six top story starters

We've visited this topic before, but it's worth another look.

The school day ended as it had begun with the tin rattle of an ancient bell system designed to wake the dead or anyone within a football field of the boxy building.

True story. It’s how I spend my workday sixteen times over, five days a week.

Only once, do you make the mistake to stand directly beneath one of the clattering devils.

However, the jolting rattles own your attention, and there’s no doubt it’s time to get to class.

Oh for the clang of a great story opening. Previously, I’ve shared my favorite YA openers.

This week, my last group of creative writing students for the year works on story beginnings. In a few weeks, we’ll tackle endings.

How do you start your stories? With action? Mystery? Deep thoughts? Humor? Here are our favorites.

Reflect on life. No one does this better than YA it boy, John Green.

“The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle.” –Paper Towns by John Green

Reveal theme. For my students, Walter Dean Meyers has a knack for setting up his stories' themes right at the start.

 “The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help. That way even if you sniffle a little they won’t hear you. If anybody knows that you are crying, they’ll start talking about it and soon it’ll be your turn to get beat up when the lights go out.” –Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Meet our hero/heroine. My favorite adult and young adult author, Neil Gaiman, is a master at opening his stories. One of my favorites:

“There once was a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire.” –Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Meet someone important/close to our hero/heroine. The people we love to hate from the delightful imagination of J.K. Rowling.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” -Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

Begin with trouble. Many of today's dystopians begin this way, reminiscent of war stories detailing actual history.

The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. - The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

Begin with a mystery. Make your readers want to know why right from the very first line.

"All this happened. More or less." -Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

"You better not tell nobody but God." - The Color Purple by Alice Walker

What's your favorite way to open a story? Share them in the comments below.
Write on!

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