocalypse @stellarmeadow & @thighzp for the tags

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions

First Lines from most to least recent (not including friday ficlet collections)

Alex is nearly bouncing out of his seat on the plane, and Henry can’t quite figure out why. (bringing home silver - FP)

Alex is in the kitchen at Kensington when Shaan walks in. (in the kitchen, at kensington, with those threadbare pajama pants - alex/shaan)

Alex Claremont-Diaz has always considered himself a bit of an enigma, even before he became a werewolf and opened an all-night coffee shop, Moonlight Coffee. (nights at the moonlight coffe shop - FP)

Alex swears there was still a Helados left in the freezer but cannot for the life of him find it. (my slutty royal - FP)

"Henry, you pick them so well," Philip whispered against Alex's neck. (2 is better than 1 - 3 is better than 2 (when we’re back at 2 wanna stay there with u) - henry/alex/pip)

Liam usually does not go out to clubs, at least not by himself, and hasn’t for years. (and fight the break of dawn - southern philanthropy)

Alex is not sure how it got this far; he put it in the document as a joke, knowing Henry or June would catch it, and if they didn’t, it would surely get noticed by all the editors working on the book. (just a bit of fun - FP)

Henry’s a connoisseur of one-night stands, so when he says that last night’s, who is somehow still here in the morning, was amazing, he is saying something, really. (makin' memories i might remember - FP)

Once upon a time, there lived two young princes, Prince Henry Fox of Windsor and Prince Alexander Diaz of Claremont. (baby just say yes - FP)

He’s got a sucker in his mouth again; the way he sucks on it, Alex just knows that if he ever got those lips around his cock it would be heaven. (something in your mouth - FP)

so analysis - in general (other than a couple) i do a wordy first sentence - you can tell from the first sentence on all except maybe 1 whose pov it's in from the first sentence - that other one is clear by the 2nd sentence tho - with the exception of fairytale i drop ya right into whatever is going on - i've been told that line 5 is an amazing opening sentence and funnily enough it came to me in the middle of publix when i was grabbing some groceries lolz

so tag ur it! (if ya haven't already done this and i just missed it or forgot lolz) @typicalopposite @adreamareads @taste-thewaste @eusuntgratie @emmalostinwonderland

@tinyarmedtrex @firenati0n @thinkof-england @priincebutt @captainjunglegym

AND A BIG OPEN TAG FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DO THIS AS WELL

[tailsbeth-writes]

Finally getting round to this! Thank you for the tags @run-for-chamo-miles @seths-rogens @thighzp & @emmalostinwonderland 🫶🏻

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions

These are all RWRB fics ❤️🤍👑💙

First Lines:

I’ve missed this, I actually felt all warm and fuzzy when I opened up the email window. - Digital Love Letters

It was an accepted truth that Alex’s brain could be silenced by two things: Henry's lips on his and physical activity (which sometimes included Henry if he was lucky). - I could speak (or just let my body explain) - Collab with @run-for-chamo-miles so this is not the first line but it is mine.

Alex is annoyed at Henry. - You're going to be the death of me, babygirl.

‘Pez is wondering if we've decided on costumes for his party[...]' - Ain't it fun to hold the world in your hands?

Alex hadn't felt right since he woke up. - it's still reserved for me

Alex is seeing red. - i try hard to get back inside your arms alive

‘Baby, you're going to lose your gorgeous gay mind.’ - Mary & George & Henry

'Shaan, can you please put an appointment in my diary?' - Her Royal Highness

He was going to kill Alex. - Alex Vs Goodreads Trolls

Henry had made his royal ancestors proud and truly indulged. - a frightening magic I cling to

Analysis:

Well first of all, I like to put Alex through it apparently! Poor guy, I swear all my fics put that right and Henry gives him a cuddle at some point.

I'm a sucker for an in media res start, starting with dialogue is something that I got into at uni. If you're ever struggling with the start of your fic, cut off the top chunk and start mid action. Works almost every time!

I think number 2 is my fave, somehow managing to get a Pride and Prejudice reference in, even on an Alex POV. I do have plans for more Henry, so many WIPs...

