FIC REC: Stalks and Bonds by the_con_cept (Also: How to Craft an Opening Line)

[amanuensis1]

You ask me what kinds of fics I like? I like fics with a first line like this:

“I’m cold,” Draco said in that crisp voice he used when he expected something done about it.

That's the first line from the_con_cept's loopily wonderful reversathon fic, Stalks and Bonds (parody threesome bonding fic, Snape/Harry/Draco). It's a lovely example of what I think is a perfect opening line: starts in the middle of the action, doesn't bother with exposition, tells me worlds about the character and attitude not only of Draco but of the narrative POV-person perceiving Draco's protest, and it's witty in a way that would suit both a humorous story or a dark ironic one. And it's the entire opening paragraph and it's not too long. You want to suck me into a story? Yeah. Do that.

The rest of the story, happily, is just as delightful--with an opening line like that, you know it's likely to be. 'S the nature of writing skill.

Comments

[the_con_cept.livejournal.com]

*flushes* Thank you so much! Considering the entire thing grew out of, "How fun would it be to have them having sex through cell bars?" and "What would entertain dracofiend?" it was...not exactly one of my more intellectual fics. But it was a lot of fun to write! Silliness and sex! Those are my bywords! *g*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Silliness and sex and delightful characterization and a whole lotta other good things! :D

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Was going through my recs tags and found I couldn't get to this one. Did you lock it away from even friends?

[the_con_cept.livejournal.com]

Everything on LJ was set to private when I used LJ-sec to move everything to IJ. I also keep that one at skyhawke here; http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=13658.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I got all confuzzled. ^_^