I learned something about iambic pentameter today.
People always explain it by referring to the openingline of Richard III, but that one sounds really queer if you stress every second syllable (now IS the WINter OF our DIScontTENT).
Turns out that's no accident, because you're supposed to […]
People always explain it by referring to the openingline of Richard III, but that one sounds really queer if you stress every second syllable (now IS the WINter OF our DIScontTENT).
Turns out that's no accident, because you're supposed to […]
Original post on writing.exchange
writing.exchange
November 14, 2026 at 8:05 AM
I learned something about iambic pentameter today.
People always explain it by referring to the openingline of Richard III, but that one sounds really queer if you stress every second syllable (now IS the WINter OF our DIScontTENT).
Turns out that's no accident, because you're supposed to […]
People always explain it by referring to the openingline of Richard III, but that one sounds really queer if you stress every second syllable (now IS the WINter OF our DIScontTENT).
Turns out that's no accident, because you're supposed to […]
I heard if you have a series you should market book one more
~
with AN ANGEL ENRAGED (book 7 of the Kalista Chronicles) releasing on Halloween, I guess I should talk about Book 1: A BORN ANGEL.
~
BUT I’m gonna promo the Omnibus, THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER (books 1-3)
#Tropes #OpeningLine #POV #Booksky
~
with AN ANGEL ENRAGED (book 7 of the Kalista Chronicles) releasing on Halloween, I guess I should talk about Book 1: A BORN ANGEL.
~
BUT I’m gonna promo the Omnibus, THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER (books 1-3)
#Tropes #OpeningLine #POV #Booksky
September 25, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I heard if you have a series you should market book one more
~
with AN ANGEL ENRAGED (book 7 of the Kalista Chronicles) releasing on Halloween, I guess I should talk about Book 1: A BORN ANGEL.
~
BUT I’m gonna promo the Omnibus, THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER (books 1-3)
#Tropes #OpeningLine #POV #Booksky
~
with AN ANGEL ENRAGED (book 7 of the Kalista Chronicles) releasing on Halloween, I guess I should talk about Book 1: A BORN ANGEL.
~
BUT I’m gonna promo the Omnibus, THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER (books 1-3)
#Tropes #OpeningLine #POV #Booksky
My opening line for A Fallen Sun - what's your favourite opening line of a book? #books #newAuthor #openingline #booksky
September 16, 2026 at 10:03 PM
My opening line for A Fallen Sun - what's your favourite opening line of a book? #books #newAuthor #openingline #booksky
One woman told me she'd rewritten her opening line for a year.
A year.
Her dad got the messy version and cried at "hey, it's me."
He never heard the rest of the script. Didn't need it.
#OpeningLine #Authenticity #MessyVersion #EmotionalConnection #LessThanPerfect
A year.
Her dad got the messy version and cried at "hey, it's me."
He never heard the rest of the script. Didn't need it.
#OpeningLine #Authenticity #MessyVersion #EmotionalConnection #LessThanPerfect
September 9, 2026 at 8:27 PM
One woman told me she'd rewritten her opening line for a year.
A year.
Her dad got the messy version and cried at "hey, it's me."
He never heard the rest of the script. Didn't need it.
#OpeningLine #Authenticity #MessyVersion #EmotionalConnection #LessThanPerfect
A year.
Her dad got the messy version and cried at "hey, it's me."
He never heard the rest of the script. Didn't need it.
#OpeningLine #Authenticity #MessyVersion #EmotionalConnection #LessThanPerfect
I know that monsters exist. I know because when I was eleven years old, one tried to drown my old best friend in the creek behind my grandparents’ house.
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ReadingCommunity
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ReadingCommunity
August 28, 2026 at 10:16 PM
I know that monsters exist. I know because when I was eleven years old, one tried to drown my old best friend in the creek behind my grandparents’ house.
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ReadingCommunity
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ReadingCommunity
Let's share some legendary first lines.
I'll start: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' - 1984.
What's an opening line you'll never forget? #WritingCommunity #BookLovers #IconicLines #OpeningLine
I'll start: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' - 1984.
What's an opening line you'll never forget? #WritingCommunity #BookLovers #IconicLines #OpeningLine
September 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Let's share some legendary first lines.
I'll start: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' - 1984.
What's an opening line you'll never forget? #WritingCommunity #BookLovers #IconicLines #OpeningLine
I'll start: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' - 1984.
