Tag: conflict

7 Quotes From Comedians That Would Make Great First Lines of Books

Thinking of writing a book? The first line is important. The first line sets the mood, theme, style, world and should introduce the main conflict. “Amazing Bonus,” if it foreshadows the end. Above all, the first line should hook an agent, a publisher or two and thousands  millions of readers.

Sounds easy.

Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons by Reuben Ingber, Some Rights Reserved.
Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons by Reuben Ingber, Some Rights Reserved.

To get you started, here are some plagiarized borrowed lines from people that are already famous. I think these would make perfect openings. The famous won’t mind. Probably (<~Not legal advice). Just think of the possibilities…

Kevin Hart

I used to think guns were loud until I dropped the damn shampoo in the shower.

Laura Kightlinger

I have a rule, and that is to never look at somebody’s face while we’re having sex; because, number one, what if I know the guy?

Image via FlickR Creative Commons by Veronica Belmont, Some Rights Reserved.
Image via Flickr Creative Commons by Veronica Belmont, Some Rights Reserved.

Louis CK

I know it’s not popular to say, but I hate balloons.

Betty White

Get at least eight hours of beauty sleep. Nine, if you’re ugly.

Redd Fox

I feel sorry for people who don’t drink or do drugs. Because someday they’re going to be in a hospital bed, dying, and they won’t know why.

via Flickr Creative Commons by Carla de Souza Campos, Some Rights Reserved.
via Flickr Creative Commons by Carla de Souza Campos, Some Rights Reserved.

More Laura Kightlinger

I can’t think of anything worse after a night of drinking than waking up next to someone and not being able to remember their name, or how you met, or why they’re dead.

Dane Cook

When I said I wanted to be a comedian, they all laughed at me. Well, no one’s laughing now.

I Am Afraid to Fail And I Keep Writing

Notice there is no, “but,” in this post’s title. I’ve put myself on an attitude diet and reduced my, “but.” I’ve replaced it with pure, “and.”

I decided to try this diet after reading an article by Sarah Calendar on Writer Unboxed:

There is something empowering and freeing in using and in place of but, which I suppose makes sense. But is a word that limits someone or something. And is a word that increases someone or something. These conjunctions-junctions really do have important functions.

The idea that we are not solely one thing or another was a, “whoa,” moment for me.

Try it:

I’m an introvert and I like to entertain in my home.

I’m trying to traditionally publish and I know it’s hard.

I like to play the piano and I need to practice more.

I want to learn to play Redemption Song by Bob Marley on my guitar and I need to find the music.

My goals and motivation sharpen way the hell up when I do this. I even accidentally created the first step to accomplishing my goals in two of these examples.

 

Reading and Writing The, “And”

Do you like characters that are complicated, flakey and don’t always know what to do? I always have. Though we are in an age where authors are told readers want strong female characters. Yes. Certainly.

But (oops, my but gettin’ big).

I like characters that mess up because of who they are and not in spite of themselves. Now, I know, like you know, that some characters in some bestsellers are TSTL (too stupid to live). I won’t list them, but you feel free to in the comments. Hee.

But (again) what if you read about a songwriter who is divorced from a cheating husband and loves two men? Is such a conflict even possible?

What about a man who’s trying to save his marriage and loves his best friend’s fiancee?

Whaaaaat?

Would their conflicts resonate with you? Do you think you might feel all the betrayal and redemption these characters do? Could they possibly become more human to you? Would the promise of a character arc from, “I thought I was right,” to “Now, I know I’m right,” appeal to you?

Or would you find it boring?

Tony Soprano was a good provider to his family and he was a murderer.
Jack Bauer fought for justice and acted unethically.

Dana Scully is a skeptic and she searches for the truth.

These are characters that came to life for us. We may not agree or support all of their decisions but we will never forget them.

 

Become Instantly Fascinating

Think of people in your life and throughout history with personas that contrasted with their actions or their beliefs. Make statements about them that brings their humanity to the surface.

Then create statements for yourself and see where the, “and,” takes you. You are more than you think you are. You’re pretty fascinating, if you ask me.

While I’m afraid that I am wasting my time—the precious moments I’ve been given on this earth—by writing What The Heart Wants and I may fall in front of people whose opinions matter to me, I keep trying everyday to make it the best it can be because I am human—conflicted and flawed. I am afraid to fail and I keep writing.