It is important in writing, to be original and to think/plan every move ahead. Some of the things that I've seen done and disagree with will be listed below.
It was a dark and stormy night...:
This is a weather forecast and not the ideal opener for a piece of writing, at this point in time at least. While I wouldn't say you should never start by describing the weather, it definitely isn't the first thing I would go for. The primary reason for this is the culture of the audience that needs to be kept in mind. A century or two ago, this would have been a much more excusable thing to do, but attention spans just aren't what they used to be. Since the arrival of the internet and YouTube, people are less tolerant of slow beginnings and typically seek more immediate immersion. I've always found it a good strategy to start with a scene in which something is happening to contribute to the story or with a character in either action or description of said character (descriptions of characters tend to hold interest longer than description of setting or weather but should also not be taken too far. If you have a page full of description, you have a problem.)
I looked into the mirror and saw my black hair, my....
On that note, this is a common cliché. I understand that it's difficult to find a place for character description, especially in first person writing, but at any given moment, it's better to disperse little tie-bits about your character's appearance all throughout the book than to have the character look at him/herself and take inventory. No one does that in real life. I mean, really, how many times have you looked into the mirror and thought, 'Hair? Check. Freckles? Absent. Eyes? Check. They're brown.' It's awkward, and decreases your maturity in the eyes of your reader.
Snap! Crackle! Pop! Onomatopoeia!.
I really don't like onomatopoeias, and that's just my personal opinion, but it sounds infinitely more sophisticated to describe a sound or compare it to something than to write it out. Most of the time, the onomatopoeias don't give an accurate description of the sound they are used for (does your dog say, "Bark" or "Woof?" I would be creeped out if mine did.), and it actually pulls the reader out of the story. You can be fully immersed in a book, but at the first Beep or Crack (especially Ahhhhhhh *Audrey shudders*) it becomes plainly apparent again that it really is just a block of text and not a scene playing out before you. As with the previous example, this deals a serious blow on your maturity reputation. However, if you are going to use one, don't start the writing with it. The beginning of the piece of writing is where the reader starts making all the judgements about you that will decide whether or not they will continue reading. It's best not to have something there that turns groups of people away quickly. You can sneak those in with some large block of text far into the writing.
Mary Sue, Gary Stu, Jerry Lou, Bueller? Bueller?
I know it's hard. I know you want to have a likable, amazing character, but please! This is not the answer! You don't want to do this. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term Mary Sue, it's that character (usually new in town, usually with a dark past) who is so perfect, such a natural and smart leader, so uncannily good at everything that no one can help but fall in love with her. She is found most commonly in fan fictions, but sometimes shows up in larger productions (The 100 or Jupiter Ascending, for example). When times get hard, she will take charge immediately and know exactly what to do. She is the most level-headed of everyone. Even if you are an expert at something, she will cooly point out what you've missed and figure out something you never thought of. She always makes the best, most moral decisions, adjusts to everything as easily as if she were only changing her clothes, is able to make rational decisions in the face of fear because "I'm not afraid. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not!" and she'll make out with the hot guy while war is waging all around them because they might die tomorrow and she's melodramatic. Gary Stu is that guy. He is the brave leader and heroic hero (*ahem Percy Jackson) that Mary Sue claims she doesn't need to save her. She is beautiful, has a weird name, and is every writer's worst nightmare. Seriously. We go to sleep afraid that when we close our eyes we'll see her walk up to us clad in fashionable battle armor, perfect hair flowing in the wind, and say something sassy before ruthlessly stabbing us to death. Avoid her like the plague. But if you want to see some perfect examples of Mary Sue and Gary Stu, check out Jupiter Ascending, and for the anime buffs, Sword Art Online.
For more, click this link: http://youtu.be/O1y_E6sTYfA
It was a dark and stormy night...:
This is a weather forecast and not the ideal opener for a piece of writing, at this point in time at least. While I wouldn't say you should never start by describing the weather, it definitely isn't the first thing I would go for. The primary reason for this is the culture of the audience that needs to be kept in mind. A century or two ago, this would have been a much more excusable thing to do, but attention spans just aren't what they used to be. Since the arrival of the internet and YouTube, people are less tolerant of slow beginnings and typically seek more immediate immersion. I've always found it a good strategy to start with a scene in which something is happening to contribute to the story or with a character in either action or description of said character (descriptions of characters tend to hold interest longer than description of setting or weather but should also not be taken too far. If you have a page full of description, you have a problem.)
I looked into the mirror and saw my black hair, my....
On that note, this is a common cliché. I understand that it's difficult to find a place for character description, especially in first person writing, but at any given moment, it's better to disperse little tie-bits about your character's appearance all throughout the book than to have the character look at him/herself and take inventory. No one does that in real life. I mean, really, how many times have you looked into the mirror and thought, 'Hair? Check. Freckles? Absent. Eyes? Check. They're brown.' It's awkward, and decreases your maturity in the eyes of your reader.
Snap! Crackle! Pop! Onomatopoeia!.
I really don't like onomatopoeias, and that's just my personal opinion, but it sounds infinitely more sophisticated to describe a sound or compare it to something than to write it out. Most of the time, the onomatopoeias don't give an accurate description of the sound they are used for (does your dog say, "Bark" or "Woof?" I would be creeped out if mine did.), and it actually pulls the reader out of the story. You can be fully immersed in a book, but at the first Beep or Crack (especially Ahhhhhhh *Audrey shudders*) it becomes plainly apparent again that it really is just a block of text and not a scene playing out before you. As with the previous example, this deals a serious blow on your maturity reputation. However, if you are going to use one, don't start the writing with it. The beginning of the piece of writing is where the reader starts making all the judgements about you that will decide whether or not they will continue reading. It's best not to have something there that turns groups of people away quickly. You can sneak those in with some large block of text far into the writing.
Mary Sue, Gary Stu, Jerry Lou, Bueller? Bueller?
I know it's hard. I know you want to have a likable, amazing character, but please! This is not the answer! You don't want to do this. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term Mary Sue, it's that character (usually new in town, usually with a dark past) who is so perfect, such a natural and smart leader, so uncannily good at everything that no one can help but fall in love with her. She is found most commonly in fan fictions, but sometimes shows up in larger productions (The 100 or Jupiter Ascending, for example). When times get hard, she will take charge immediately and know exactly what to do. She is the most level-headed of everyone. Even if you are an expert at something, she will cooly point out what you've missed and figure out something you never thought of. She always makes the best, most moral decisions, adjusts to everything as easily as if she were only changing her clothes, is able to make rational decisions in the face of fear because "I'm not afraid. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not!" and she'll make out with the hot guy while war is waging all around them because they might die tomorrow and she's melodramatic. Gary Stu is that guy. He is the brave leader and heroic hero (*ahem Percy Jackson) that Mary Sue claims she doesn't need to save her. She is beautiful, has a weird name, and is every writer's worst nightmare. Seriously. We go to sleep afraid that when we close our eyes we'll see her walk up to us clad in fashionable battle armor, perfect hair flowing in the wind, and say something sassy before ruthlessly stabbing us to death. Avoid her like the plague. But if you want to see some perfect examples of Mary Sue and Gary Stu, check out Jupiter Ascending, and for the anime buffs, Sword Art Online.
For more, click this link: http://youtu.be/O1y_E6sTYfA