What's an opening line you'll never forget? #WritingCommunity #BookLovers #IconicLines #OpeningLine
Daily giggles (2 of 2) xxx 😁😁😁 #Funny #Omelette #ScrambledEggs #Reading #Books #OpeningLine #CarSticker #Cats #Bones
January 17, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Daily giggles (2 of 2) xxx 😁😁😁 #Funny #Omelette #ScrambledEggs #Reading #Books #OpeningLine #CarSticker #Cats #Bones
Putting this aside, maybe as a future #OpeningLine for something:
"I'm sorry, this looks lovely, but since the procedure, I can't eat cooked meat, only raw."
"I'm sorry, this looks lovely, but since the procedure, I can't eat cooked meat, only raw."
June 15, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Putting this aside, maybe as a future #OpeningLine for something:
"I'm sorry, this looks lovely, but since the procedure, I can't eat cooked meat, only raw."
"I'm sorry, this looks lovely, but since the procedure, I can't eat cooked meat, only raw."
A work of #islandliterature off the nth coast of Scotland 1843, the Highland Clearances
"He wished he could swim - the swimming belt felt like a flimsy thing and it had been no comfort to be told not to worry, the men couldn't swim either. "
#CarysDavies, Clear
#openingline
#ReadingWalesMonth25
"He wished he could swim - the swimming belt felt like a flimsy thing and it had been no comfort to be told not to worry, the men couldn't swim either. "
#CarysDavies, Clear
#openingline
#ReadingWalesMonth25
March 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
A work of #islandliterature off the nth coast of Scotland 1843, the Highland Clearances
"He wished he could swim - the swimming belt felt like a flimsy thing and it had been no comfort to be told not to worry, the men couldn't swim either. "
#CarysDavies, Clear
#openingline
#ReadingWalesMonth25
"He wished he could swim - the swimming belt felt like a flimsy thing and it had been no comfort to be told not to worry, the men couldn't swim either. "
#CarysDavies, Clear
#openingline
#ReadingWalesMonth25
Let me start by asking you all this: How do you know the world still exists when you’re not looking?
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ObjectPermanence #LiminalSpaces
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ObjectPermanence #LiminalSpaces
August 7, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Let me start by asking you all this: How do you know the world still exists when you’re not looking?
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ObjectPermanence #LiminalSpaces
#FirstLineFridays #OpeningLine #ShortStory #ObjectPermanence #LiminalSpaces
The mermaid was slimy.
Its skin was sallow and its body stretched-looking, long and thin. But the worst was its eyes— pupil-less, milky white pearls. Eyes that somehow still stared Ariana down through the aquarium’s six-inch thick glass.
#FirstLineFriday #OpeningLine #ShortStoryy #WritingCommunity
Its skin was sallow and its body stretched-looking, long and thin. But the worst was its eyes— pupil-less, milky white pearls. Eyes that somehow still stared Ariana down through the aquarium’s six-inch thick glass.
#FirstLineFriday #OpeningLine #ShortStoryy #WritingCommunity
July 31, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The mermaid was slimy.
Its skin was sallow and its body stretched-looking, long and thin. But the worst was its eyes— pupil-less, milky white pearls. Eyes that somehow still stared Ariana down through the aquarium’s six-inch thick glass.
#FirstLineFriday #OpeningLine #ShortStoryy #WritingCommunity
Its skin was sallow and its body stretched-looking, long and thin. But the worst was its eyes— pupil-less, milky white pearls. Eyes that somehow still stared Ariana down through the aquarium’s six-inch thick glass.
#FirstLineFriday #OpeningLine #ShortStoryy #WritingCommunity
This Wednesday, May 14, 2025 is #centenary of the #publication of #VirginiaWoolf's #novel #MrsDalloway, published on May 14, 1925. I shall be celebrating.
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
#quote #openingline
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
#quote #openingline
May 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This Wednesday, May 14, 2025 is #centenary of the #publication of #VirginiaWoolf's #novel #MrsDalloway, published on May 14, 1925. I shall be celebrating.
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
#quote #openingline
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
#quote #openingline
"Nothing made Humans more nervous than Elves with guns."
#OpeningLine chosen for the Garrison's Martyr, the fourth book in my fantasy series, and the last of the 'Garrison' series.
#IndieAuthor #FantasyBooks #WriteSky
#OpeningLine chosen for the Garrison's Martyr, the fourth book in my fantasy series, and the last of the 'Garrison' series.
#IndieAuthor #FantasyBooks #WriteSky
December 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
"Nothing made Humans more nervous than Elves with guns."
#OpeningLine chosen for the Garrison's Martyr, the fourth book in my fantasy series, and the last of the 'Garrison' series.
#IndieAuthor #FantasyBooks #WriteSky
#OpeningLine chosen for the Garrison's Martyr, the fourth book in my fantasy series, and the last of the 'Garrison' series.
