35 Comments
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Glenda Thompson's avatar

I accept your challenge and offer my thanks. I am entering a Cozy mystery contest and have chosen one of these lines to start my story. Care to guess which one? Thanks, again!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Awesome. What is cozier and more of a mystery than a fork sticking out of your chest? I guess:

I woke up and noticed the fork sticking out of my chest. That is odd, I thought.

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Richard Ritenbaugh's avatar

“You. Me. Puns.”

(I'll give you one-third credit.)

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Mark Starlin's avatar

You just described my life. 🤣

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

“Paper. I need paper!” Charles cried. It was too late. You are referring to toilet paper, right? So many from which to choose. I liked the irony in the short-lived brush with death opener.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

The kind of paper is up to you and your imagination, my friend. Enjoy your wealth and fame.

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🅟🅐🅤🅛 🅜🅐🅒🅚🅞's avatar

"I woke up and noticed the fork sticking out of my chest." Must be a dream, I reasoned, and fell back to sleep.

~ what's the next sentence?

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Mark Starlin's avatar

That’s up to you. 🤓

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🅟🅐🅤🅛 🅜🅐🅒🅚🅞's avatar

Thanks...homework.

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Brilliant, and fun! Makes me want to write a book! Or at least a few opening lines...

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks, Sharon. For me, the opening line sets the tone. Go for it!

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Patricia J.L. 👻🧶🖊️'s avatar

I'm saving this post because a few of those would make some fun flash fiction.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

I might use some, myself. What was I thinking, giving them away? 🤣

Tag me, or PM me, or whatever you kids do these days, when you publish the story. I'd like to read it.

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Patricia J.L. 👻🧶🖊️'s avatar

Will do.

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Justin Deming's avatar

These are fantastic! Thank you for kickstarting our careers, Mark. 🤣

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Mark Starlin's avatar

No problem. When you buy your private island, invite me for a week's stay.

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Justin Deming's avatar

Haha! My only request is that you bring your pineapple friend. I want to hear more of his story. 🍍

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Next time he visits from Bleebop, I will extend the invitation.

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

“How long have you had that head?”

Hmmm. I might be able to do something with that one. 🤔

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Mark Starlin's avatar

The possibilities stagger the mind.

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

“How long have you had that head?”

I looked up from the book that I had been reading peacefully on the stern of my thirty-five-foot cabin cruiser, tied up in the marina on a lovely Saturday. The woman who had asked the question — forty-something, I estimated, wearing a smart outfit that showed off her figure, but with a hairstyle that was all business — was bending over slightly to peer through the window of my boat. I adjusted my chair slightly to avoid having to turn too far. "It came with the boat, actually. It has a shower, but we've never used it."

She nodded an acknowledgment. "I was just curious. Some of these models have had their heads backfitted, I wasn't sure if yours was original. My husband and I are in the market. Thanks!" She walked off.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Of course, a Navy man would think of "head" as a toilet room. 🤣

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John K Adams's avatar

How to decide... They're all so good!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

That is the struggle. 🤣

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Kim Smyth's avatar

“I like pepper” might be a useful opening line…maybe 😘

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Not too salty?

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Kim Smyth's avatar

Boy, you are full of them aren't you?

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Mark Starlin's avatar

That’s what people say.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

These are fabulous, Mark. They provide such good models. May I actually use them? I especially am inspired by this one: "It was a beautiful day. Bob looked up at the perfect blue sky and watched the sun explode." Thanks for your generosity!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Sure. They are royalty-free. I am giving them away to promote my career as a novel first-line ghostwriter.

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3musesmerge's avatar

I have a few picked out!!!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Awesome. Invite me for a yacht ride when you get your first one.

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3musesmerge's avatar

It will be my great pleasure mate!

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David Perlmutter's avatar

I think I might use these someday...

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Cool. I will wait for the Porsche delivery. 😉

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