A writing contest for readers and writers!

The Kick Butt First Line contest!

Have the next Great American novel inside you screaming to get out?
Okay, how about just the first line?
Then this is the contest for you!
Write the most compelling first line in the history of literature and submit it using the form below.

 

AND I PRESENT…THE WINNERS OF THE OCTOBER 2009 KICK BUTT FIRST LINE CONTEST!

 Next Contest May 2010!

 

 

 

FIRST PLACE:

 

There would be no open casket. – Mary Preston

SECOND PLACE:

 

My name is Jasper, I like knives.  – Mary Preston

THIRD PLACE:

 

She added a dash of pepper to the fragrant spaghetti sauce on the stove and for good measure a teaspoon of cyanide as well. –Michelle Santiago

 

HONORARY MENTIONS:

 

Chocolate, Sex and Death - a few of my favorite things. - J. Stender

 

When I was born, all of the demons in hell cashed in their chips to vie
for me. – Margay Justice

Lady Phoebe Howard had been in and out of trouble all her life; but
kidnapping was new ground, even for her. – Danielle Yockman

 

 

 Finalists

 

Chocolate, Sex and Death - a few of my favorite things. - J. Stender

 

Dying was not how I expected to start my day.

 

 

The first time we met, we were both naked. –PH

 

 

It took humans two days to realize they were no longer at the top of the food chain. –PH

 

 

The smell of lysol, cheap perfume and fresh blood always gives me a rush.

 

 

The light of the moon can wash away ones sins, or illuminate them for all to see. –SC

 

 

I think I must have died a long time ago.—GSM

 

 

She added a dash of pepper to the fragrant spaghetti sauce on the stove and for good measure a teaspoon of cyanide as well.-MMS

 

 

Some days, you really should just stay in bed if you want to make it through the whole day alive. – WR

 

 

It was the most important resolution of all; and I broke it. – TMG

 

 

The dead speak to Dr. Reed Morris. – TMG

 

Lady Phoebe Howard had been in and out of trouble all her life; but kidnapping was new ground, even for her. – DEY

 

Full moon or PMS, whatever he wanted to call it got JD's teeth sent to his colon first class for his comment. - DMP

Wearing a smug expression in a morgue is wrong on so many levels, but she didn't care. -AA

Monday couldn't posibly start any worse than by waking up inside a body bag.

 When I was born, all of the demons in hell cashed in their chips to vie for me.

Around the fifth month, Torie Haven realized that getting pregnant by a supernatural being had certain drawbacks. -JL

My name is Jasper, I like knives.

There would be no open casket.

Leave it to me to fall in love with a Werewolf.

As I hung up the phone ending my call all I could think is, "Yet another village has lost an idiot", and he called here. - Denise, NY

Of all the things I could erase in my life, hearing my twin sister's agonizing death screams would head the top of the list.

My final thought as I took my last breath, "Oh to come back as an avenging angel" and right all wrongs. --Karen

The day was sunny and...blah, blah, blah the important thing is the bad guy is no longer attached to his head and I am still breathing. ~Chris Jones

 I patiently waited as the body that would become my home for the next thirty to forty years expelled it's last breaths. – CLK

The mirror was reflecting another person that was not me.

My sister's screams echoed in my head as I woke from yet another nightmare.

Seeing him again awakened a part of me that died the day he walked out.

 

 ALL ENTRIES

I looked around the room seeing things I hadn't seen since I was a child. . . how the heck did I end up back here?

My sister's screams echoed in my head as I woke from yet another nightmare.

When I was walking down the park, I saw the love of my life with another guy and that burned me inside.

The mirror was reflecting another person that was not me.

Love became hate after killing the couples.

The deluge of boxes has begun to arrive again - except this time, Mary isn't dead. – ACN

I was supposed to be on my honeymoon today, but instead I'm standing here behind Balboa naval hospital, shooting Mom and Pop in a field of flowers. – ACN

Until this moment, I had no idea how much rattlesnake venom feels like fire as it moves through one's veins. – ACN

There are no excuses... for you still being alive--Krystal Yow

"You're everything I've ever wanted in a man but I don't need anything-not even you."

