Meme: First Lines

[caffienekitty]

Snagged from teithiwr
Post the first lines of your 25 most recent stories and try to find a pattern.

1. "I can't believe you'd drink anything that color, Dean."
   When I'm Blue, SPN/Trek fandom
   
   
2. Dean's voice was urgent on the phone.
   Quatloos to Gummy Bears, SPN/fandom
   
   
3. "So," Sam said, trying with great difficulty to keep his eyes on the road in front of the Impala, "Captain Kirk's cursed toupee."
   Boldly Going, Going, Gone, SPN/Trek fandom
   
   
4. John reached into his coat for the familiar comforting bulk of his journal and realized something was wrong.
   Are You Smarter Than a Fourth Grader? (or Sammy Winchester Ain't Indiana Jones), SPN drabble
   
   
5. The first impression John had of the room in Sopchoppy, Florida, was pink.
   Sometimes a Room is Just a Room, SPN
   
   
6. Dean took the plastic clip off the bread bag and upended it.
   Lunchmeat and Lore, SPN
   
   
7. "Dude. It's raw fish," Dean said with look of disbelief.
   Fish is a Four-Letter Word, SPN (Cheating on that one because otherwise the first line would be 'Dude.')
   
   
8. Something was going on with the latest case.
   The Birth (and Untimely Demise) of Dean's First Suit, SPN
   
   
9. The best thing about controlling people at a rock concert was it wouldn't raise any suspicion at all.
   Eyesight to the Blind, SPN
   
   
10. The TARDIS shook and spun, the floor rolling like the deck of a ship in a storm.
    Between a Quantum Rock and a Hard Place, 3/?, SPN/Doctor Who
    
    
11. "Dean."
    Five AM, St. Louis Time, SPN conversation (This doesn't do so well on conversations, I can't even cheat on this one because that's the whole first 'paragraph')
    
    
12. The way you stop the pain, in Hell, is letting go.
    The Sticking Place, SPN
    
    
13. Amenti Behosephat Jones was not a stupid cat.
    Behind the Glass Wall, SPN
    
    
14. It was raining.
    Product Misplacement, SPN
    
    
15. They pressed themselves against the doors as John slowed.
    Fruit of the Tree, SPN drabble
    
    
16. "Hey, Dean?"
    Always Ready to Travel SPN/Discworld conversation (Sigh)
    
    
17. The evil league approved my application.
    Everything I Ever Wanted, Dr. Horrible
    
    
18. I am thrilled with the way Dean draws eyes.
    Art Therapy, SPN
    
    
19. Johnny Snow stumbled out of his bedroom in search of a cup of coffee and the hockey scores when something flew at his face.
    Know Thy Enemy, Dr. Horrible
    
    
20. During his final year, Dean found himself playing a lot of pool.
    Your Heroes Left Unsung, SPN
    
    
21. He'd be a lot calmer if Moist would stop looking at him like he was a beaker of acid about to boil over.
    Dr. Horrible's Debutant Ball Dr. Horrible
    
    
22. Ruby crouched in the shadows beyond the parking lot with the wrecked helicopter, watching the possessed crowd storm in.
    The Wrong Horse, SPN
    
    
23. Sarah Jane tried not to glance at Jack Harkness and Torchwood in the split screen.
    Fourteen, Whoniverse double-drabble
    
    
24. Donna didn't dream.
    In Memory's Fire, Doctor Who
    
    
25. "Embiggening ray," repeated Moist.
    Doctor Horrible and the Embiggening Ray, Dr. Horrible
    
    

Analysis: In general, I think they try to give a clue as to what's going on, except where they are fake-outs or a set-up for a bigger hook. Or one word. 2, 8, 11, 14 and 16 are particularly useless and/or generic first lines. Also, many of my titles are pretentious. :-P

Comments

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

I think "dude" is an awesome first line! :D

Seriously, though, I think my favourite is #13. I really love that fic.

ps. Pretentious titles ftw!

[caffienekitty]

I think "dude" is an awesome first line! :D

Doesn't say much about what's going on though. "Dean." says more even, because you know it's probably Sam speaking, there's no exclamation point so it's not alarmed or urgent or exasperated, there's no question mark so Sam's not asking a question and there's no ellipsis so it's not hesitant or a frustrated warning.

Seriously, though, I think my favourite is #13. I really love that fic.

Hehe, thanks. I'm still surprised that one got so much of a response.

ps. Pretentious titles ftw!

I was trying to figure out if there was some kind of inverse relation between pretentiousness of title and silliness of fic, but there doesn't seem to be. Titles make me nervous, I'm worried I'll pick one that's lame and over-think them. Thus, pretentious. :-P

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

Titles are usually the hardest part of writing, for me... :/

[caffienekitty]

Titles are the worst. It's like naming a child. Though by that token, it's a good thing I don't have kids because they'd have ended up with names like Rosamonde Narcissa Persephone or Constantine Hamilton Buenaventura and probably would have been nameless until they'd turned 5. :-P

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

True story: I know of a baby named Ramses Napoleon Alexander. :D

[caffienekitty]

Yes, the future Dictator of the world! I remember you mentioning him. A friend of mine's got three boys, all named similarly, after famous generals and leaders and suchlike.

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

Wow, your friend really wants her sons to succeed in life, huh? ;)

[caffienekitty]

I'm thinking it was probably more his idea more than hers, but yeah, I guess that's the idea behind it. They did wind up relatively normal names for Canadian kids out of it, so all's well. And like I may have said in an earlier commennt somewhere, I went to school with a kid whose birth certificate said 'Captain Codfish' so it could be way worse. :-)

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

CAPTAIN. CODFISH.

*ded from glee*

[caffienekitty]

He was counting down the days until he could get it legally changed. :-) I suspect his parents were in a bit of an altered state when they picked it.

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

Such a cruel thing to do to a kid... :P

[caffienekitty]

Oh he never actually used it in school as far as I know, it was just on his birth certificate and any official forms he had to fill out. I think he went by Dave or Darryl or something innocuous. I have no idea why his parents wouldn't have let him legally change it or change it for him though.

[dendritejungle.livejournal.com]

A) I'm impressed you HAVE twenty-five fics with which to do this quiz. O_o

B) What I get out of it is the sheer, awesome cracktastic-ness of your brain peeking out all over the place. :D

[caffienekitty]

A) According to ff.net, I've posted over 50 things since April 2006. Volume, however is no sign of quality. :-P

B) Not lately though. It's all WIPs and angst. Maybe that's what's wrong with me, My crack-generator is blocked and it's backing up into my daily life. That would explain a few things. :-P

[dendritejungle.livejournal.com]

My crack-generator is blocked and it's backing up

(Oh god. I just read that and my brain's instant response was a cheerful "Clearly you need a fic enema!" I did NOT just say that. *facepalm*)

[caffienekitty]

Yeah. Or bran, or prune juice or something.

[(Anonymous)]

So this is my opinion of course, but I think your first lines do a fantastic job of grabbing us by the throat so we pay attention--important stuff. Then, since you are writing, we are addicted:) So I suppose I am saying that you ARE crack? Oh yes, and I need you to make me a list of your evil music files, they sound realllly good lately...lol

Sharon

[caffienekitty]

I'm crack. Hm. That's... odd... E-mail me about the music thing because I'm not sure which ones you're talking about.

Night

[(Anonymous)]

I know, it was one of those things that sounded better last night--but your writing really is addictive..oh well, it was a bad night:P I will email you.

Sharon