Opening Hooks

Curubethion · 06-21-2006, 04:33 PM

Showcase your talents at opening a story!
It's the Hook thread! Here's how it works. I will post a partial plot or opening scenario, and then you all post your best literary hook for a story about the topic. After some time, I'll close the contest and get people to vote on the best hook. The winner gets to moderate the next contest!

So, here's the first scenario:
A man discovers that he's the brother of his blood rival.

So, start writing!

***Earniel*** · 06-22-2006, 06:11 AM

I'm sorry but I'm a little confused about the 'hook' bit. Just what would we have to write, the first line or paragraph or the climax?

Butterbeer · 06-22-2006, 06:26 AM

Little did the beautiful belgian girl with the long wispy hair know that the large burly and mad staring man on the other side of the world was her destiny, her hope, her salvation, but ultimately her doom...

Nor did Big C realize when his fateful fingers tapped those doom-laden keystrokes ... just what he was letting himself in for ...

the world turned, a butterfly flew over a grain of sand, and somewhere a half open eye witnessed a tiny ripple in the fabric of sureality ... and somone or something tittered ...

***Valandil*** · 06-22-2006, 06:37 AM

"Careful man," whispered a voice from the alley. "Frog eat butterfly, man... eat him alive!"

Butterbeer · 06-22-2006, 06:39 AM

In a shadowy darkened room Big C shuddered suddenly.

a sibiliant sssssssss-ing sound hissed under the sound of eery silence.

A snake coiled at Big C's feet.

***Earniel*** · 06-22-2006, 06:59 AM

The woman sat down, her chin resting on her hand, while the fingers of her other hand were drumming on the table. "Somehow, that's not answering my question," she said.

Butterbeer · 06-22-2006, 07:18 AM

somewhere a drum rolled ...

Curubethion · 06-22-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

I'm sorry but I'm a little confused about the 'hook' bit. Just what would we have to write, the first line or paragraph or the climax?

First line. That's the definition of a hook.
Then again, this is looking like a bizarre sort of RPG...

90 Second rule...

Feed it to the snake!!!

***Earniel*** · 06-22-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curubethion

First line. That's the definition of a hook.
Then again, this is looking like a bizarre sort of RPG...

Ah, thanks. Sorry, I was under the impression that hooks were crooked bits of wire, commonly used in fishing. Who know they had a literairy life as well?

So opening lines it is.

You can't really beat a classic in that field: "It was a dark and stormy night."

Tuinor · 06-24-2006, 01:18 PM

I wanna try!

Lest this confuse anyone, think of this as the openning of a sequel to a story in which a young but incredibly talented pilot is doing research on his latest opponent in a hospital after suffering a major defeat in a space dog-fight from an unidentified prototype starfighter. But if the sequel idea is illegal, then just count out this entry.

"The young pilot Toran Charr of the Earth Nation Government gazed in silent horror at the holographic screne as the secret opperative's information on the pilot that had put him in the hospital was slowly scrolling down before him; however, Toran read naught else but the name of this new and deadly adversary, paralized by the dark omen which it foretold."

Acalewia · 06-27-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curubethion

So, here's the first scenario:
A man discovers that he's the brother of his blood rival.

Here's my entry:

Only one word could describe his father's deathbed confession: Impossible.

Curubethion · 06-27-2006, 04:36 PM

Nice. Or, the wonderful fantasy classic...

"The wind blew from the north, enveloping him in a maelstrom of shock and disbelief; it swept over the lands of [Fantasy Country A] and [Fantasy Country B]...it wasn't the beginning, for there are neither ends nor beginnings in this story-but it was a beginning."

Butterbeer · 06-27-2006, 05:00 PM

Impossible?

said a hollow eery voice from behind the crypt ...

Farimir Captain of Gondor · 06-28-2006, 12:58 AM

He awoke with the feeling that this day would be like no other he had ever experienced.

Ireth · 06-28-2006, 07:12 AM

Here's my excuse of an attempt at writing.

Of all the things that could have come to be - after all these years of being at each others throats, after all the insults given and received in exchange, after all the betrayals, breaches of trust and territories - the fact that [character 2] and he were siblings was the worst...some wounds just ran too deep.

Acalewia · 06-28-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Nice. Or, the wonderful fantasy classic...

"The wind blew from the north, enveloping him in a maelstrom of shock and disbelief; it swept over the lands of [Fantasy Country A] and [Fantasy Country B]...it wasn't the beginning, for there are neither ends nor beginnings in this story-but it was a beginning."

I wonder where you could have gotten that from

Butterbeer · 06-28-2006, 03:27 PM

... back of a corn flakes packet???

Elfhelm · 06-28-2006, 06:48 PM

I knelt to tie my shoe. That's what saved me.

Butterbeer · 06-29-2006, 05:49 AM

they say luck comes in threes ...
at that very momment for reasons best left unexplained, i happened to be limbo-dancing ... That's what saved me.

Rosie Gamgee · 07-05-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curubethion

A man discovers that he's the brother of his blood rival.

Two words shot through Anthony's brain when what the priest was saying finally sank in--and although the first word was "Holy," he didn't think Father Joseph would appreciate him uttering the second.