#IndieAuthor #FantasyBooks #WriteSky
"One" is a song by #American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his third studio album #AerialBallet (1968). It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal.
www.youtube.com
April 30, 2026 at 4:23 AM
"One" is a song by #American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his third studio album #AerialBallet (1968). It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal.
"One" is a song by #American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his third studio album #AerialBallet (1968). It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal.
www.youtube.com
March 2, 2026 at 10:06 AM
"One" is a song by #American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his third studio album #AerialBallet (1968). It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal.
"One" is a song by #American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his third studio album #AerialBallet (1968). It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal.
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:14 PM
"One" is a song by #American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his third studio album #AerialBallet (1968). It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal.
"One" is a song by American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his 1968 album #AerialBallet. It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal. He stayed on the line listening to the "beep.
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"One" is a song by American singer-songwriter #HarryNilsson from his 1968 album #AerialBallet. It is known for its #openingLine "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a #busySignal. He stayed on the line listening to the "beep.
"Waste is a social process." @CarlZimring #openingline
November 22, 2024 at 8:34 AM
"Waste is a social process." @CarlZimring #openingline
Cooper pressed his hands over his ears, but the world still got in.
The hum of the lights buzzed behind his eyes, too sharp, too close, like bees trapped beneath his skin.
Someone’s voice, loud and laughing, hit him sideways, and the air turned heavy. #openingline #teaser #booksky
The hum of the lights buzzed behind his eyes, too sharp, too close, like bees trapped beneath his skin.
Someone’s voice, loud and laughing, hit him sideways, and the air turned heavy. #openingline #teaser #booksky
September 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Cooper pressed his hands over his ears, but the world still got in.
The hum of the lights buzzed behind his eyes, too sharp, too close, like bees trapped beneath his skin.
Someone’s voice, loud and laughing, hit him sideways, and the air turned heavy. #openingline #teaser #booksky
The hum of the lights buzzed behind his eyes, too sharp, too close, like bees trapped beneath his skin.
Someone’s voice, loud and laughing, hit him sideways, and the air turned heavy. #openingline #teaser #booksky
J. F. Cooper: "It was a feature peculiar to the colonial wars of North America, that the toils and dangers of the wilderness were to be encountered before the adverse hosts could meet."
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves, with #OpeningLine #Quotations from notable books.
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves, with #OpeningLine #Quotations from notable books.
August 31, 2023 at 1:26 PM
J. F. Cooper: "It was a feature peculiar to the colonial wars of North America, that the toils and dangers of the wilderness were to be encountered before the adverse hosts could meet."
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves, with #OpeningLine #Quotations from notable books.
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves, with #OpeningLine #Quotations from notable books.
T. J. Klune: "'Oh dear,' Linus Baker said, wiping the sweat from his brow. 'This is most unusual.'"
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves.
With #OpeningLine #Quotations from #FavoriteBooks
( ... and thanks to @brooklynmarie.bsky.social for calling my attention to this book ).
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves.
With #OpeningLine #Quotations from #FavoriteBooks
( ... and thanks to @brooklynmarie.bsky.social for calling my attention to this book ).
August 30, 2023 at 3:34 PM
T. J. Klune: "'Oh dear,' Linus Baker said, wiping the sweat from his brow. 'This is most unusual.'"
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves.
With #OpeningLine #Quotations from #FavoriteBooks
( ... and thanks to @brooklynmarie.bsky.social for calling my attention to this book ).
The #DogPictures will continue until morale improves.
With #OpeningLine #Quotations from #FavoriteBooks
( ... and thanks to @brooklynmarie.bsky.social for calling my attention to this book ).
"The story always comes first--even before family and friends--and especially me." --Quinn Campbell
#WIPSnips #OpeningLine #DebutNovel
#WIPSnips #OpeningLine #DebutNovel
November 27, 2024 at 3:20 PM
"The story always comes first--even before family and friends--and especially me." --Quinn Campbell
#WIPSnips #OpeningLine #DebutNovel
#WIPSnips #OpeningLine #DebutNovel
#openingline of my WIP:
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you were not a murderer?
#writingcommunity
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you were not a murderer?
#writingcommunity
#OpeningLine of my WIP: "The man who hunted my wife sits across from me nursing a cup of turpin black tea. As I cannot bear to make eye contact with the surgeon-precise man, I break the news to the hand-wrought silver chain on his vest—she is dead." #WritingCommunity
September 24, 2023 at 5:29 PM
#openingline of my WIP:
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you were not a murderer?
#writingcommunity
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you were not a murderer?
#writingcommunity