At the sound of his voice, I jerked my head up from the book I was signing and found myself face to face with the inspiration behind the novel I'd just written. – CLK

All of my training must have went to work in that second because there was no thought involved as I lept in front of the impending blow death delt for him. – CLK

I patiently waited as the body that would become my home for the next thirty to forty years expelled it's last breaths. – CLK

You ever wonder why the bad guys always smell like cotton candy and sex? ~Chris Jones

The day was sunny and...blah, blah, blah the important thing is the bad guy is no longer attached to his head and I am still breathing. ~Chris Jones

When I woke up and felt something cold lying next to me, I just knew it was still my life.~Chris Jones

My final thought as I took my last breath, "Oh to come back as an avenging angel" and right all wrongs. Karen

Totally exposed, she saw the man, for the evil that held his soul captive. Karen

Think only good thoughts, when contemplating life or death.

"One potato, two potato, three potato--'you're' dead."

Of all the things I could erase in my life, hearing my twin sister's agonizing death screams would head the top of the list.

Leave it to me to fall in love with a Werewolf.

As I hung up the phone ending my call all I could think is, "Yet another village has lost an idiot", and he called here. - Denise, NY

"I'm sorry I missed class, professor, but I swear I saw Heath Ledger walking into the Spanish classroom and I felt it was my duty as a proud member of the female gender to follow.."

When I imagined moving into my own apartment, that perfect dream did not include dead bugs on the floor, and a super sized can of RAID that had to be in arms reach at all times.

"Holy son of a horse whisperer, I think he's a vampire!"

Nothing could have prepared her for seeing the man standing on her doorstep, a man whom she had been told died three years ago.

As the sun peeked over the trees and surrounding buildings, the humidity stirred the smell of hot, rotten meat, and smoke still danced around the piles of bodies.

Diana flew through the air. – MS

Silence reigned supreme, until a motorbike engine wanted the the crown. – MS

There would be no open casket.

So many bodies, so little time.

My name is Jasper, I like knives.

"Oh my", she said. "Is that really yours?". –DMP

The alarm went off as usual, but somehow I had a nagging feeling today was NOT going to be usual. – DMP

The pain was deep seated and unforgiving, it wouldn’t leave and it wouldn’t be soothed. –Holly

I’m not quite sure how I got there, but I was blowing through the doors of my office with the power of a typhoon scattering people before me and leaving them shaking in my wake. –Holly

You can bring down kingdoms with one little mistake, one slip and the walls of a fortress can tumble to the ground… -Holly

Around the fifth month, Torie Haven realized that getting pregnant by a supernatural being had certain drawbacks. –JL

Apple pie was on the menu the day Death stopped by, but that was no surprise. –JL

As Lyle Kemper gasped his last, his neighbor Violet Solberg was serving tea. –JL

I was a Speaker once, a land user respected by all, before Aryasong... before I died. - Adam Heine

The netter found me faster than I thought; I'd only been in Savajinn two days before she walked into the Sick Savaj. - Adam Heine

"Lesson one of ninjutsu," Sensei said, "always be able to kill your students." - Adam Heine

Who thought my life could change faster than a traffic light! – DMP

As I wished on my zillionth shooting star for a man of substance - HE walked by and I thanked the heavens ! – DMP

When I was born, all of the demons in hell cashed in their chips to vie for me.

Blind dates were the work of the devil, and Presley Gordon’s best friend was the devil’s apprentice.

I can never rely on a man to do anything; for this I blame my mother.

The air caught in my throat as I gasped, her eyes seemed to be glowing and her mouth was curled back in a snarl that was supposed to be a smile.—Bejmn

I could hear thunder in the distance, as I eased the door open the sky lit up, the crack of lightning made me jump into the hallway, I looked around to see if anyone observed my clumsy actions.—Bejmn

She looked back at me with an evil smirk, just then her head rolled back in an almost convulsive state.

He was lifeless and I was jealous.

An echoing happy birthday brought forth tears as the blow set in.

Thought is all I have, everything else is loaned.

Monday couldn't posibly start any worse than by waking up inside a body bag.

Killing my traitorous husband wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be.

Waking up next to a monster in the morning made me swaer off tequila shots.

As I sat at my grandmother's vanity and cried, all the other children were playing Ring-around-the-Rosie and Red-rover-red-rover, never realizing that this was our father's funeral. –dp

Once you realize you're the only one left, you begin to wonder why you didn't try to stop them before, when they came for the others, one-by-one... –dp

As you walk the grande halls in wonder, you begin to realize that they're trying to teach you all the things you disagree with, all the things they taught those before you, and you wonder what in the name of humanity you're doing here. –dp

Dark eyes glinting with evil, he crawled up her rigid body. –AA

Full moon or PMS, whatever he wanted to call it got JD's teeth sent to his colon first class for his comment. – DMP

As I shoveled the dirt back in the hole, I kept telling myself, I would try harder to resist the urge to kill someone for not doing somthing my way.- DMP

