When I write solid blocks of writing (I'm a poet inside), I like to find a way to introduce both poetry and the setting. So, I tried experimenting with haikus, which (for the non-poets) are three-line poems, with the first and third line holding five syllables, whilst the second line holding seven. Onto the point, I tried a couple of these at the start of my writing, and I found the work quite well as individual sentences that hook the reader. So, I was wondering if other people could come up with examples of these starters, to see if they work for the majority of the forum. I'll start: The rain grew weary, while the sun set quite slowly, covered by clouds.
Haiku is just about the only kind of poem I ever consider writing. And mine are hardly ever serious. An example: Chips, murder, and steam. A book and a crinkly bag in the bathtub. Wrong? It could start a novel. Maybe.
Could that be the start of an Agatha Christie like novel? Perhaps it could be a circular narrative? I love it nonetheless. Newspaper folded, The man stood up from the chair, He could smell bacon...
On his last full breath The universe sang a song Everything was born It has a Phoenix element to it. From death life arises.
One of the most fun things that I ever experienced at a writer's workshop was haiku. Our instructor had us each write a haiku. Then, to our astonishment, he passed everybody a pair of scissors. We had to cut our lines apart. Then he mixed up all the first lines, and we had to each draw one. Ditto the second lines, then the third lines. So we each ended up with a mismatched first, second and third line. And then he had each of us read 'ours' out loud. Hilarity ensued. But in fact, some of them carried profound meanings as well. I think we learned more about haiku that day than anybody imagined we would.
Haiku and senryu are the only forms of poetry that I feel like I'm decently good at. If Tolkien can fill The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings with countless songs and shanties, I think one can get away with starting a novel with a haiku. --- Blow out the candles; I wish this is my last wish. Birthday irony.
I thought immediately of Tolkien when I read the title of this thread. I oft think the day of my birth will be the day I die. It's good to hear from you, Poem! What do you think of the last three words as, "... at her feet." to finish with the focus on her? Good stuff, peeps!
Thanks for the suggestion. There's a reason, though, why I didn't mention a second person in this. I'll just leave it at that
Sure this can be fun, but I fail to see this approach really adding much to the prose. A lot of these examples don't really seem like strong hooks or the bast way to open a story. I'm sure it can be done and has been done before. But when writing clarity is as important if not more important than creativity. Go ahead and try it if you feel like it's working, but don't be surprised if these are the first things cut in the editing process. And, personally, I'm not a fan of gimmicks and that's what this sort of seems to be.
