  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: spidey  
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey , and I'm your Editor this week!
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Hook 'Em!
Have you ever read the first line of a new book or story, and thought, "That's a really good line!." It often sets you up to enjoy the entire thing. Do you attempt to do that in your own writing? Hook the reader with a great opening line that intrigues and sets the tone?
The thing is, we have lots and lots and lots of members on Writing.Com (over 80,000 actually!). When you enter a contest, do you ever get the feeling your entry gets lost in the crowd? How do you stand out among so many other contest entries? A good title and intro help, but I think one of the best ways is to have a really captivating first line. Write something the reader will remember and one that sets them up to enjoy your entry.
There are lots of choices. The first that may come to mind is something shocking, but you can also go for something subtle that can stick in the reader's mind. Experiment! Ask your readers what work for them.
Some WDC examples:
The room was hushed, and all eyes were on the tired looking old man with the white hair. Doc Mortland had been the only doctor in the village for two decades.
I dare you to read this very short story without cringing!
It was exhilarating, following someone.
Doesn't that just make you want to find out who is following who and why?
It was a windy night in Birmingham when the plague broke out.
Ooh, intriguing!
It happened a year ago today, on Johnny's birthday.
What happened? I want to know!
Let's turn this into a little contest. Guess the book each first line comes from, and you'll get 100 gps per correct answer! Submit your answer by replying to the Newsletter email or by typing it into the response block below!
1. "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."
2. "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."
3. “Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested.”
4. “Call me Ishmael.”
5. "All children, except one, grow up."
6. "There was no possibility of taking a walk that day."
7. "Mother died today. Or maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure."
8. "It was now lunch time and they were all sitting under the double green fly of the dining tent pretending that nothing had happened.".
9. "It was the day my grandmother exploded."
10. "Time is not a line but a dimension, like the dimensions of space."
Also, submit an item with a great first line with your answer! I'll feature it in my next Newsletter!
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Items Submitted through NL Feedback:
Official Writing.Com Contests & Activities:
Contests/Activities:
Know of some gems that deserve exposure? Submit them in the feedback form or submission form at the end of this Newsletter, and I'll put them in my next one!
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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My last newsletter, ("Contests & Activities Newsletter (October 1, 2014)" ), discussed October on WDC!
You asked for our favourite thing about this time of year? The answer has to be Guy Fawkes Night / Bonfire Night. It is MUCH MUCH bigger here than Halloween. New Zealand has a strong British culture and I love that we have retained this celebration. It's one of my favourite times of the whole year. We celebrate similarly to the 4th July celebrations in America, although we don't get a public holiday - lots of family entertainment, unbelievable amounts of both private and public firework displays, BBQ dinners or picnics (it's spring here) and just a wonderful family atmosphere. Love it.
~ Elle - on hiatus 
That sounds like so much fun! 
My favorite thing about this time of year is that it is Autumn here. The air is crisper and there's a chill in the air. It's a time to stop and breathe, a space between two intense times. In the U.S. , we have a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November, so right now is a calm time. Once Halloween arrives, everything becomes hectic. Right now is a time for mulled apple cider, pumpkin pie, baked acorn squash, and jackets. The leaves on the trees are turning color and I love that, too. A fine time to take pictures. lot
~ Whiskersandhersisters 
Great description! I never thought about Autumn like that before. It's almost the calm before the storm!
Just wanted to say thank you for the mention of "Resurrection Jukebox" ! Most appreciated!
~ lizco252
No problem! 
Questions to think about:
What's your best opening line that you've written? What's your fave in any book you've read? What makes a great opening line? |
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Contests & Activities: October 29, 2014 Issue [#6630]
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