Laidlaw's Law states that any book can be improved with a simple change. Replace the second line of the book with, "And then the murders began." It works with the Bible:
And Little Women:
Neil Gaiman even joined in:
But it can really be applied to any novel. Try it with the book you're reading now. Sometimes it doesn't work as a second line, but when you finally insert it, it's gold!
I wondered if it would work with my own books. Here's 30 Days of No Gossip. Doesn't really work so well...
And 25 Roses. A little better?
It seems to work best of all for little Piper.
Give it a try! Add the phrase to the book you're reading or writing now...or add it to one of the famous openings on this list, then copy and paste the results below!
My next Piper Morgan book, Piper Morgan Makes a Splash, comes out April 4, 2017. Sign up if you'd like to help out by posting on your blog about it!
What's scary is it naturally fits into two of my books, like it was meant to go there.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to work best with books that kick off by describing the setting, rather than those that dive into the action?
DeleteHi Steph - what an interesting idea - and yes little Piper could easily start looking for murderers ... what of might be difficult -cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThat would definitely take the series in a different direction!
DeleteThat's funny! While I don't think it would work in every case, it's great fun.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't, but when it does, it's fascinating!
DeleteOh, that's strange. I checked out the list of famous openings and it's amazing it works with every one of them. Here's one of them:
ReplyDelete"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
And then the murders began.
—Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I love it! I saw someone put it with Winnie the Pooh!
DeleteAmazing! Love it. It would sure grab the reader's attention.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds weird. I'm not sure I'm going to try it.
ReplyDelete"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."
ReplyDeleteAnd then the murders began.
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Odd one!
"Jack Beilis ducked into the narrow streets of the Williamsburg neighborhood with the desperation of a cornered jackal."
ReplyDeleteAnd then the murders began.
"The Last Paradise" by Antonio Garrido
What is interesting is that Jack leaves New York after a murder is committed and heads to Soviet Russia under Stalin. Talk about murders.
I'll be checking this out with books I read in the future.
That is funny. It works for most of my stories.
ReplyDeleteFrom my women's fiction story Lola Dares: After last students finally filed out of my classroom, I let my head fall onto my desk with a thunk. And then then murders began.
ReplyDeleteCool!
Ha! This is a fun idea. I'll have to try it with the book I'm reading. I think it can actually work. Happy weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing and of course a great hook!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is funny/cool. I like the Bible insert the best even though it's so macabre it's so true.
ReplyDeleteThis is fun! So I'm trying to remember the first lines of the books I've read and insert this next. Sick! Awesome! Funny! Cool!
ReplyDeletewell now, how very cool!!!
ReplyDeleteThe key to being a good gossip is timing. And then the murders began.
ReplyDeleteI think that works!
Last week, my husband and I were sitting at our home in Vancouver Island complaining about the unusually long, cold and snowy winter. And then the murders began.
This is amazing!! I now have a great new party trick!
Thanks so much, Stephanie!
This is great!
ReplyDeleteFrom BLACK FLOWERS, WHITE LIES: I approach Dad's tombstone with trepidation, then breathe a sigh of relief. And then the murders began.
LOL!
Wow! What a cool thing to do, and it works every time! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteHa, that's crazy. Very cool, thank you for sharing with us. :)
ReplyDeleteI lovet this. But I also loved getting a taste of your writing!
ReplyDeleteHaha this is too funny. It works perfectly with the book I'm currently reading, but idk if I can share the line since it's a review copy, so you'll have to take my word for it lol.
ReplyDeleteHA! This is so much fun! I do think it works with virtually any book! :D
ReplyDeleteHaha...love it!
ReplyDelete