Getting Off to a Good Start
 (Story Beginnings)

The first line or two of a story is very important.
If you don't grab the reader's attention right away, he might put your story down.
Readers are impatient with stories that begin slowly and in a dull way.

DON'T START YOUR STORY WITH THESE TIRED OLD BEGINNINGS:
Once upon a time...
This is my story about...
Hi! My name is...

One sunny day...

 

HERE IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO...

1.
Have your main character do something.
Put the character in the setting doing something related to the story.
For example, begin a camping story in the woods with the main character setting up a tent.
 I hiked to the clearing and found the perfect spot for my tent.

 

2.
Have your main character say something.  
(exclamation or conversation)
Begin by having the main character say something related to the story.
 "This is the perfect spot to set up the tent!" I said as I headed into the clearing.

 

 3.
 Have your main character think or feel.
 Begin with the main character's thought or feelings about something important in the story.
 I wonder if I'll meet any wild animals here, I thought as I set up my tent in the clearing.

 

4.
Have your main character hear a sound.
Use a sound to draw the reader into the setting or action.
 Crunch! Crunch! The leaves on the forest floor crackled beneath my feet as I hiked toward the clearing to set up camp.

 

Notice that in each example, you learn the setting right away (a clearing in the forest)
along with the purpose of the story (to tell about a camping trip).
 The story begins close to the main event...
 not with the character at home, waking up, getting dressed, having breakfast, or driving to the forest.
In this way, the reader is plunged right into the story.
Don't bore your reader with unnecessary information or details
that have no effect on the story!

 

Practice #1     
 Each of the stories below needs a better beginning.
Put your main character in the setting, and have the character do something important to the story.

 


 Practice #2
 Each of the same stories below need a better beginning.
Put your main character in the setting, and have the character say or exclaim something important to the story.
(Put quotation marks around what they say.)

 


 

Practice #3
 Each of the same stories below need a better beginning.
Start the story by describing the thoughts or feelings of the main character.


 


 

Putting it all together! - I

Writers usually try several story beginnings before they decide which one works best.

Now it is your turn to revise a story beginning by using each of the four techniques:
 DO

SAY

THINK

HEAR

When you are done, decide which beginning you feel works best.

 

Hello. This is my story about meeting a troll while hiking in the woods.
Revise this beginning using an action.
What would you be doing as you begin your hike in the woods?
 

 

Hello. This is my story about meeting a troll while hiking in the woods.
Revise this beginning using an exclamation or conversation.
What would you be saying as you begin your hike in the woods?
 

Hello. This is my story about meeting a troll while hiking in the woods.
Revise this beginning using a thought or feeling.
What might you feel as you begin your hike in the woods?

Hello. This is my story about meeting a troll while hiking in the woods.
Revise this beginning using a sound.
What might you hear as you begin your hike in the woods?

 

Putting it all together! - II

Revise each story beginning. Choose a different story beginning technique for each sentence below.

One sunny day I went to the circus.

This is a story about the time I was chased by a ghost in a haunted house.

I will tell you about my rock-climbing adventure on Mount Sherman.

Once upon a time I got a new dog.