You can start with a vivid description of a strange location. For instance, 'The city of Silverpeak was built on the edge of a bottomless chasm. Its spires reached towards the sky, defying gravity, and its streets were paved with crystals that glowed with an inner light.'
Begin with an action - something exciting or mysterious. Let's say 'The thief darted through the crowded marketplace, a small, jeweled box clutched tightly in his hand. He knew that the box held the key to a power that could either save or destroy the kingdom, but he had no idea of the forces that were already in pursuit.' This hooks the reader right away as they wonder what's in the box and who's chasing the thief.
Use strong imagery. For instance, 'The sun blazed like a furious furnace, searing the parched earth beneath it.' This vivid description grabs the reader's attention.
You can start with a strong emotion. For instance, 'Anger boiled inside of Lisa as she stared at the broken vase. Her mother had given it to her, and now it was in pieces on the floor, and she knew exactly who was responsible.' This makes the reader want to know who is to blame and what will happen next.
First, make it engaging. For example, start with an action like 'The bullet whizzed past his ear, narrowly missing him.' This grabs the reader's attention.
One way is to start with a unique setting. For example, 'On a floating island, where the ground beneath your feet was not soil but a soft, cloud - like substance, a young wizard named Thaddeus began his day.' This kind of setting is not something we see in the real world and grabs the reader's attention right away.
First, if your beginning is a mysterious event, you can start by introducing characters who are affected by it. For example, if it's a strange light in an old mansion, you can introduce a group of curious kids who decide to explore it. Then, you build up the suspense as they get closer to the source of the light. Maybe they hear strange noises or find strange footprints.
Slowly revealing the setting can create suspense too. Start with just a bit of the spooky place, like a dimly lit corner of a dungeon. As the story progresses, more details are added, and the reader is kept on edge, waiting to see the whole terrifying picture.
Perhaps starting with a description of a unique and mysterious creature. 'A large, shadowy figure slinked through the misty forest. Its eyes glowed like embers in the darkness, and its fur seemed to be made of midnight itself. It was a lycanthrope, a being of both man and wolf, and its presence signaled that something extraordinary was about to unfold in the enchanted forest. This sets the scene in a fantastical world full of mystery and danger.
A good fantasy story often begins with an inspiration for a magical realm. Make your characters relatable yet extraordinary. Plan a plot that has a clear beginning, middle, and end, with escalating conflicts and satisfying resolutions.
Use it to hook the reader. For instance, if you start with 'A strange noise came from the attic on a moonless night.', it makes the reader want to find out what the noise is. Simple.
We can start with a strong character introduction. For example, 'There was a brave little mouse named Max.' This makes the character stand out right away. Kids will be interested in what Max will do.