Sentence starts

Until recently I had a Twitter profile containing little else but sentence beginnings but as I’m a newly promoted (voluntary) publicity assistant for the Northampton Literature Group I’ve switched my sentence starts to here for you to use for your writing projects should you wish…

1. Dorothy felt like a heroine from a movie… (third person)
2. The dinner party has seemed like any other… (you can use for any pov)
3. Much as I like the fellow… (first person)
4. Barry looked at the crowd trying to pick you out… (second person)
5. Annette had long suspected that he… (third person)
6. The centre candle flickered… (you can use for any pov)
7. He said I wasn’t his cup of tea… (first person)
8. One walked in front of another… (you can use for any pov)
9. How could Melissa do this to me? (first person)
10. It was like a light bulb appeared over your head… (second person)
11. She’d noticed he’d stopped wearing his ring… (third person)
12. The bus trundled for over an hour… (you can use for any pov)
13. As I clipped the name tag to his lapel… (first person)
14. His touch was tender yet you… (second person)
15. As the car rolled towards me… (first person)
16. You wonder when things had really got so bad… (second person)
17. As Grey dangled his feet over… (third person)
18. It was old and twisted… (you can use for any pov)
19. To avoid killing time, I… (first person)
20. This wasn’t the life you’d signed up for… (second person)
21. Why didn’t she include him more? (third person)
22. If you could change one thing… (second person)
23. He ripped open her blouse, laughing at the buttons flying… (third person)
24. It had meant something different… (you can use for any pov)
25. As, I grabbed the steering wheel… (first person)
26. You said it could never happen again… (second person)
27. Sheila smeared the lotion along/down… (third person)
28. The sky had just one cloud… (you can use for any pov)
29. It was obviously from her clothes what her job was… (third person)
30. The clock wobbled with every second… (you can use for any pov)
31. Only one person knew my secret… (first person)
32. It’s a dull day and you know how it feels… (second person)
33. As she tucked her sleeve under… (third person)
34. For the second Mother’s Day in a row… (you can use any pov)
35. “Are we there yet?” was something I’d been dreading… (first person)
36. As the light flashed on the switchboard… (you can use for any pov)
37. In the right place at the wrong time… (you can use any pov)
38. The shop had had a run on… (you can use any pov)
39. Was it really as bad as they said?… (you can use any pov)
40. As the lid slammed shut… (you can use any pov)
41. I couldn’t be sure but it definitely tasted past its best… (first person)
42. You jump as the fan creaks into life… (second person)
43. I opened the door; the shop was buzzing with life… (first person)
44. The visit to the ______, you realise, had been a big mistake… (second person)
45. As her hands rubbed her stomach… (third person)
46. I’d never meant it to go so far… (first person)
47. As you add the final touch… (second person)
48. Violet folded her arms defensively… (third person)
49. On this occasion, the customer was most definitely not right… (you can use for any pov)
50. As I walked along the roof edge… (first person)
51. You think “The light shouldn’t be on at this time…” (second person)
52. He looked like a Crimewatch mug-shot… (third person)
53. I’d never had great judgment… (first person)
54. You try digging for a compliment… (second person)
55. Simon was in a foul mood/growled… (third person)
56. Even at 50% off…(you can use for any pov)
57. As I looked up… (first person)
58. You knew his family came first but… (second person)
59. She was very proud of her… (third person)
60. As I swung my legs precariously… (first person)
61. You knew it was wrong but… (second person)
62. Patience didn’t live up to her name… (third person)
63. It seemed to be ticking over nicely… (you can use any pov)
64. As I put it in my mouth… (first person)
65. And how do you feel now / about that? (second person)
66. As she swept her hair back she revealed… (third person)
67. could sense I wasn’t alone… (first person)
68. The black Porsche glinted at you like a baddie in a western… (second person)
69. He was someone she could relate to… (third person)
70. Couldn’t everyone communicate with the dead? (you can use any pov)
71. It felt clammy yet I… (first person)
72. She didn’t believe a word but you… (second person)
73. He now knew why he preferred animals… (third person)
74. As the hook dug into my flesh… (first person)
75. You know you can’t trust him…(second person)
76. The cracks in their marriage had appeared after… (third person)
77. The quiet village was shattered by… (you can use any pov)
78. I tried not to sound too bored / boring… (first person)
79. It was like hitting your head against a brick wall…(second person)
80. She watched the cracks get bigger… (third person)
81. I couldn’t remember much about… (first person)
82. You startled me when you… (second person)
83. Emma was a selfish teenager… (third person)
84. It was the cosiest of crimes… (you could use this for any point of view)

