Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 127 · 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.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
13. 13.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) My story is about a day at school.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
24. 24.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) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
26. 26.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
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) My story is about a day at school.
32. 32.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
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question

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