The best line you’ve got

Ms. Chanel got it right.

You know what I’m talking about right? It’s the line in 80,000 words of a story that you are most proud of.

The way it rolls off your tongue, the way it lingers in your brain… Everyone’s got one.

I read somewhere that Stephen King’s favorite line was the beginning of his Dark Tower series:

“The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed.”

Best opening line ever… except maybe “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”

What’s your favorite line that you have written?

My favorite up until yesterday was from Book 4: Thrice Burned:

I was once again fighting a losing battle with my umbrella as I came in the door and nearly swung the useless instrument into Miss. Coleson in my frustration.

“Oh dear!” I exclaimed, diverting the would-be weapon at the last second, avoiding injury by mere inches, “Miss Coleson! I didn’t even see you there! So sorry!”

“Portia!” she said back, a wide grin on her face, “Come in girl! That rain is enough to make any Londoner forgivably homicidal!”

Now, I am pleased to say it is this one, from Book 6 (tentatively titled ‘Truth be Told’)

He had walked a few steps before I called out to him, my eyes closed: “Do you ever wish I could turn it off, Mr. Dawes?” I swallowed past the lump in my throat, “do you ever wish you had not met the granddaughter of Watson and Holmes?”

“Yes.” his voice came out of the darkness with no hesitation, “and never once.”

#writing #stephenking #detective #bakerstreet #darktower #portiaadams #chanel #gunslinger #fiction #starwars