Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 99 · 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) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
10. 10.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
11. 11.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) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
12. 12.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
13. 13.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
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
26. 26.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
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
30. 30.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) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) My story is about a day at school.
39. 39.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) My story is about a day at school.

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