My ’365-Day Writer’s Block Workbook (Volume 1)’ contains over 1,000 more (three a day) and is priced at just $1.49, currently available from Smashwords. I also provide sentence starts in my hints & tips podcasts and these are the ones given to-date:

Episode 1

1. Sam felt the bullet rip the material…
2. The door was plain other than one word carved carelessly into it…
3. Ellis turned the corner and gasped…

Episode 2

1. I was sure it would all end in tears…
2. You think you’ve got life sussed but then… (second person)
3. Joshua giggled as the…
4. You had plenty of sleep but you still feel tired… (second person)
5. I’d never felt so cold / scared / happy / threatened / nervous / alone / small until…
6. Natalie’s fingers moved slowly over the…
7. You don’t know what to say to spare her feelings… (second person)

Episode 3

1. The workmen whistled as the bottom wiggled past
2. Sophie stared out the (train) window and watched her mother disappear…
3. The brain (or whatever) wobbled in the glass jar…
4. Bethany spat out the gum and…
5. The pushchair gathered speed as it rolled down the hill…
6. The emergency light(s) flashed on…
7. The brakes squealed as…

Episode 4

1. Joe’s fingers stuck as they / he ran through…
2. The wilted flowers reminded Abbie of…
3. Clara’s hand stung from the slap…
4. Long, short, it didn’t matter…
5. “Yeah, we’re finally here!”…
6. Josie felt the dark cloud loom over her…
7. It should have been me…

Episode 5

1. Susan’s gloves were threadbare.
2. She / he yanked her / his hand away as if…
3. I felt him / her slipping away…
4. “Please, I beg you…”
5. Kellie had never imagined she’d ever been in this position…
6. This time I woke up to find…
7. “That’s the last time I buy cheap knickers” Heather thought as the elastic snapped in yet another pair! (thanks to Ann from Leicester for this one!)

Episode 6

1. As he scratched his…
2. Sally shielded her eyes from the glare of the spotlight.
3. You remember the time when…
4. The chair creaked as the _______ sat down…
5. One of Helen’s shoes fell off as she fled the scene…
6. Ricky was over the moon about getting into the team…
7. The squeal / squeak got louder until Frankie couldn’t take any more…

Episode 7

1. Zoë threw the flower(s) down and turned to leave…
2. “Stop, thief!” Mr Rashid yelled as the front / back door slammed…
3. Fiona looked like a doll, dressed in pink and…
4. “My mate wants to know if…”
5. Jimmy couldn’t help but laugh as Isobel came out the dressing room…
6. The car drove at him / the wall with frightening speed…
7. Robbie closed his eyes as he licked out the yoghurt pot…

Episode 8

1. I bent / lowered my head and waited…
2. Lorraine twisted her engagement ring round her finger nervously…
3. To lose it / him / her once was careless…
4. As the piano slipped from Trevor’s grasp…
5. “Let them wait, I’m not ready…”
6. Shaun opened the front door: and the heat hit him / and could smell burning…
7. Water surrounded the car as it sank deeper into the…

Episode 9

1. Irene clung for control as the tyre burst…
2. Zara wondered whether she’d make it in time…
3. Guess who turned up at ______ today?
4. It was only one pay packet…
5. Matthew (or Marion) looked in the mirror and winced…
6. As the window shattered, scattering glass…
7. Sharon signed the paperwork and knew life would never be the same again…

Episode 10

1. Daphne watched intently as the old man teetered around the cracks in the pavement…
2. “I don’t want to…”
3. I looked down and couldn’t see my feet…
4. If only I’d been ten minutes later / earlier…
5. Nigel saw the car and recognised the registration number…
6. The suit felt so alien to him…
7. Olive pulled at the hair on his chin but to her horror…

Episode 11

1. The rocking chair swung…
2. Little did Janice know that…
3. Frank was so wrapped up in _____, that he didn’t notice…
4. Holly was prickly at the best of times… (plant or woman)
5. As the door flew open, Innes…
6. Eddie’s face crumpled as he opened the envelope…
7. Grant curled into a ball as the blows rained…

Episode 12 (not sure why there were only six that episode)

1. My mind is working overtime…
2. There was no mistaking the sound of…
3. Noel couldn’t help it…
4. As the monk lifted up his / her hood…
5. She / he sank to her / his knees and…
6. He wasn’t exactly what Joan had been looking for in a companion…

Episode 13

1. Felicity’s daughter was forever telling her to switch off the…
2. As a small business, Heald’s Nursery was struggling… (kindergarten or garden centre?)
3. The dealer’s phone rang and stopped, then rang again… (what kind of dealer?)
4. The (ice / sugar) cube melted slowly as Reece stirred the spoon…
5. Lose his balance and Paulo would lose everything…
6. No-one had brought / given Dora flowers before…
7. If Allie stood still long enough she might just get away with it…

