Sarah gave me a writing challenge. Here it is:
There are many aspects to great storytelling that draw the reader into the action. One of the most effective methods to grabbing the reader right from the start is creating an opening sentence that expresses a sense of intrigue. One well-known author once wrote that all stories should begin with the main character standing in the middle of a busy two-way highway. His reasoning was that the main character had to act or the story would be over. Your task today is to create ten single-sentence story openings. Don't worry about what the story that would follow would be, just create an opening sentence that would grab the reader immediately. "Once upon a time..." doesn't count.
(from Caffeine for the Creative Mind, Stefan Mumaw & Wendy Lee Oldfield, p. 235)
Here are my 10 sentences:
Andrew slammed the front door shut and stomped upstairs.
Sarah stared at the familiar scrawl on the envelope, “Oh, my god, how’d he find me?”
Julie clutched the faded black and white photo and began to cry.
Becky sat on the floor of her closet, crying and shoving potato chips into her mouth.
Allison wondered if the audience could hear her heart pounding.
Matthew dreaded the visit to his Mother.
Michael stared at the garvestone and whispered, “Why?”
Tommy handed Tara the binoculars, “Look, they’re burying something.”
“It’s your Dad,” Laurie sniffed, “there’s been an accident.”
Susan looked at John, “How are we ever going to explain this to her?”
