Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 135 · 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?
   Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) My story is about a day at school.
3. 3.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) This is my story. I hope you like it.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
10. 10.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
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
16. 16.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
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
18. 18.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
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
26. 26.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) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) My story is about a day at school.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
34. 34.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) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
40. 40.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) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.

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