Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 132 · 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?
   Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.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
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
7. 7.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
11. 11.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
16. 16.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Did you know our school has a secret door? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
17. 17.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) My story is about a day at school.
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
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) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
34. 34.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?

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