Wednesday, August 8, 2012

August First Line Grabber #1

TITLE: THE WRITE WAY HOME
GENRE: MG

The instant Mama clipped the rosebud, I knew we were leaving, maybe for good.

85 comments:

Vicki Tremper said...

YES. I get voice and mystery in one sentence. Why is Mama clipping a rosebud and why does that mean they're leaving? Why are they leaving? Where are they going?

Anonymous said...

YES. Voice is certainly there and there is instantly questions provoking me to read on.

Lanette said...

Yes. This evokes imagery and tells me immediately there's a story.

Lydia Netzer said...

No. Sounds twee immediately. Also pun in the title, sailors take warning.

erin said...

Yes. I like the voice, and I immediately have questions.

Heidi said...

Yes. Hints at conflict and promises well-developed characters.

Anita Saxena said...

Yes. The voice tells me alot about the character and I want to know what the connection between the rosebud and leaving are.

Robbin said...

Yes. Simple with lots of intrigue. I want more.

Roan said...

No. Although it's original, it lacks voice or personality.

Ellie Heller said...

Yes. Like the voice here and the imagery of finality the clipping the bush brings.

Stacey Trombley said...

No. Mainly because I don't see how the rosebud is connected to leaving. Just sounds odd to me.

Kelly Allan said...

Yes. I am very intrigued. If I picked this book up at the store, I would have to keep reading.

Kelly Allan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amanda Foody said...

No. I don't have any specifics about where they are leaving and the significance of the rosebud.

Shakier Anthem said...

Yes -- this line hints at several intriguing questions I'm curious to know the answers to.

Stacey Hays said...

Yes. I want to know why they are leaving there has to be a story behind it.

janealfalor said...

Yes. I want to know the significance of the connection.

Yttar said...

No. I think this would've been stronger without the "maybe for good" part.

B.E. Sanderson said...

Yes. It immediately evokes a feeling of loss, and the way it's written makes me feel like the MC doesn't want to leave.

misstante said...

YES. i want to know what the rosebud has to do with leaving

Judy Mintz said...

Yes. I like the voice.

Susie said...

Yes, because I want know qhyclipping the bud means they're leaving.

christina said...

YES! Love this. The voice is melancholy, the rosebud has some meaning, otherwise why would they take it with them--makes me want to read MORE!

CourtneyC said...

Yes. Sounds like it is from the south and charming.

Janice Sperry said...

Yes. I would at least finish the paragraph to see where it was going.

Stephanie Garber said...

Yes. I liked that you use the act of clipping a rosebud to show that our narrator and his/her mama are leaving.

Megan said...

Yes. I like the mysterious beginning and want to know what happens.

Charlee Vale said...

No. To me it doesn't give enough info.

Holly Bodger said...

Yes. I don't like the combination of I knew & maybe but I still like this.

Holly Bodger said...

Yes. I don't like the combination of I knew & maybe but I still like this.

Teresa said...

Yes. Though I'm on the fence. I know immediately this is a 'coming-of-age' and I have a soft spot for 'hero tries to find a home' stories. I'd read on to see where this is going.

A.J. said...

Yes, the imagery is powerful, and the tension is present immediately

Deanna Romito said...

Yes. This immediately tells me there's something big happening for the mc. There's some significance to the rosebud and I want to know what it is.

Chro said...

Yes. Immediate conflict and portrayal of the main character as a child.

Milhaud said...

Yes. A sensitive way to begin that even reveals a bit about character.

Utsav said...

Yes, great intrigue and I would keep reading simply because of the missing connection.

DJ said...

Yes, even though the word "Mama" invoked the icky-sweet Little House on the Prairie genre ( I wasn't an icky-sweet kind of girl). But the child knowing what the rosebud meant intrigued me.

Alaina said...

Yes. I want to know why they'd be clipping off unopened flowers, instead of good ones.

Lori Alexander said...

Yes. I want to know what the rose has to do with the MC leaving.

Jade said...

Yes,
I'm interested to know why they are leaving.

Melinda said...

Yes, intriguing, plus I like the voice.

SMKrafty said...

Yes. Presents an imminent situation,although the opening tone suggests possibly more mature than MG.

the type writer said...

Yes. Great voice.

A Little Push said...

Yes, I'm interested enough to read more.

JaneDoe said...

