Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 24 · 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) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
11. 11.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
25. 25.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (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?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
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 sound word (c) it starts with a question

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