06-21-2006, 04:33 PM	#1
Curubethion Fenway Ranger, Lord of Red Sox Nation Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: College! Posts: 1,976	Opening Hooks Showcase your talents at opening a story! It's the Hook thread! Here's how it works. I will post a partial plot or opening scenario, and then you all post your best literary hook for a story about the topic. After some time, I'll close the contest and get people to vote on the best hook. The winner gets to moderate the next contest! So, here's the first scenario: A man discovers that he's the brother of his blood rival. So, start writing! __________________ Adventure...betrayal...heroism... Atharon: where heroes are born. My wife once said to me—when I'd been writing for ten or fifteen years—that I could always go back to being a nuclear engineer. And I said to her, 'Harriet, would you let someone who quit his job to go write fantasy anywhere near your nuclear reactor? I wouldn't!' (Robert Jordan)

06-22-2006, 06:11 AM	#2
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	I'm sorry but I'm a little confused about the 'hook' bit. Just what would we have to write, the first line or paragraph or the climax? __________________ We are not things.

06-22-2006, 06:26 AM	#3
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	Little did the beautiful belgian girl with the long wispy hair know that the large burly and mad staring man on the other side of the world was her destiny, her hope, her salvation, but ultimately her doom... Nor did Big C realize when his fateful fingers tapped those doom-laden keystrokes ... just what he was letting himself in for ... the world turned, a butterfly flew over a grain of sand, and somewhere a half open eye witnessed a tiny ripple in the fabric of sureality ... and somone or something tittered ... Last edited by Butterbeer : 06-22-2006 at 06:37 AM.

06-22-2006, 06:37 AM	#4
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	"Careful man," whispered a voice from the alley. "Frog eat butterfly, man... eat him alive!" __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

06-22-2006, 06:39 AM	#5
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	In a shadowy darkened room Big C shuddered suddenly. a sibiliant sssssssss-ing sound hissed under the sound of eery silence. A snake coiled at Big C's feet. Last edited by Butterbeer : 06-22-2006 at 06:41 AM.

06-22-2006, 06:59 AM	#6
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	The woman sat down, her chin resting on her hand, while the fingers of her other hand were drumming on the table. "Somehow, that's not answering my question," she said. __________________ We are not things.

06-22-2006, 07:18 AM	#7
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	somewhere a drum rolled ...

06-24-2006, 01:18 PM	#10
Tuinor Elven Warrior Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wandering in circles until they become triangles Posts: 292	I wanna try! Lest this confuse anyone, think of this as the openning of a sequel to a story in which a young but incredibly talented pilot is doing research on his latest opponent in a hospital after suffering a major defeat in a space dog-fight from an unidentified prototype starfighter. But if the sequel idea is illegal, then just count out this entry. "The young pilot Toran Charr of the Earth Nation Government gazed in silent horror at the holographic screne as the secret opperative's information on the pilot that had put him in the hospital was slowly scrolling down before him; however, Toran read naught else but the name of this new and deadly adversary, paralized by the dark omen which it foretold."

06-27-2006, 04:36 PM	#12
Curubethion Fenway Ranger, Lord of Red Sox Nation Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: College! Posts: 1,976	Nice. Or, the wonderful fantasy classic... "The wind blew from the north, enveloping him in a maelstrom of shock and disbelief; it swept over the lands of [Fantasy Country A] and [Fantasy Country B]...it wasn't the beginning, for there are neither ends nor beginnings in this story-but it was a beginning." __________________ Adventure...betrayal...heroism... Atharon: where heroes are born. My wife once said to me—when I'd been writing for ten or fifteen years—that I could always go back to being a nuclear engineer. And I said to her, 'Harriet, would you let someone who quit his job to go write fantasy anywhere near your nuclear reactor? I wouldn't!' (Robert Jordan)

06-27-2006, 05:00 PM	#13
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	Impossible? said a hollow eery voice from behind the crypt ...

06-28-2006, 12:58 AM	#14
Farimir Captain of Gondor Spaceman Spiff Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In the belly of a Firefly, living in Serenity is where you'll find me Posts: 1,438	He awoke with the feeling that this day would be like no other he had ever experienced. __________________ Do you hear that? Last edited by Farimir Captain of Gondor : 06-28-2006 at 12:59 AM.

06-28-2006, 07:12 AM	#15
Ireth Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 193	Here's my excuse of an attempt at writing. Of all the things that could have come to be - after all these years of being at each others throats, after all the insults given and received in exchange, after all the betrayals, breaches of trust and territories - the fact that [character 2] and he were siblings was the worst...some wounds just ran too deep. __________________ The sun be warm and kind to you. The darkest night a star shines through. The dullest morn a radiance brew. And where dusk comes, God's hand to you.

06-28-2006, 03:27 PM	#17
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	... back of a corn flakes packet???

06-28-2006, 06:48 PM	#18
Elfhelm Marshal of the Eastmark Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,412	I knelt to tie my shoe. That's what saved me.

06-29-2006, 05:49 AM	#19
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	they say luck comes in threes ... at that very momment for reasons best left unexplained, i happened to be limbo-dancing ... That's what saved me.

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