Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 145 · 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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
6. 6.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
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
9. 9.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) My story is about a day at school.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
19. 19.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) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
22. 22.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
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) Did you know our school has a secret door?
27. 27.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
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) My story is about a day at school.
33. 33.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) My story is about a day at school.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word

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