9
I kept using the same three opening lines for every story until my writing group in Portland called me out
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
olivia_hernandez2mo ago
Watched a friend write "it was a dark and stormy night" so often it became a drinking game.
5
Remember reading a blog post about this exact thing. The writer said they used "The phone rang" to start every single story for a year. It got to the point where their own spouse would groan when they heard it. Sometimes you just fall into a comfortable rut and need someone to shake you out of it. Good on your group for spotting the pattern.
4
wright.jesse10d ago
Has anyone else noticed how this same kind of pattern shows up in everyday conversation, not just writing? I swear half the people I know have a go-to phrase they lean on without realizing it. Like @matthewsullivan said, it's a comfortable rut. My buddy always says "fair enough" to end any argument, even when he's dead wrong. It is what it is, but it takes someone outside your bubble to point out the repeats.
4