Against the wall, laying down - who cares - I was getting a piece of prime man one way or another tonight.- DMP

Lady Phoebe Howard had been in and out of trouble all her life; but kidnapping was new ground, even for her. – DEY

“Enough,” Lady Ann Gardiner bellowed as she stood at the top of the sweeping staircase, hands upon hips, eyeing her recalcitrant husband and daughter. – DEY

Jo couldn't believe her luck here was another poor girl to haul out of the gutters of London, and her house was already filled to bursting. – DEY

Noah Taylor was only eight years old the first time it happened. – TM

It was the most important resolution of all; and I broke it. – TMG

The dead speak to Dr. Reed Morris. – TMG

"Grab the phone and call the firemen to come get the cat off the cactus again."-jm

"What do you mean the special panties i ordered got dropped off at my neighbors house?"-jm

I like to have a cup of coffee before I have dead bodys on my porch.-jm

As the monster behind the door furiously attempted escape, I couldn't help but wonder what a nice girl like me had done to be at this place after sundown with a werewolf locked in the closet.

when he kissed me for the first time the universe moved and i saw stars

Some days, you really should just stay in bed if you want to make it through the whole day alive. – WR

The storm clouds were gathering, the air was growing thicker, and the time to run was getting closer. – WR

Men were like flies to Mara - she'd swat one away and there'd be a whole swarm of them waiting in line to get turned down next. – WR

She regained consciousness in a world completely different--everything was obliterated and the ashes of the dead were still falling form the sky.-MMS

Disoriented, she pushed off the covers and sat up only to come face to face with the last man she ever thought she'd see: her husband.-MMS

She added a dash of pepper to the fragrant spaghetti sauce on the stove and for good measure a teaspoon of cyanide as well.-MMS

 

The first evening I awoke with fangs I remembered--too late--that I really don’t like the taste of blood.—GSM

 

I think I must have died a long time ago.—GSM

 

Sometimes you just know it’s right; of course sometimes you need to be hit upside the head 12 times with a two by four and you still can’t decide.—GSM

 

Bacon, waffles and Johnny Cash in the morning. – Tusenord

 

Time passes. – Tusenord

 

Somewhere out there a world of colours existed; a world of spring, of flowers budding, of whistling birds. – Tusenord

 

When society fell, Earth became a planet of horrendous violence, bloodshed and overall chaos.

 

Success did not always go to the smartest or even the strongest; more often then not it went to the most cunningly vicious.

 

They are not part of us, what they are at this time is a friendly enemy.

 

The fight had gone badly. –MKJ

 

"Mine would have been bigger." –MKJ

 

When I got out of my car and walked toward the parking garage elevator, the last thing I expected to see were a pair of dark-chocolate brown eyes staring up at me from a severed head. –SC

 

The light of the moon can wash away ones sins, or illuminate them for all to see. –SC

 

Why is it that when I wake up in the morning I feel more dead than alive? –SC

 

The smell of lysol, cheap perfume and fresh blood always gives me a rush.

 

They say you can never go home again; but they have never been here before.

 

Waking up is always hard after you've been dead for three days.

 

So far, Cleo's online dating service had hooked her up with one white knight, three toads and Sal-the-fish Merola.—DWS

 

Cara,the new novitiate,licked the bowl and thought creme brulee was better than sex.—DWS

 

Absolutely nothing good could come from my face being forced into a tub of bobbing apples.—DWS

 

Six bucks in fuel was not getting me back to Florida.-D.E.

 

What do you mean, R.C.P.O. "you were sick, so you decided to shine your boon-dockers instead" you Poodle-dick!-D.E.

 

It took humans two days to realize they were no longer at the top of the food chain. –PH

 

The first time we met, we were both naked. –PH

 

I never met a corpse I didn't like until now.

 

Dying was not how I expected to start my day.

 

So this is what it feels like to be dead.

 

Stan raped and dumped my lifeless body into the river on Saturday night, and I was in class, filing my broken nail lazily, by Monday morning.-AN

 

When you murder your twin sister with a book over the last piece of chocolate, then you know you have to find something to get blood stains out of paper.-AN

 

When I realized I had hit rock bottom, the world shifted and I was reliving the event that had made me a hollow and broken shadow of a girl.-AN

Back at the ranch, grandma keeps beating off the Indians; they just keep coming and coming… DW

 

Why are all the good guys either gay or undead? -Roxanne Rhoads

 

I can't believe he showed up at the Ball with that undead bitch! - Roxanne Rhoads

 

"How many times do I have to kill you before you get the message that I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore?" -Roxanne Rhoads

 

George had gone far too pale for his own good and he positively reeked of formaldehyde, but nobody looked nearly as perturbed about these things as George himself.

