As a former English major, I often poured over many novels and books to find and absorb the most brilliant opening sentance that can capture the reader’s attention and set the mood for the rest of the manuscript.
Who can not shudder from chills and gloom from such opening lines as,
A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.
from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, or from an uneasy sense of humor and wonder when you read that, “Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress”, from George Elliot’s Middlemarch.
The authors most likely thought till their heads burst to find the perfect opening sentence for their novels, and I am feeling something similar as I am thinking of a simple elevator speech to describe myself at cocktail parties. I mean, you’re trying to sum up your whole complex life into a few witty words!
It always starts out as, “Hello, my name is ______… I’m a ______”. Or, “Hello, my name is _____… I help people do this and that”.
After that, your fellow conversationalist either goes, “Really??! Tell me more!” or “Um… I need to grab some water at the snack table”. Luckily, most of the time I get the more enthusiastic response.
I am a perfectionist and I always want to present myself nicely, especially at my age and career level. But I am also a person of many talents and interests. How to fit it all in? I am sitting here with a map of adjectives and a dictionary brainstorming. Arghhh.
