The first chapter - the first paragraph - should pull a reader in immediately. I take pride in my first chapters and put a lot of time and effort into them.

I can't tell what first chapter I love more - the one for Listen or the one for Falling - SO I'm going to post both for your light reading today. You be the judge (these are both BEFORE edits so if they sound rough - they are).

Listen
I hated that my nightmares followed me everywhere and never faded in intensity. Thirteen years strong and still a surprise. I would go months without a single dream and the minute anything in my routine changed, bam. A visit from my past. Last night’s pop in was horrific. I was back on stage at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in front of a sold out crowd of thousands of people dressed in their finery. I wore a black velvet dress that brushed past my knees and clung to my thin waist with a white sash that bowed in the back. My hair was styled up and made me seem older than fourteen. My velvet flats matched my dress and were soundless when I walked out to applause that welcomed me. For most musicians, that was the sound of success. For me, it was my ultimate terror. I knew I would fail before I placed a single finger on the perfectly weighted piano keys. I couldn’t move. I felt a resounding shift take place in my brain as my whole life changed in that instant. I shattered inside. Every single part of me broke that day.


Falling
The first jolt was jarring, but not enough to signal me that anything was wrong. I spread my hands out against the walls for leverage until the turbulence passed. I was used to it, having flown so much for business over the last five years. I leaned forward over the tiny sink to get a better look at myself in the mirror. The worthlessly dim lighting in the lavatory showed a tired and exhausted face. Today was never ending. The last day of the real estate conference started at eight and ended at four. Traffic to LaGuardia was pure hell and I barely made my flight back home to Denver. I'd been in the same clothes since six in the morning and I was ready for a shower, my soft pajamas, and the book I forgot to pack when I flew to New York five days ago. I dabbed neutral lip gloss on and smoothed it out over my lips. The curl to my hair was limp so I fluffed it up the best I could. Nobody was meeting me at the airport, but I always liked to look good.