 

Had it not been for the sound of the landsharks singing melodiously in the bushes outside the chamber window, Jeannette might have made the terrible mistake of assuming she had finally woken up back home.

 

As he passed the 78th floor on the way down, Benny decided that this business of falling off buildings was beginning to get a little tedious.

 

As the raft floated down the river, I could hear my mother sobbing and I sobbed too, knowing I would never comfort her again.-EN

 

I opened the door and there he stood, bloody, beaten and grinning with that wicked, sexy grin he liked to wear.-EN

 

As he held me tightly I trembled, waiting for that first bite.

 

As Terry and I sipped our tea I thought of what a beautiful funeral she had last week.

 

I knew it was wrong, I was aware everyday that what I was doing was wrong, but I couldnt stop myself- Brittany Franklin

 

Sometimes people would disapear and none us knew why, sometimes, we wouldnt even notice they were gone; and sometimes, we wouldnt care.- Brittany Franklin

 

He could smell her fear as he cut through the branches- Brittany Franklin

 

That morning I awoke to a woman screaming as she looked directly at me in the huge pile of body parts no longer attached to their owners. - J. Stender

 

Chocolate, Sex and Death - a few of my favorite things. - J. Stender

 

"Would I take it all back if I had it all to do over again?" wondered Mara. - J. Stender

 

Holy Sheep, I'm dead. –MAS

 

I never thought I would be wearing Chucks when I died.

 

 

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A big fat thank you to my contest judges!

Joyce Henderson's CAPTURE AN EAGLE

Barbara Meyers's new release, A MONTH FROM MIAMI, out now from Samhain Publishing.

PERIL IN PARADISE, Marty Ambrose's new mystery series, out now from Avalon.

Lynnette Hallberg, MOONLIGHT, MOTORCYCLES, AND BAD BOYS

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(See Rules below)

See Entries!

CASH PRIZES!
First place: $75 and autographed book*

Second place: $25 and autographed book*

Third place: autographed book

* For international winners, prize will be a gift certificate at B&N.com in the same amount. Autographed books subject to availability.

All entries will be posted here as I get them, taken verbatim from your email. Contest runs through Nov 1, 2009. Winners will be announced and notified Dec 1 or sooner.

Contest is open to all writers and readers. There is no charge to enter.

Keep checking back to see what’s been added! Entries are below!

Complete the form to enter

Your Name

Your Email Address

First Line #1

First Line #2

First Line #3

Please enter the anti spam code below:

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Rules
So that entries can be posted in a timely fashion, please check your entry carefully before you send it in.

Format your entry as follows:
My great line. –Name or initials

Example:

She looked at what he held in his hand and asked, "Just what do you intend to do with that?" – Ima Greatwriter

Don't use quotes unless the line is spoken dialog. NO CAPS, please. Just your line, two dashes, and either your name or initials. (Be aware that if you include your whole name, someone who Googles you will find your entry. This actually happened, and the Googler made fun of the entry, which wasn't very nice and shame on you.)
This is the Best First Line contest, not Best First Line(s). Please limit each entry to one sentence. (Long, run-on sentences are scored lower and two or more separate sentences will not be posted.)
Entries will be posted verbatim, typos and all. Entries cannot be edited or removed once they are posted.
You must include only the words Best First Line in your email's subject line. Otherwise it might get lost in the deluge of SPAM.
No more than 3 entries per person, please. And no trying to sneak them in under different names! Write out all of your wonderful lines and then pick the best three. Save the others for the next contest.
No profanity, pornography or depravity, please. We don't want to scare the masses away, after all.
Your line must be your own original creation and cannot be from a published book, yours or anyone else's.
Your line will not be used in any way other than on the website and/or other contest promotion. It may be used as a Round Robin type project, however.
Include your full name in your email. It will not be posted unless you attach it to your entry as in the above example.
An impartial panel of published authors will judge the contest. Their decision is final.
By your entry, you certify that you are at least 18 years of age and agree to the rules and conditions of the contest. You will hold Jaime Rush/Tina Wainscott harmless for any misdirected mail or emails and hereby release her from any liability that may arise out of any claim. (This means you can't yell at her, either.) You grant permission for your entry to be posted on the website and used for promotion.
If you use spam filters, please add JAIMERUSH at EARTHLINK DOT NET (in proper format) to your allowed list. If you cannot be reached, your prize will be forfeited, and that would be an awful thing.