Episode 14

1. The mist enveloped Sophia like…
2. “Please, just stop crying.” Miss Denton pleaded
3. Jill hadn’t accounted for gravity…
4. With only two days to go, Brian…
5. Jason felt for the gun in his pocket…
6. Boston had never looked so beautiful…
7. Lewis reeled from the paper cut…

Episode 15

1. As she / he put the flower on the grave…
2. Ethel and Hilda were bosom pals until…
3. Spring was Anne’s favourite season because she…
4. Craig lifted the veil and gasped…
5. With just 100 yards to go, Bertie…
6. “Come on, I can’t wait forever.” Kim tapped her foot.
7. Amicability was not was Marline had planned…

Episode 16

1. The stretch limo pulled into the gravel drive…
2. “Safety is our number one priority, Mr Houdini.”
3. George had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years…
4. Clark’s hand quivered as he touched her skin…
5. “Please don’t leave,” Rhoda begged her…
6. “Could you be any colder?” Ryan growled…
7. Andy pulled at his ear lobe…

Episode 17

1. She’d / he’d never been here before and yet…
2. Nick’s smile grew with each step…
3. “Not all of these are for you, you know.”
4. As Kate pressed the phone to her ear…
5. Morag welcomed her visitors with open arms…
6. Samantha kissed the back of…
7. The machine exploded with deafening force…

Episode 18

1. As Will stared out the window, the light made him squint…
2. “I can’t believe you did that!”
3. What choice did Mark have?
4. The conference / meeting was so boring that…
5. As Neil stared through the fish tank…
6. With friends like that, Laurence…
7. Barney was such an animal…

Episode 19

1. The pod dropped to the ground and a green light…
2. Charlotte shivered / quivered as his eyes scanned her body…
3. I knew it was inevitable…
4. “It’s only money.”…
5. Scott winced as the spinning blade came ever nearer…
6. “I’m in a hurry, Nathan. What do you want?”
7. Lori had finally had enough. “He’s got to go.”

Episode 20

1. Advert: ‘Part-time lover wanted. Must be flexible…’ (double meaning)
2. The more Perry slept, the more tired he felt…
3. ‘Be less ‘blah’ to men’ thought Erica…
4. Patsy started the list: 1. Find the…
5. Misunderstood for years, Romney had had enough…
6. It was as if he’d read her mind…
7. Never one to miss an opportunity, Lorraine…

Episode 21

1. “OK, that’s it I’ve had enough!” Kenny shouted, inches from Mitchell’s face.
2. Sean couldn’t believe his luck…
3. The tail wagged furiously as Justin looked down at…
4. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
5. The incessant talking / ringing was driving Corey nuts…
6. Stephanie had always been a quiet child until…
7. There was nothing Parker could do…

Episode 22

1. Philippe floundered…
2. Nina listened, but there was just dead space…
3. “Are you going to be much longer?”
4. Rita felt like a child again…
5. The excitement was almost too much for Megan…
6. When Kitty drew back the cover…
7. Anne couldn’t help but be obsessed about…

Episode 23

1. It spread like water on blotting paper…
2. They knew it was wrong…
3. Cassie didn’t mean to steal it…
4. As Loren stepped off the pavement…
5. Gladys dug just one more time…
6. The button wobbled as it…
7. “I said ‘no’, Anna, how many times?”

Episode 24

1. “Can I put him through please, he sounds…”
2. Deep in thought, Cindy Witherspoon…
3. Scott clicked the yard gate shut and turned round…
4. It looked harmless enough…
5. When May was beckoned into the boss’ office…
6. The waiter brought the plates out and Bev’s heart sank…
7. Surely if he swapped it, Melanie wouldn’t notice…

Episode 25

1. Kearin clenched her fists as…
2. The cell was cold and damp…
3. Maggie stood in front of the picture…
4. The name escaped her until…
5. First impressions usually don’t lie…
6. Dario had never worked with anyone quite like…
7. The invitation said formal but Gillian hadn’t expected…

Episode 26

1. Nothing could have prepared Patrick for…
2. Despite all the training, PC Osborn…
3. Felix climbed to the top of the rubbish tip…
4. The illusion was shattered when…
5. This time, it wouldn’t do for Arnold to be too perfect…
6. As Simon pulled the dress over his head…
7. “Jake said he didn’t want to go, but…”

Episode 27

1. “Oh, please Sybil just this once…”
2. “Can we afford this?”
3. Stealing money from a child was the last resort…
4. The dinosaur was getting restless in the boy’s…
5. How different could they be?
6. Jack had grown another inch…
7. Mason didn’t know why he’d taken the writing pad to…

Episode 28

1. However hard Rosie tried, she just couldn’t…
2. They were like two peas in a pod…
3. Violet pushed the door open, careful not to…
4. It was an experience that Linden was bound to…
5. Lyn Peterson hardly recognised him. Had it really been that long?
6. The hole was getting bigger…
7. “Don’t pick at it!”

