Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 168 · 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?
   Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
8. 8.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
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (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) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
11. 11.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
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
13. 13.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
24. 24.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) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
26. 26.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
27. 27.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
28. 28.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) My story is about a day at school.
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.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
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (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) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.

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