Tag You're It: @onthewaytosomewhere @taste-thewaste @myheartalivewrites @duchessdepolignaca03 @suseagull04 @luainthewild @thesleepyskipper @sophie1973 @miss-minnelli @littlemisskittentoes & open tag as usual 🥰

[amiserableseriesofevents]

First Line Analysis

Rules: post the first lines of up to 10 of your last fics/chapters posted on AO3 or your WIPs and try to draw some conclusions.

Thanks @joeyalohadream for the tag! I was tempted to do the first 10 chapters of Such Stuff but I wanted this thing to have some more variety so here we are!

Love at second sight

The first time Bucky falls in love he’s five years old and he’s running around in his front yard when his mother comes up to him and introduces him to the new neighbors’ daughter, a little girl with blue eyes and blond hair tied up in the most pullable pigtails he’s even seen.

As the world caves in

Bucky is shipping out tomorrow and Gale doesn’t exactly know how he feels about it.

I dont know why I bite

Bucky dreams of home every night.

Nothing but blue skies from now on

It's been years but the war still lurks in the back of Buck's mind, jumping at him when he's most vulnerable, when he's asleep.

With shortness of breath you explained the infinite/No grave can hold my body down (I'll crawl home to him)

On a morning in the spring of 1961, Bucky wakes up feeling funny.

Such stuff as dreams are made on

An algebra class at first period is something Gale wouldn’t wish upon his worst enemy.

Courage, to make's love known

John wakes slowly, rubbing his face on the pillow and blinking a few times, blearily taking in his surroundings before remembering where he is; in the New York apartment where he's going to spend the next six weeks of shows.

Let the brokenness be felt 'til you reach the other side

I left him behind.

I think the love I bear you should make you not to die (Timelines AU, WIP)

In every timeline, they’re destined to meet.

I'll set the table, you can make the fire (WIP)

They see their men again at Benny's wedding, and it's just as strange as they'd thought.

Weird enough I have come to some conclusions! For instance, even if I write from Gale's POV 90% of the time, I start with John's name more often than not.

I also never start with a dialogue, apparently.

I tend to have short first lines - which is weird because I do not possess the gift of brevity.

I have two fics that start with the exact same line, being one the alternate version of the other! And it's my favorite opening line ever.

Such stuff's opening line is the funniest.

But most of all, I realized I need to change the opening line for the Timelines AU because it sounds like the tagline for one of those summer blockbusters with superheroes or some shit 😭😭 I promise you it's something more philosophical than that 😅

Tagging @alienoresimagines and @ranger-elizabeth if y'all want 😎

[emmalostinwonderland]

First Line Analysis! This is new - thanks for the tag, @onthewaytosomewhere!

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions

1 - For Alex, it started at Christmas. (Butterflies and Tummy Aches, FirstPrince)

2 - Alex just loves days like this. (Corrupted, Beloved, FirstPrince)

3 - “You wanna explain?” (For Me, It's Only You, Oscar/Raf)

4 - It’s a random Thursday night in September in a tiny venue in Brooklyn, and Alex is coming to the realization that he’s learned more about himself in the last five fucking minutes than he did in four years of undergrad studies. (never been so weak (never felt so incomplete), FirstPrince)

5 - “We have five days to finish choreographing and perfect this. Are you going to take it seriously, or should I be speaking with the showrunners?” (Don't You Dare Look Away, FirstPrince)

6 - 9 missed calls – Shaan Srivastava (Assigned 'Babygirl' By Friendship Bracelet, FirstPrince)

7 - Pouting is a skill Alex has spent his whole life perfecting. (Doing It the French (Fry) Way, FirstPrince)

8 - Henry crouches in the bathtub, shushing David’s whimpers as he dials 9-1-1 with shaking hands. (One Call Away, FirstPrince)

9 - Alex wakes slowly, afternoon sunlight streaming into the bedroom. (would you have my back (if it got too scary out there), FirstPrince)

10 - Luke has loved his uncle’s medieval fantasy park since his childhood. (Capture My Heart, DinLuke)

Conclusions... My shorter oneshots tend to drop you right into the drama, while the longer ones or multichap fics have more of a build and establish some background. I'm surprised to see so few of them start with dialogue; I love an untagged dialogue intro.

This got long fast lol. Open tag to whoever bothers to click the 'read more' button, and I'll shout out @thedramasummer @cactusdragon517 @louikazooie @tailsbeth-writes and @itsmaybitheway

[rmd-writes]

First Line Analysis/Writing Patterns

Thanks for the tags @kiwiana-writes @read-and-write-@indestructibleheart @carlos-in-glasses it's been a while since I've done this one!