Yes. I would take out "maybe".

zolosolo said...

Yes. Not the sort of voice I would normally be interested in, but the sentence left me with enough questions to read on.

R.A.Desilets said...

Yes. I wouldn't really like it if it was geared towards YA, but as a MG first line, it's good.

skywriter said...

Yes. Sensitive and intriguing, I want to read more.

Heather Hawke said...

Yes. You communicate a lot in these few words and open up much to be curious about.

Shannon Schuren said...

Yes. A bit of mystery and voice. I'd read on.

Jenny Lundquist said...

Yes. The imagery with the rosebud is intriguing and provides tension.

Margot Galaway said...

Yes. I liked this. I'd read more.

Leah Petersen said...

Yes. Just enough to make me want to know more.

sbibb said...

Yes. While I feel the sentence goes on too long, I'm curious as to why the clipping of the rosebud means they're leaving, and I wonder what they're leaving.

Jillian Kuhns said...

Yes, I want to know more about the significance of this action.

Emily Wass said...

Yes. It makes you want where they are going, and what a rosebud has to do with it.

Jasmine said...

Yes.
Like the idea of knowing something is going to happen from something as innocent as clipping a rose.

Marianne Su said...

Yes. Definatley. Love the voice and tone. I would read on to see what happens.

The REALLY Real Curious Crow said...

Yes. This small, yet sensitive observation leaves me thinking your MC will be likeable enough for me to follow.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

No. It's a soft no, so I'd give you the rest of the paragraph to win me, but you don't have me yet.

foxfyre said...

Yes. I'm intrigued by what these two things have to do with each other.

Petre Pan said...

Yes. I like the imagery, and I'm already comfortable with the character's voice.

Shiela Calderón Blankemeier said...

Yes. Love the emotion and the voice. I get a sense of character already. Nicely done.

jedlight said...

Yes. The line is lovely and tender. I know the narrator is perceptive and that his/her life is about to change.

Abbe Hoggan said...

No, but that's about my tastes, not your writing. The imagery is good, the mood of sadness is clear, and the voice shines through, but it's a voice that points to the kind of story I wouldn't choose to read.

mspitzer said...

Yes! The voice pulls me right in, there's action and feeling and imagery. As a first sentence, the reader knows the main character's life is about to change.

Mary Holm said...

Yes. Suggests a poignant beginning and makes me wonder why they're leaving and where they're going.

Stacy McKitrick said...

No. Sounds a little depressing for a MG book.

Robin Weeks said...

Yes, but cautiously. I'm not a fan of the "we're moving" start to books, so I'm hoping there's more to it than that.

Julianna Helms said...

Yes, but like Robin, cautiously. I'd definitely read on, but the turn of the story can make or break it for me.

Jenn said...

Yes. Lovely literary style and voice.

tarak said...

Yes. I agree with others, though, and would take out "maybe for good." The sentence is crisper without it.

KayC said...

Yes. But clipped seems like a strange word to use. I saw her pruning the rose bush with this word, whereas I think you're trying to tell me she cut the rosebud off the bush?

Anonymous said...

Yes. It tells u so much without saying a lot. You know MC is a child. You know dhe is used to her mother picking up
And leaving. Not so much that the rosebud is important but she knows her mothers actions and what they tell her as a child"maybe for good" this time. I think that says a lot. She shouldnt get rid of it.

Heather said...

Yes.

The line gives me just enough information to want specific answers: where and why are they going, and what part does the rosebud play?

writesbymoonlight said...

Yes. I like the voice and want to know more.

Kellie D.G. said...

Yes. Makes me want to know where they are going and why cutting the rose is a symbol to the MC that they are moving on. Who does that rose belong to and why is it important?

Barbara said...

Yes. I have no idea what dipping the rosebud means and I want to know. NIce language!

Tori Schindler said...

No. It's too sweet for me. The 'mama' thing was too much.

Gina Zanicky said...

No. Doesn't make sense to me.

Aightball said...

Yes. I want to know why this signals they're leaving.

Britney Gulbrandsen said...

Yes. I want to know why he/she knew this. I like the voice.

Dale Ibitz said...

Yes.

Dale Ibitz said...

Yes. I want to know more of why h/she knows they're leaving based on a rosebud clipping.

Jess Crockett said...

Yes, assuming the next sentences are good.