Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 274 · 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?
   Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
5. 5.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) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
9. 9.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
13. 13.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
15. 15.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) My story is about a day at school.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
21. 21.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
22. 22.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
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
25. 25.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) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word

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