15 Ways to Start Your Story
Struggling to find the perfect opening line for your story? Here are some ideas to spark your imagination:
(Due to issues with Tumblr, I can’t reply to messages. If you need me to respond, please send your question to my ask!)
Throw readers straight into the middle of something happening.
"The gunshot echoed through the empty street, and Mira didn’t wait to see if it was meant for her."
Pose an unanswered question or strange scenario.
"Nobody in the town remembered building the tower, yet there it stood, casting a shadow over everything."
3. Open with a Character’s Voice
Start with a line of dialogue or a character’s inner thoughts.
"This is a terrible idea," Leo muttered, holding the frayed rope as the bridge swayed beneath him.
4. Use a Vivid Description
Set the tone with a striking description of a scene, object, or character.
"The sky bled crimson as the twin suns dipped below the jagged mountains, casting their dying light over the battlefield."
5. Begin with a Revelation
Drop an important or surprising piece of information.
"By the time the sun set, I knew two things for certain: the ship wasn’t coming back, and I was utterly alone."
6. Start with a Legend or Myth
Frame your story with a piece of lore or history from your world.
"In the days when gods still walked among mortals, it was said that one touch of their hand could rewrite fate itself."
7. Use an Intriguing Statement
Catch attention with a bold or strange assertion.
"The first time I died, it hurt less than I expected."
Introduce a conflict or dilemma right away.
"The fire had been out for days, and the snow was falling harder now. If he didn’t find shelter soon, he wouldn’t make it to morning."
9. Start with Foreshadowing
Hint at what’s to come in the story.
"The moment I opened that door, I set everything into motion—the kind of motion that couldn’t be undone."
10. Introduce a Unique World
Give readers a glimpse of a strange or fascinating setting.
"In the floating city of Aeronell, the streets were woven from light, and the air hummed with invisible melodies."
11. Invoke a Sense of Time
Anchor the reader in the story’s timeline.
"It had been three hundred years since the last eclipse, and now it was back, darker than ever."
12. Show a Character’s Routine
Start with a mundane moment and build into something extraordinary.
"Every morning, I counted the cracks in the ceiling. There were sixty-three, and on the sixty-fourth, my life changed forever."
Begin with a funny or absurd situation.
"If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m terrible at not setting things on fire."
14. Write a Direct Address
Speak directly to the reader to create intimacy.
"You’ve heard the story before: a hero, a villain, a battle. But this isn’t that story."
15. Drop a Conflict Between Characters
Introduce a tense or dramatic interaction.
"‘You can’t leave,’ she said, her voice trembling with rage. ‘Watch me,’ he replied."
Each of these approaches sets a different tone and pace for your story. Choose one that fits your narrative style and the type of story you want to tell!
