tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post3528440189321769531..comments2024-03-27T23:53:59.771-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: You Come Here Often?Leigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-77503054845289275482017-05-22T16:18:00.426-04:002017-05-22T16:18:00.426-04:00Lots of good points and good opening lines, Steve....Lots of good points and good opening lines, Steve. And re: prologues. I know what "they" say but I also think it depends on the story. Some stories need them and some don't. But they probably shouldn't be used for just exposition either.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-61499436991166164752017-05-22T13:06:51.015-04:002017-05-22T13:06:51.015-04:00Great reminder that we probably all need at times-...Great reminder that we probably all need at times--the first line is what sells the reader whether it's your agent, your editor, your readers, or yourself. Agreed with everything you said, but the opening to this article took me into thoughts of great pick-up lines. My favorite of all time was, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Fran Rizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655783035179620991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-41989262064195509622017-05-22T10:12:01.489-04:002017-05-22T10:12:01.489-04:00Eve,
Obviously, our tastes run to similar things b...Eve,<br />Obviously, our tastes run to similar things because both the Toni Morrison and the Dashiell Hammett are also on my list.<br /><br />Along with the long Lippman opening I don't quote, I also like Lehane's opening riff on the smell of chocolate and its effect on the characters, which draws us into Mystic River.<br /><br />Isn't interesting how many of the lines we're citing are actually comparatively old...<br />Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-7812013797754471382017-05-22T10:01:14.405-04:002017-05-22T10:01:14.405-04:00"They shoot the white girl first." Toni..."They shoot the white girl first." Toni Morrison's Beloved. <br />"The woman with the pink velvet poppies twined round the assisted gold of her hair traversed the crowded room at an interesting gait combining a skip with a sidle, and clutched the lean arm of her host." Dorothy Parker's Arrangement in Black and White<br />"I first heard Personville called Poisonville by a red-haired mucker named Hickey Dewey in the Big Ship in Butte." Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest.<br /><br />There are some great first lines out there... Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8881216248306263012017-05-22T09:58:42.606-04:002017-05-22T09:58:42.606-04:00Enjoyed your post, Steve--good advice about going ...Enjoyed your post, Steve--good advice about going back to re-examine (and probably rewrite) the opening after a piece is finished.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-82189411832440023842017-05-22T09:15:38.035-04:002017-05-22T09:15:38.035-04:00Great post here, Steve -- and some fine picks on o...Great post here, Steve -- and some fine picks on opening lines. (Including your own!)Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.com