November invites us to slow down, reflect, and—maybe—begin something bold. In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), we asked readers: “If you wrote a novel, what would the opening line be?” Here’s what they shared.

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• “She never believed in love at first sight, until the stranger in the coffee shop smiled like he’d been waiting for her all his life.” – Andrea Morales
• “Every story has a hero. This one’s about me instead.” – Amanda Pado
• “Apparently, being ‘responsible’ means paying bills instead of buying snacks, which feels like false advertising for adulthood.” – Amber Henson
• “Not so very long ago…” – Dawn Miller
• “Are you ready?! Coffee splashes all over my freshly ironed white blouse.” – Annmarie Amaya
• “Magical Christmas.” – Aleyda Huerta
• “Okay here's another day where I have no idea what I'm doing, but we're gonna try our darndest and hope for the best!” – Ariel Gomez
• “GOD IS MY SHIELD.” – Luis Carmona
• “Sometimes things happen to us that we wish were just a dream, but in my case, it wasn’t a dream at all.” – Carissa Clough
• “This is the story of a boy from a poor family and a girl from middle-class Mexico defying all family traditions in the pursuit of love, happiness and a child on the way, me.”- Cynthia Magdaleno
• “Want to know a secret?” – Samantha Dowdy
• “It started the way all great love stories do - with a dropped hot dog, 7th Inning Stretch, and his team losing.” – Jessica Cox
• “A mother’s Autism journey, through my eyes.” – Jennifer Carmona
• "The rain tasted like regret as it fell on the city, each drop a memory of what once was." – Cristian Sandoval

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Quick-Start Novel Writing Tips:

• Spark it: Start with a “what if?” or vivid scene.
• Sketch your arc: Even a loose ending helps.
• Build your cast: Track quirks, goals, fears.
• Write fast, edit later: Keep momentum.
• Set a goal: Even 500 words a day adds up.
• Read aloud: Catch clunky phrasing fast.
• Cut deep: If it doesn’t serve, it goes.
• Track your themes: Stay emotionally consistent.
• Save your scraps: They might shine elsewhere.
• Celebrate milestones: Every chapter is a win.

Perfect for NaNoWriMo—or any month you’re ready to write.

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Novels Born from NaNoWriMo

1. “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
2. “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
3. “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell
4. “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer
5. “Anna and the French Kiss” by Stephanie Perkins

These success stories show that NaNoWriMo isn’t just about word count—it’s about unlocking creative momentum.

source www.goodreads.com, www.ssf.bibliocommons.com, www.company.overdrive.com