Worst Opening Lines

For a little Friday Fun – read the winning entries of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. Sponsored by the English Department at San Jose State University since 1982, this self-proclaimed “whimsical literary competition” challenges writers to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels. There are lots of categories (such as Crime, Romance, Mystery, Sci Fi, Western, etc.) with winner and runners-up as well as “Dishonorable Mentions.” It’s a lot of fun – and for you teachers out there – a great teaching tool!