What are some interesting first lines in short stories?

One could be: 'I found a key. It was old and rusty. I put it in a lock. A secret door opened. A world of magic awaited.'

One great first line could be 'The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets up a mysterious and intriguing scenario. It makes you wonder who could be knocking if he's the last man, creating a sense of suspense right from the start.

One example could be 'The day the sky turned green was the day everything changed.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what could cause the sky to turn green and how that would change things. Another is 'She opened the box and found a world she never knew existed.' This line creates mystery and makes the reader eager to find out more about the box and the world inside it.

Common elements in first lines of short stories include an initial mood. It could be something like 'A cold wind blew through the empty streets, sending shivers down his spine.' which sets a somber and perhaps a bit of a spooky mood. Also, a hint at a problem or conflict can be there, like 'The letter in his hand was the start of all his troubles.' This makes the reader curious about what the problem is.

Consider 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' by Leo Tolstoy in 'Anna Karenina'. This line is profound as it sets up the exploration of family dynamics. It makes you think about the nature of happiness and unhappiness within families. Then there's 'I am an invisible man.' from Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man'. This simple yet powerful statement makes the reader eager to discover why the narrator is invisible and what that means in the context of the story.

A story might begin with 'He woke up in a room that was not his own, with no memory of how he got there.' This sets up a mystery. The following parts of the story could involve the character trying to piece together what happened. He might find strange objects in the room or hear noises outside that add to the sense of unease and mystery.

For example, 'She opened the box, not knowing it would change her life forever. Inside was a simple note, but the words written on it were like a key unlocking a hidden world. The note said 'Follow the path where the sun never sets.' So, she set out on a journey. Along the way, she met strange characters, some helpful, some menacing. But she was determined to find the end of this path, and with each step, she discovered more about herself and the world around her.'

One interesting first line is 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. It immediately sets an off - kilter mood, making the reader wonder about this world where the clocks strike an unusual number.

They are often attention - grabbing. A good first line makes the reader want to keep reading. For instance, if it starts with a strange or mysterious statement.

Some famous first lines immediately draw readers in. For example, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. This line sets an unusual and slightly off - putting atmosphere right from the start, making the reader curious about what kind of world this is where the clocks strike thirteen. It gives a sense of a world that is different from our own, perhaps dystopian.