tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90986468534276370312024-02-19T09:15:56.627-05:00First LineWhen "It was a dark and stormy night" just won't do.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.comBlogger597125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-63629927079173134542013-04-01T09:51:00.002-04:002013-04-01T09:51:39.317-04:00Update - Now on TwitterHi all! If you are craving some new inspiration I am now posting a new writing prompt every weekday on Twitter! Follow me at: @loriabloomfieldfirstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-21078860273701305292012-09-04T20:46:00.000-04:002012-09-04T20:46:43.170-04:00So Long and Thanks for ReadingAfter 200 first lines and 597 posts over almost four years, it is time to say good-bye. I wanted to thank everyone who has stopped by the First Lines blog, I hope you found something useful here. I'll keep the blog up for any newcomers searching for inspiration. You'll find prompts and exercises and interviews and book reviews here. Please have a look around, and I apologize for never organizing it better. It was a constant on my 'To Do' list. Which brings me to why I am ending the blog: my life is busy and I want to start a new project or two, which means I have to let go of a few things. <br />
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But I did want to leave you with one last exercise. Though I suppose it is not so much an exercise as it is a way of life. At least, it is a way of life for this writer. <br />
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#1. Go new places. Try new things. Never stop growing and learning and experiencing life.<br />
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#2. Explore your inner world as much as you explore the outer world.<br />
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#3. Observe. Always. Don't put an obstacle between yourself and the world, whether it be a digital device or a judgement. (Being alive is fascinating - I'm not so sure Facebook is.) As for making judgements go back to #2, the more you learn about yourself the more you will realize we are far more alike than we are different. (This is both freeing and disturbing, I'll admit, but it is also the foundation great art is built on.)<br />
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#4. Write. And not only for publication or imagined accolades. Write for the sure joy of it. <br />
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firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-61182108694462343462012-08-29T10:06:00.000-04:002012-08-29T10:06:40.873-04:00Prompt #200It was over almost before it began.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-57675238558939890212012-08-24T09:47:00.000-04:002012-08-24T09:47:48.898-04:00Theme PromptWrite a short story on the theme or idea of:<br />
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<b>MISTAKE</b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-77808526223636709082012-08-22T07:00:00.001-04:002012-08-22T07:00:10.853-04:00Prompt #199Since the incident George preferred to work alone, even though it made being a moving man difficult. firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-71961265859133905222012-08-16T20:49:00.002-04:002012-08-16T20:49:20.997-04:00Connect the Dots Promptbarrier, squeak, juicefirstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-45278576798655354962012-08-15T07:50:00.000-04:002012-08-15T07:50:03.711-04:00Prompt #198Gayle stared at the bill, feeling queasy.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-48726549490739656812012-08-13T20:45:00.003-04:002012-08-13T20:45:56.918-04:00Quote <i>"The universe is made of stories, not atoms."</i><br />
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~Muriel Rukeyserfirstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-19981750474490347352012-08-10T10:13:00.002-04:002012-08-10T10:13:49.881-04:00Theme PromptWrite a short story on the theme or idea of:<br />
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<b>FRIDAY</b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-30806992892863128222012-08-09T21:31:00.001-04:002012-08-09T21:31:16.739-04:00Quote<i>"Act as if what you do makes a difference.<br />
It does."</i><br />
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~ William James<br />firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-19980334819730093602012-08-08T10:55:00.000-04:002012-08-08T10:55:46.809-04:00Prompt #197Leslie wondered if she was being too picky.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-50769427550763040312012-08-05T21:49:00.004-04:002012-08-05T21:49:47.270-04:00Connect the Dots PromptUse these three words in a short story:<br />
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<i>ash, porch, tight.</i>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-12350251220965585362012-08-02T21:18:00.000-04:002012-08-02T21:18:02.818-04:00Dialogue PromptUse this line of dialogue in a short story:<br />
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<i>"By Friday I might be jumping around."</i>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-77787476121592630242012-07-31T21:48:00.002-04:002012-07-31T21:48:38.626-04:00Prompt #196When Rick got home there was a woman he had never seen before sunbathing in his backyard.<br />
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<br />firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-45122335010332588602012-07-30T20:53:00.001-04:002012-07-30T20:53:26.497-04:00Theme PromptWrite a short story on the theme or idea of:<br />
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<b>BLISS</b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-18168532918986378352012-07-27T13:09:00.000-04:002012-07-27T13:09:06.627-04:00Dialogue PromptUse this line of dialogue in a short story. It can be the first line, the last line or any line in between.<br />
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<b>"But I don't know how to drive." </b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-29846307952168925302012-07-25T07:00:00.001-04:002012-07-25T07:00:55.681-04:00Prompt #195Jack watched the fish tank while he waited for Hannah to come back.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-32169087780916638482012-07-23T21:27:00.003-04:002012-07-23T21:27:39.916-04:00Connect the Dots PromptUse these three words in a short story:<br />
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<b>piano, memory, twilight</b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-66457137735636735172012-07-20T07:02:00.000-04:002012-07-20T07:02:06.373-04:00Want to Read Someone Else's Mail?Of course you do! Click <a href="http://www.lettersofnote.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-17335896439679558352012-07-18T10:42:00.000-04:002012-07-18T10:42:04.068-04:00Prompt #194My dog gets more mail than I do.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-87256615026480133262012-07-16T09:39:00.002-04:002012-07-16T09:39:47.670-04:00Theme PromptWrite a short story on the theme or idea of:<br />
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<b>FRUSTRATION</b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-35581914294187194762012-07-13T21:00:00.000-04:002012-07-13T21:00:01.282-04:00Writing AdventureWe haven't gone outside on an adventure in a long while. Let's take advantage of summer and grab our notebooks and an iced tea and head to a nearby park or beach. Get your writerly self outside! Go somewhere you can relax (it's summer!). Settle yourself in a scenic spot and have a long slow look around. Now open your notebook and describe the scene. <br />
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Now close your eyes and become aware of your surroundings. Take in the "view" using your other senses. Now open your eyes, pick up your notebook and describe the scene a second time. <br />
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How are your two descriptions different? What did you notice the second time that you didn't notice the first?<br />
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Now sip that iced tea and relax. (I told you were we going to relax.)firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-67779507818850100172012-07-11T06:54:00.001-04:002012-07-11T06:54:34.871-04:00Prompt #193George and Janet had never intended to be undertakers.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-11836262094314712022012-07-06T09:32:00.000-04:002012-07-06T09:32:44.671-04:00Connect the Dots PromptUse these three words in a short story:<br />
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<b>bowl, flamingo, July</b>firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9098646853427637031.post-61251788055335040802012-07-04T07:26:00.000-04:002012-07-04T07:26:15.050-04:00Prompt #192The kid was making Martin nervous.firstlinefictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791334570848415998noreply@blogger.com0