L.A.
To write sentence
openers for the
start of a story
that engage the
reader.
TASK:
Read these story openers.
Discuss which ones are
exciting and which ones are dull and boring?
Amy and her best friend Rachel were walking to school.
“Just jump,” roared Sam.
It was a bright, hot, summery day.
The bomb exploded exactly at half past twelve.
Most people think that ghosts do not exist.
Suddenly the scream pierced the night.
One day Jack was on his way to the shops.
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to fall from a
plane and not have your parachute open?
Make a list with your partner about what you think makes them exciting?
DO NOT CONTINUE
UNLESS YOU HAVE IDEAS
ABOUT WHAT MAKES A
GOOD SENTENCE
OPENER.
ALL GOOD STORY OPENINGS:
GRAB YOUR
ATTENTION
MAKE YOU
WANT TO
READ ON.
Let’s look at 4 different ways to start
the story’s opening sentence.
In the middle of action
Contradiction
Unexpected or strange happenings
Asking the reader a question
“In the middle of the action”
Suddenly the scream pierced the night. I leapt to my feet. I
stood totally motionless. All was silent . . . and then it came
again, only this time closer to us.
Then the explosion ended the life I had once held with such little
regard. I felt soil and mud raining down on me and when the
noise stopped and movement ceased I found that I was partly
buried and could barely move myself.
I dropped the container marked “Dangerous. Handle with care,” and the world
seemed to slow down. I could swear that minutes passed between it leaving my
fingers and crashing to the ground with such terrible consequences.
I tripped and found myself rolling towards the cliff edge.
I drank the contents of the bottle and then realised
what a dreadful mistake I had made.
TASK: Have a go at writing your own example of this type of opener.
“Contradiction”
Some days I loved Anne, but on others I hated her.
I felt as cold as ice but then my skin felt as hot as fire.
TASK: Using opposites, write your own contradiction opening.
hot / cold
love / hate
peaceful / scared
young / old
tiny / large
“Unexpected or strange
happenings”
I dragged myself up the face of the clock and then
sat on the second hand wondering what to do.
I didn’t know that I could breathe
underwater until I fell into the deep end
and found myself sitting happily on the
bottom!
TASK:
Now write a opening when you were part of a strange and
unexpected happening.
“Asking the reader a question”
Have you ever wondered why things
happen the way they do? Is there
something or someone manipulating us
like we’re little toy figures? Well, let me
tell how I know what really happens and
why.
TASK:
What have you just discovered that others should hear
about? Write a couple of sentences to engage the reader
and make them want to read more.
Discuss with a partner about the
techniques you should use to
engage the reader with your
opening sentences.
Be ready to share your
thoughts in a minute.