Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 217 · 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?
   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
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
9. 9.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
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) My story is about a day at school.
12. 12.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
15. 15.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) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
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) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
21. 21.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) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
22. 22.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) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
23. 23.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
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
27. 27.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) My story is about a day at school.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.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) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.

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