Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 250 · 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) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
4. 4.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
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) My story is about a day at school.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
8. 8.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) In this story I will write about a tree.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
10. 10.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
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
14. 14.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) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
16. 16.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) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk?
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
23. 23.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
33. 33.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
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) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) My story is about a day at school.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word

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