ways to start a story 3rd person fiction

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.

A great way is to start with a character's thought. 'She wondered if she would ever find her true purpose in this big, cold city. The wind whipped at her hair as she stared out of the window of her small apartment.' It makes the character relatable.

One way is to start with a strong statement about yourself or your situation. For example, 'I knew from the moment I woke up that this day was going to be different.' Another way could be to begin with a description of your immediate surroundings as you experience them. 'I opened my eyes to a room filled with an eerie silence, the only sound being the faint ticking of the old clock on the wall.'

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.

You could start with a thought or a feeling. Say, 'I felt a sense of dread wash over me as I entered the old, decrepit house.' This gives the reader an insight into your emotional state from the start. And also, starting with a dialogue that you are part of can be interesting. 'I said, "I'm not going in there," but my friends just laughed and pushed me forward.'

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.

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.'

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.

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.