You can start a children's story with a big adventure. 'Tom set off on a journey to find the lost treasure.' This will excite kids. Starting with a cute little joke also works. 'Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide! And that's how our story begins.' And beginning with a colorful and detailed setting like 'In a land filled with rainbow - colored trees and talking flowers...' is a wonderful start for children's stories.
Start with a sense of foreboding. For instance, 'All day, a dark cloud had hung over the town, and as night fell, the feeling of impending doom grew stronger.'
A good starting point for beginners could be to begin with a feeling. 'A sense of unease filled the air as she walked down the empty street.' This helps to create an atmosphere right from the start. Also, starting with a little mystery is great. 'The old box in the attic had been there for years, but today it seemed to be calling to her.' It makes the reader curious about what's in the box and what will happen next.
A sudden and unexplained disappearance can start a horror story well. 'When I woke up, my sister was gone. Her bed was empty, and there was no sign of her in the house. Only her favorite doll, with its eyes that seemed to follow me, was left.'
A great way to start off stories is with a strong statement. For instance, 'All secrets have a price.' It makes the reader want to know more. You can also start with a dialogue. 'I'm not going back there,' he said firmly. This brings the story to life right from the start. Beginning with a mystery is good too. In a small town, a strange object appeared overnight. No one knew where it came from.
You can also start with a sad event from the past that still haunts the character. 'Every time she passed by that old oak tree, memories of that fateful day flooded back. The day her world had turned upside down and nothing had been the same since.' This immediately creates a melancholic mood as it shows that the character is still affected by a past tragedy, and the reader wants to find out what exactly that event was.
You could start with a thought-provoking question. Like, 'What if the world stopped spinning? How would we survive?' This gets the reader thinking and interested in seeing where the story will go with this concept.
Beginning a love story can be done through an unexpected encounter. For example, being stuck in an elevator together and having a deep conversation. Or, starting with a shared love for food. Meeting at a food festival and trying different delicacies together. You could also start by helping each other out in an academic or work - related situation, which can lead to a deeper bond.
You could start a love story with a dream. For instance, one character has a recurring dream about a stranger. Then, one day, they see that very person in real life. It gives a sense of fate and mystery right from the start. This makes the reader or viewer wonder what's going to happen next and draws them into the story.
A random act of kindness can also be the start. If one person helps the other out of a difficult situation, like helping someone carry their groceries when they drop them. There's an instant feeling of gratitude, and from there, a conversation might start. This kindness can be the spark that ignites the love story as it shows the good nature of one person towards the other.
One way is to start with a character's internal monologue. For instance, 'I always knew this day would come, but I never expected it to feel like this.' It gives an immediate insight into the character's thoughts and feelings, and the reader can start to form a connection with the character from the very beginning. This can also set up the conflict or the journey that the character is about to embark on.