Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 10 · 40 questions

Writer's tip (Grab them at once): Start with someone speaking: “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. Start with a question: Where do lost socks really go? Start with a sound word: Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. Avoid “This is a story about…”.

1. 1.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) My story is about a day at school.
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids