/lit/ - Literature

How does everyone here start their first paragraph or even sentence in their stories? For me, the first few hundred words are always the hardest part of the story, for it's quite challenging to establish a hook that sinks the readers in.
I've dabbled with short sentences that leave the reader wanting more as a starter and also, long emotionally charged sentences as a starter to get the reader into my character's head. Regardless, I'm never satisfied with my start. Which is why I come to you guys -- my peers -- for help, what in your eyes, makes a good intro for a story?

>>18092806
Has anyone else noticed that most people online tend to incorrectly use a comma to connect two independent clauses? i.e. a comma splice.

Ever since I've deepened my understanding of the english language and the grammar surrounding it, I've noticed that almost everyone online uses comma splices -- whether they're a forum poster, a blogposter, a social media user, an amateur writer, or a journalist, I've noticed that they all tend to gravitate towards comma splices within their writing styles. I understand why they do it; they want the half stopping power of the comma, but they don't seem to understand (or maybe they don't care) that a comma can only connect an independent and a dependent clause.

So, with that in mind, should I care?
I'm currently planning out a webnovel, and it would be so much easier to write it, if I just stopped caring and violated the rules of grammar by using comma splices. Sure, I could use semicolons, em dashes, and colons in place of a comma splice, but that requires more effort and though, and I fear doing so would only lead to me being labeled pretentious.