The latest assignment in the Writing Sales Copy class requires two blurbs with their first sentences taken from the first line of the story. Oh, and not just any first line. It has to be a “Kick-Ass” first line. So far, I found just one kick-ass first line.

I write very few kick-ass first lines in my short stories, which tells me that this is an area I need to work on in the future. In fact, I’m I’m setting a challenge for myself to write a kick-ass first line each time I write a story for Dean.

It doesn’t have to be the first line of the story I’m turning in, but a first line that is evocative, exciting, or funny is what I’ll aim for. Even if that first line never goes into an actual story, I’m betting that focusing this way will improve all my stories.

I’m going to leave you with the blurb I wrote last night from the singular kick-ass first line I found:

Secret Memoir From the Pirate Portal

Today, Captain Clarissa claimed glowing green bugs ate the magic glue attaching the dimensional portal’s engine. Nonsense, says First Mate Darwin Garfinkle.  Dimensional winds drove her mad, just like poor Simon.

Now, Captain Clarissa wants Garfinkle to capture a mage to fix the portal’s bug problem in addition to the previously-scheduled kidnapping of a baker.

Wait, what? Kidnapping mages: difficult and dangerous. Kidnapping bakers: easy. Worst problem? Covered in flour. See the difference?

Join Clarissa and Garfinkle on this caper gone wrong as they battle each other, the multiverse, and the dimensional winds. Not to mention those damned glowing green bugs.

I think it is easier for me to come up with humorous openings than other types, so I will also focus a bit on evocative and exciting in my first line practice. This is one of the great things about having the short story a week practice. It gives me a palette for new challenges that fit into this one.

Hope you are finding challenges that stretch you today.

Be well, friends!