Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 44 · 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 is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (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) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.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) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
20. 20.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
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
22. 22.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) In this story I will write about a tree.
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) My story is about a day at school.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.

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