Beginning with a flashback can be a unique way to start a fiction story. 'She remembered that fateful day when she first met him, the sun was shining but her world was about to be turned upside down.' Starting with a prop is also interesting. 'The small, silver key in his hand felt heavy, as if it held the answers to all his questions.' Or you could start with a statement that challenges the reader's perception. 'Most people believe that monsters only exist in the dark, but they were wrong.'
You can start a fiction story by introducing a mystery. For instance, 'The letter arrived on a Tuesday, addressed to no one in particular, yet it held a secret that would change everything.' Action is another great start. 'He ran as fast as he could, not daring to look back at the shadowy figure chasing him.' And a character's emotion can be a starting point too. 'Anger welled up inside him as he stared at the unfair verdict.'
Beginning with a time marker can work well. 'In the year 2099, the world was a very different place.' Another option is to start with a sense of foreboding. 'There was a heaviness in the air that morning, a sign that something bad was going to happen.' Also, starting with a character's dream can be engaging. 'He dreamed of flying, his arms outstretched as he soared above the city.'
For young audiences, starting with a cute animal character is a great option. Like 'There was a little bunny named Benny who lived in a cozy burrow.' It appeals to their love for animals. Another way is to start with a magical element. 'In a far - away land, there was a magic tree that grew cookies.' This sparks their imagination. You can also start with a simple moral lesson right at the start. 'Once upon a time, there was a boy who learned that sharing was always better than keeping things to himself.'
You can start with a shocking event. For example, a character witnessing a murder right at the beginning of the story. This grabs the reader's attention immediately.
Beginning with an intriguing character in an unusual situation can be effective too. Say, a young girl wakes up in a world where all the colors are reversed. It makes the reader curious about who this girl is and what will happen to her in this strange place. Also, starting with a dialogue can be good. Like, '"Where are we?" he asked, his voice trembling as he looked around the desolate landscape.' It creates immediate tension and makes the reader want to know more about the speakers and their situation.
A good way is to introduce a mysterious character. Say something like 'There was a man in the corner of the room, his face hidden by the shadows. No one knew who he was or what he was doing there.' This mystery makes the reader want to learn more about the character.
One way is to start with a character in a relatable situation. For example, a young girl waiting nervously for her first day at a new school. It immediately makes the reader empathize.
Begin by identifying the core elements of the story, like the main characters, the central conflict, and the outcome. Then, for the first way, you could write it in a traditional, linear fashion. Just lay out the events as they might typically occur. For example, if it's a love story, start with the meeting of the two characters, then their courtship, and so on.
A good way is to start with a vivid action scene. Maybe a sword fight between two knights in a dark, fog - covered forest. The clang of metal against metal and the grunts of the combatants would draw the reader in immediately.
One good way is to start with an interesting dialogue. For example, 'Where have you been?' she demanded, her eyes blazing with anger. This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what's going on between the characters.
One way to start a story in 3rd person fiction is by setting the scene. For example, 'The small town of Oakwood lay still under the early morning mist, its cobblestone streets empty save for a stray cat.' This immediately gives the reader a sense of place.