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions.

I'm not including drabbles or collabs where it's not clear that I wrote the opening line, and I never know whether these things should be the first sentence or the opening lines, but here we go in reverse chronological order: he wrote "mine" on my upper thigh: Henry could have gone to the lounge, or even the mindfulness centre when Pez had opened the door to Liam and turned to Henry with a beseeching look.

Call Me (By My Name) (a collaboration with @welcometololaland, from chapter 2, which is the opening of TK's POV): It’s not going to be like this forever, TK reminds himself. 

who am I if I can't carry it all: “Dad,” June ventures, hesitating at the door.

never the same twice (multi-author collaboration, my chapter is chapter 3): Alex lets out a frustrated sigh, lowering his head to his desk with a thunk. 

this year i will fall: The thing about love is that it finds you when you least expect it.

get fucked (or die trying): “I’m going to be late,” Henry says, looking at his watch before zipping up his pants.

the key that unlocked me: Henry does his best to ignore it, the force that pulls him towards Alex all evening. 

too stressed to undress: TK sets Lou II down on the couch when he hears his phone vibrating on the kitchen counter, scratching the top of his head softly when he releases him.

The Grindr Toolbox: A Guide to Getting Nailed (a multi-fandom series of three unrelated fics): "Fuck." [Note: I'm cheating here and including all three fics as one entry because I deliberately started them all the same way.]

to love is to undress our names: A wave of relief washes over him.

As for patterns, well:

3/10 start with dialogue

7/10 make it clear whose POV the fic is in immediately

2/10 start with an action

5/10 place you inside the POV character's mind

What does any of that mean? I'm not sure, if you've got enough brain cells firing to analyse this please feel free to tell me what you think 😅

OPEN TAG if anyone wants to do this, it's done the rounds already over the last few days I think!

[porcelainmortal]

First Line Analysis

Thank you for the tags, @kiwiana-writes @sparklepocalypse @anincompletelist! This is a fun one.

RULES: Post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions.

Some of these are just the first sentence, but when the first sentence was half a thought, I included the next one as well. I also skipped my drabble and ficlet collections.

First Lines

Alex and Henry have been working together for several months now. [right here, right now]

Henry never knows how Alex talks him into these things. [perineyum]

The thing is, soulmates are incredibly rare. [find me here and speak to me]

It’s a cloudy Saturday in April. [Saturdays are for the boys]

“Hey, baby,” Alex calls from the hallway as he rounds the top of the second floor in the brownstone. “You’ve gotta hear this new Adam Lambert song.” [move your body]

Henry is drunk. Henry is quite a bit drunker than he’s been in a long time and it’s not even four o’clock in the afternoon. [Vegas, Baby]

Henry picks up the sunscreen, getting ready to slather on another layer. [it happened on a lake]

Alex isn’t quite sure how he got here, standing outside Henry’s door, practically vibrating out of his skin, trying to muster up the courage to tell Henry how he feels. [why do you call me baby?]

“You're right,” Alex says, closing the book, tears still shimmering in his eyes. “That could be us in another life.” [the song of Alex & Henry]

Alex is neck deep in course catalogs for the next school year and going over his course spreadsheet when his phone buzzes on the table next to him. [falling in a 5+1]

Analysis

The first thing that jumps out to me is how boring most of these are. 😂 Apparently I need to work on my openings.

The second thing is that most of my first sentences are short! I am not one for flowery prose or run-on sentences right out the gate.

I usually start with prose; it's rare for me to start a fic with dialogue.

For the fics where I didn't write in order, the opening sentences are noticeably weaker. I should work on trying to write more linearly, but that's just not how my AuDHD brain works most of the time.

Most of these indicate whose POV we are in right off the bat, but some of them force you to read more.

I promise my fics are not as boring as these first sentences might have you believe! The first one, for example, is filled with sexy tension and tons of smut. It has literally nothing to do with Alex and Henry at work. 🤣 In fact... most of these are smutty. 😏

Tagging @iboatedhere @cha-melodius @thinkof-england @getmehighonmagic @firenati0n

@theprinceandagcd @myheartalivewrites @littlemisskittentoes @blueeyedgrlwrites @cricketnationrise and an open tag for anyone that wants it!