First Lines and Such

I do my best to teach my Teen’s every aspect of writing. I want to be the best Mentor I know how to be. Yesterday, we talked about first lines and paragraphs that captured us and drug us into the story effortlessly.

The biggest stressor I push: this doesn’t always happen right off the writing pen.

I am 32,000 words into my current WIP and after yesterday’s lesson was inspired by the exercise we did. I went back and sure enough, I spruced up that opening. 

“Funerals were made for rainy days. Days when the sun wasn’t shining with life and the clouds were a blanket for our sadness. Maybe that was why I didn’t cry at Mama’s funeral. It was too bright to feel the coldness of death. I wasn’t sure, but as I stood there watching her casket lower into the earth, I was acutely aware of not feeling anything at all.”

Could this change again? Possibly. Right now I’m happy with it. The lesson learned, the story can change as it grown, as you grow. Don’t force it. Don’t rush it. Just let it flow. 

Writing Exercise To Practice Opening Scenes:
1. Pick a first line from any book. 
2. Pick a scene from a magazine. 
3. Create your characters. 
4. In 4 paragraphs, set the scene and let me see these characters.

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