First lines. The hook. There are lists of famous first lines. Here's one list. Of course, these are already taken and you have to come up with your own amazing lines. What this list of lines shows, though, is how important the first line can be.
However, it is possible to get frozen at the first line. There is a character in Camus' Plague, Joseph Grand, who plans to write a great novel. Unfortunately, he can't get past the first line. Over and over again he writes:
“One fine morning in the month of May an elegant young horsewoman might have been seen riding a handsome sorrel mare along the flowery avenues of the Bois de Boulogne".
Grand plays with the line. Drops a word, and adds a word. It has to be perfect.
You have to resist getting caught in Camus' first-line loop. If the first line doesn't come to you immediately, keep going. When you are done, you will likely find the inspiration for that line.
I think this week's challenge is a wonderful exercise for writers. I'm looking forward to reading a story from each of you, a story with a smashing first line. This will be the hook that draws us in and persuades us to be your audience.