Thursday, March 25, 2010

74 YA Historical

TITLE: A Mad, Wicked Folly
GENRE: YA Historical



My lace-covered bottom was on full display to the street below, my skirt caught above me on my bedroom-window latch.

33 comments:

  1. I like this. I like how you wove a historical detail into this opening. Great! I'd definitely keep reading. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Somewhat hooked. I'd read a little further to see why she was hanging from the window.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd keep reading to find out why she's in this predicament.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd want to keep reading to figure out why she's hanging too, but you might be able to work in hints before you get to the reveal...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I always like a bit more intro before embarrassment, but I imagine that's coming afterward... partial hook.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hmm. I'd give it a few more lines.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's cute and sassy. I love it. You got me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is a great way to show a person climbing out of a window. Hooked!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hooked. Love the humor in this and the style of writing. You got the historical angle across very smoothly. I definitely want to know what happens next!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, I'd keep reading to see how she gets out of this predicament!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This one made me smile. I'm hooked.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I almost laughed out loud! Hooked.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hah! Nice opening. I want to know how she got into that situation (and how she's getting out).

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hooked enough. I like a character in a predicament.

    Main negative is "lace-covered bottom" which doesn't seem right for an historical period (unless it's a very recent period) because it makes me picture lace underwear, and that's a recent thing. Also using the word "bottom" in what seems to be the context makes me question the voice.

    However, all of that would depend on what the period, character and situation turn out to be.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Partially hooked, but distracted by the structure of looking down, then up.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, embarassment always works for me. I couldn't stop reading just yet.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would read further so see what was going on...

    ReplyDelete
  18. The title made me think this was set in the early 1900's. The street below made me think city. Climbing out the window made me think tenement building, or a home where apartments were rented rather than a home she owned, and that made me think she wasn't wealthy, which made me wonder how she afforded lace undies.

    Your 25 words made me envision all this, and that's enough to keep me reading because, right or wrong, you make me feel confident I'm going to get an interesting story.

    ReplyDelete
  19. pretty good, but I feel it could be punchier, by setting it up with how she's feeling and then going to the butt in full view. starting off with the butt in full view made me think this was a hooker, and then I had to revise my image when I got to the second half of the entry

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'd certainly read on.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That's what I call an "Aw CRAP!" moment. Made me smile. I'd read on.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'd keep going. Cute!

    ReplyDelete
  23. LOL! Love the title; I'd read on.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just said historical wasn't my thing, but this was funny. I'd definitely keep reading

    ReplyDelete
  25. I think it's a great hook, I'd love to see how she extricates herself from the embarrassment. But I'm not sure where the history is as obvious to me as it seem to be to some of the rest. A lace-covered bottom is possible right this moment, whereas prior to the Civil War it would not have been -- undergarments changed dramatically for women when bloomers came in; the undergarment in question would have been two legs not connected in the middle and it would have been the last place lace would have been used.
    So maybe I'm quibbling with history, but that doesn't take away from the "I want to know how this turns out" factor.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Seems to be trying to do too much in one sentence.
    Start with:
    My lace-covered bottom was on full display to the street below.

    Then continue as to where and why etc. If it's night doesn't it matter if undies show. Is the street busy below? Tell me she's climbing out a window and the context.

    ReplyDelete