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.
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 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.'
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.
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.'
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.
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.'
Some might get angry. They could be angry at the characters for making the wrong choices that led to the sad outcome, or angry at the situation in the story that seems unfair. For instance, if a character in the love story betrays the other for no good reason, the reader might feel anger towards that character.
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.'
Sad stories can make us feel empathy. We put ourselves in the character's shoes and experience their pain, which can make us more understanding towards others. Sometimes, it can also make us feel a sense of relief that our own lives are not as difficult.