Find a First Paragraph

If the first paragraphs do not tease, annoy or astonish the readers in some way, they'll stop reading. You also have to provide a bit of character, mood and setting.

Margaret Atwood in her novel, The Year of the Flood, begins:

"In the early morning Toby climbs up to the rooftop to watch the sunrise. She uses a mop handle for balance: the elevator stopped working some time ago and the back stairs are slick with damp, so if she slips and topples there won't be anyone to pick her up.

As the first heat hits, mist rises from among the swath of trees between her and the derelict city. The air smells faintly of burning, a smell of caramel and tar and rancid barbecues, and the ashy but greasy smell of a garbage-dump fire after it’s been raining."

Look at the photograph above. Create a character based on the possibilities. Provide a few lines to intrigue. Create a mood. Add a time of day with color, scents, and sounds.