Opening Lines

Nic Name · 09-22-2002, 12:42 AM

It was a dark and stormy night.

This opening sentence, composed by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton in his 1830 novel, Paul Clifford, has become the default opener for beginning writers trying to create atmosphere.

Now there's a contest in the name of Bulwer-Lytton for the worst opening sentence of a book not yet published ... obviously.

A small assortment of astonishingly loud brass instruments raced each other lustily to the respective ends of their distinct musical choices as the gates flew open to release a torrent of tawny fur comprised of angry yapping bullets that nipped at Desdemona's ankles, causing her to reflect once again (as blood filled her sneakers and she fought her way through the panicking crowd) that the annual Running of the Pomeranians in Liechtenstein was a stupid idea.

was the winner in 2001.

09-22-2002, 12:42 AM	#6
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	It was a dark and stormy night. This opening sentence, composed by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton in his 1830 novel, Paul Clifford, has become the default opener for beginning writers trying to create atmosphere. Now there's a contest in the name of Bulwer-Lytton for the worst opening sentence of a book not yet published ... obviously. A small assortment of astonishingly loud brass instruments raced each other lustily to the respective ends of their distinct musical choices as the gates flew open to release a torrent of tawny fur comprised of angry yapping bullets that nipped at Desdemona's ankles, causing her to reflect once again (as blood filled her sneakers and she fought her way through the panicking crowd) that the annual Running of the Pomeranians in Liechtenstein was a stupid idea. was the winner in 2001.

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