dunkle und stürmische Nächte

Every year this comes around and every year it's great.

This is a fine exercise for getting stories started. I suggest getting a couple of good ones . I like to have the students pretend that they are publishers who have decide whether to publish a book based on the opening line. We all know that publishers are busy and only have time to read one line. Have the class make up a bunch and put them in the hat with the "real" ones. Then read them out and have the class decide who gets a career as a writer and who doesn't.

Dear Mr. Melville,

Don't call us. We'll call you.

Sincerely,
Oprah

Have the class think about what makes a successful opening line. Not only is this fun but it reinscribes how constructed the texts are and opens the door into the craft of writing.