One way is to begin with a description of a lonely place, like 'In the desolate cemetery, the cold wind blew through the withered grass as the old tombstones stood in solemn silence.'
Another way is to start with the death of a beloved character. Such as 'The day John died, the sun refused to shine. The whole town seemed to hold its breath, as if it couldn't believe that he was gone.' Starting with a death creates a sense of loss and grief right from the start, and the reader can't help but feel sad for those left behind and be curious about the story that led to this tragic event.
You could start by introducing a broken relationship. For example, 'They had once been so in love, but now all that remained were the shattered pieces of their hearts and the empty promises.' This immediately sets a sad tone as it focuses on the loss of love and the pain of a relationship gone wrong. It makes the reader wonder what happened to cause such a downfall and draws them into the story to find out more about the characters' heartbreak.
One way is to begin with a loss. For example, 'The day he left, the sun never seemed to shine again.'
Starting with the loss of a loved one can be very effective. You could write, 'She was sitting alone in the empty house, the silence echoing the absence of her mother who had passed away just a week ago. Every corner of the house held memories of her, and now those memories were all that was left.' This immediately sets a sad tone as the main character is dealing with a great loss.
You can start by showing the end of a friendship. Such as 'The last time they saw each other, there were no hugs, no goodbyes, just a cold, empty stare. Their once - unbreakable friendship had crumbled into pieces, and neither of them knew how it had all gone so wrong.' This gives a sense of finality and sadness right from the start. It makes the reader curious about what led to this sad state of affairs. It also creates an emotional impact as the idea of a strong friendship ending so abruptly is quite sad.
Begin with a moment of self - realization that is filled with regret. For example, 'As he looked in the mirror, he finally saw the person he had become, and the choices he had made that led him to this lonely existence.'
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.
Beginning with a mysterious character can be effective too. 'There was a man in a long, black coat who always seemed to be lurking in the shadows. No one knew his name or where he came from. His eyes were cold and empty, and whenever he passed by, an icy chill filled the air.'
Start with a character in distress. Maybe a young wizard has lost his powers due to a dark curse. His struggle to regain his powers can be the starting point. It allows the readers to feel empathy for the character right away and be interested in seeing how he overcomes his problem.
Beginning a story with a strong action can be very effective. For instance, 'He ran as fast as he could, the sound of the approaching storm driving him forward.' This creates immediate tension. Starting with a character's internal monologue is also good. 'I knew this day would come, but I still wasn't prepared,' he thought, his heart pounding. Or you could start with a startling statement like 'The dead man walked into the room.'
One way is to start with an interesting dialogue. For example, '"You can't be serious!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what's going on. Another way is to begin with a vivid description of a setting, like 'The old, creaky house stood at the end of the overgrown lane, its windows like dark, empty eyes.' A third way could be starting with a character in an unusual situation, such as 'He woke up in a field he didn't recognize, surrounded by strange, glowing plants.'
Beginning with an interesting sound or action is a great way. For example, 'Suddenly, there was a loud BANG! And a little rabbit popped out of a hole.' It creates a vivid image in the kids' minds right from the start. Also, starting with a description of a unique character can work well. Such as 'There was a little girl with the most amazing purple hair that sparkled in the sun.'