Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 121 · 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?
   Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) My story is about a day at school.
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
10. 10.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
25. 25.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
27. 27.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
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) There was a house. It had a door.

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