Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 310 · 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?
   What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
7. 7.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
10. 10.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
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
12. 12.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
13. 13.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
19. 19.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
25. 25.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
26. 26.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) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
32. 32.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) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
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 is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
36. 36.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
37. 37.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) There was a girl. She had a bag.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.

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