Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 144 · 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?
   Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) My story is about a day at school.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (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?
   “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
6. 6.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) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
12. 12.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) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) My story is about a day at school.
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
30. 30.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
33. 33.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) Where do lost socks really go?
34. 34.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) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
35. 35.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
36. 36.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
37. 37.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.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
40. 40.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) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?

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