The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
Imagine:
Your teacher just assigned a journal, but you
have no idea how to start. You stare at the page
hoping for inspiration, but it never comes. Your
teacher is upset because you are still not writing
five minutes later. She gives you “the look.”
Then the frustration kicks in, and your brain
shuts down completely. You want to scream.
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
Could this be you?
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
 Do you have a difficult time finding a way to
start your stories, journals, or essays?
 Would you like a little trick to get you started?
 Would you like to know the best way to start a
story so that people will want to keep reading?
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
1. TPI:
Time, Place, and Incident
2. Imagery:
Using your five senses to create
a mental image for the readers’
minds
3. Dialogue:
Two or more people talking
4. Media Res: Starting in the middle of the
action
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
1. TPI: Time, Place, and Incident
Example: It had been a dark and stormy night on
September 9, 2014 in Vicenza, Italy. When I woke
up the next morning and looked in the bathroom
mirror, I realized my front tooth was mysteriously
missing. How did that happen? I wondered,
since had lost my baby tooth many years ago.
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
2. Imagery: Using your five senses to create a
mental image for the readers’ minds
Example:
Boom! The house rattled like a train was running
through it, and I heard the smash of glasses
falling on the floor when lightning struck the
ground near the house. It smelled like burning
flesh, and it made my arm hairs bristle.
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
3. Dialogue: Two or more people talking
Example:
“I think it’s a ghost,” she whispered.
“No, it’s just a sheet,” I replied.
“Then why does it have eyes?” she asked.
“Aggggghhhhhhh!” we both screamed.
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
4. Media Res:
Starting in the
middle of the action
Example:
Running from the White House, I could
feel the explosion behind me before I could
hear it. There were Army tanks and foreign
fighting vehicles doing battle in the streets. It
looked like World War III had begun.
Trick Question:
Which story starter is the best?
Answer:
The best story starter is a
combination of all four story
starters!
Weaving:
The story starters are also good
writing techniques to use
throughout your writing. Using a
combination of techniques (TPI,
imagery, and dialogue) throughout
the story is called “weaving.”
The Four Story Starters
“Oh noooooooooooo!”
It started off as a beautiful, sunny evening in
Panama. It was my chore to take the U.S. flag down
each night. However, this time, the white brick I was
standing on collapsed, and I went flying face-forward
into the giant bayonet cactus, still holding the flag pole
in my hands. I felt the cactus spine pierce the skin
below my lip and sink into my lower gum. Then there
was a sharp pain followed by warm, red blood squirting
all over my face and in my mouth. I couldn’t get up
because I was stuck to the cactus.
“We’re going to have to cut her out,” my brother
said. “Go get Dad!”
The Four Story Starters
for creative introductions
Ms. Cowles
and the
Bayonet
Cactus
Significance:
The significance is the “so what” of the essay
or writing. It is the reason for the story, and it is
what gives the writing meaning.
Good significance leaves the reader with an
emotional feeling, such as: sad, happy, angry,
scared, excited, thoughtful, or joyful.
In the autobiography, good significance
usually elicits that special “awwww” response
of warm fuzzies from the reader.
Significance:
 Many stories end with a moral, lesson, or
A-ha moment that brings significance to the
story
 However, really good writers know how to
weave in significance throughout the story
 To weave in significance, give little hints
and foreshadowing instead of waiting until
the end of the story
Details: Part of Imagery
Details give the reader a more
precise picture of the story.
Giving exact details (such as
size, color, shape, number, age,
and texture) help to create more
precise images for the reader
TPI:
Giving frequent hints to time, place,
and incident throughout the story lets
the reader construct a reference for the
story and follow a timeline of events.
TPI can be obvious (12:31; Oct. 1, 2014,
in Vicenza) or subtle (my stomach was
growling; in the hallway)
Onomatopoeia:
Onomatopoeia is the use of words
that imitate sounds. This adds to the
sense of “hearing” that creates good
imagery.
Examples: Boom, rattle, sizzle,
crunch, swish, screech, ka-ching,
slither, whistle, snap, crackle, pop
Story Starters
Use story starters to:
• Make your writing interesting, fun,
and exciting
• Catch your readers’ attention
• Win essay contests
• Get good grades
• Publish your writing
• Impress your parents, friends, and
teachers
• Feel proud of your writing skills
• Become successful and famous