Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 236 · 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.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
2. 2.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) My story is about a day at school.
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) My story is about a day at school.
10. 10.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Did you know our school has a secret door? (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?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) My story is about a day at school.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
25. 25.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) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk?
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
32. 32.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
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
37. 37.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
38. 38.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
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word

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