Episode 29

1. Lily kept her fingers crossed as the coin spun…
2. Always wary of _____________, Cathy / Gary…
3. “Can you fix it?” Maureen asked nervously, guessing it was going to cost her dearly.
4. Edmund bit his cheek in anticipation of…
5. Mrs Adair winced as…
6. Although Sheridan was rotten, she couldn’t help but like him…
7. “But then I suppose, having done something I enjoyed…”

Episode 30

1. Shae wondered why she was bumping into things; were her hips really that wide?”
2. As Ruby walked into the shop…
3. “Did I say you could do that?”
4. Lizzie tried to keep quiet but…
5. As the train whizzed by, Derek saw a…
6. Vera felt the ground move beneath her feet…
7. The satin sheets felt smooth / cold against Bloom’s skin…

Episode 31

1. “Have I told you lately that…?”
2. Sylvia gagged as the smell hit her…
3. The pram wheels wobbled as…
4. The windscreen cracked / chipped as…
5. Frankie didn’t think it was good value for money but…
6. Driving between two lorries, the Fiat Panda seemed…
7. Chloë sobbed as her doll…

Episode 32

1. Joey followed the spin of the washing machine…
2. “Tell us everything you know.”
3. As Bobbie stood on the top of the building…
4. “Sign here please, Mr Clooney.”
5. Doris tried the door handle and was surprised when…
6. Hayley burst into tears when…
7. Mayo had never done something so…

Episode 33

1. As she crept across the room, Leora hoped he was a sound sleeper…
2. When Dudley woke in the morning…
3. The cat’s back arched as…
4. In an ideal world…
5. As Adele watched the hearse go past…
6. Had Bryan realised he’d left the door open…
7. Roy slammed his hand on the buzzer…

Episode 34

1. Jonathan felt a thud as he reversed the…
2. As solid as their relationship was Leo Walden never expected…
3. Leah hadn’t a clue where the money had come from…
4. The word meant nothing to him but the old man kept repeating it…
5. Ellen hoisted her top up and laughed…
6. The stage was empty except for…
7. The feelings from childhood came flooding back…

Episode 35

1. It was the news they’d all been waiting for…
2. The girls giggled as the picture looked like…
3. “Just press the left-hand side into the…”
4. Counting sheep didn’t help…
5. “What will you do if he’s there?”
6. Benson breathed in and stepped up to the microphone …
7. The parents sat proudly in the audience…

Episode 36

1. As Cheryl put the head on the costume…
2. The creature padded out of its cave / lair…
3. Just one thing had spoilt the party…
4. This wasn’t what Eugene had signed up for…
5. Life wasn’t supposed to be this hard…
6. Walter couldn’t believe his eyes when…
7. As the rocket prepared for…

Episode 38 (none in ep.37)

1. Jackie pushed the barrel up the hill until / when…
2. “Shit!” Warren said as he realised what had happened…
3. Karen Shaffer was the first person in the world…
4. “Did you know that pomegranate juice is good for arthritis?” The class looked…
5. Charlotte thought she could smell gas when…
6. Helen Richardson was a pillar of the church until…
7. Cindy had only meant to give him a slap…

Episode 39

1. At last, the experiment had worked…
2. Melinda had one of those faces that…
3. “Good afternoon, can I have your ticket please.”
4. Bruce crushed the ________ in his hands…
5. “Talk about being two-faced.”
6. Geoffrey nodded in agreement…
7. It had meant something to Sabrina once…

Episode 40

1. Bert was sure he’d turned left last time…
2. The huge building was daunting…
3. It felt like its soul had been ripped out…
4. There was nothing; no car, no house, and no sign of life until…
5. Nettie ran her finger along the mantelpiece…
6. Lincoln was missing the tip of his left index finger…
7. Jamila knelt down and picked up the red button…

Episode 42 (none in ep 41 as I talked about NaNoWriMo)

1. In a former life, Jason knew…
2. The airport was a happy and sad place…
3. Samira had been on diets for years…
4. Verna had dreaded this moment…
5. As William put his hand in the box…
6. Instead of shouting, Marcel walked away…
7. Theo was a little man with a chip on his shoulder…

I post the podcast ones as the episodes are released and with the freed up Twitter account I tweet all the news from the Northampton Literature Group here.