best opening sentences for short stories

One could be 'The old house on the hill had always been there, like a silent sentinel over the town.'

A great opening is 'In the middle of the night, a strange noise woke her up, a noise she had never heard before.' This creates mystery and makes the reader wonder what the noise is and what will happen next. It gives a sense of unease and anticipation right from the start.

One great opening sentence could be 'The day the world ended, I was eating a peanut butter sandwich.' It immediately creates a sense of mystery and makes the reader wonder what happened to the world. Another is 'She walked into the room, and everyone knew things would never be the same.' This makes the reader curious about who she is and why she has such an impact. 'In the middle of the night, a strange noise woke me up, and that was the start of the nightmare.' It sets an eerie tone and makes the reader want to find out more about the nightmare.

Good opening sentences that have an emotional impact are often very relatable. For example, 'I watched as my best friend walked away, and I knew our lives would never be the same.' This can make readers think of their own experiences of losing a friend. 'She held the letter in her trembling hands, knowing it held either the best or the worst news of her life.' It builds suspense and also plays on the emotions of anxiety and anticipation. These sentences are powerful because they tap into deep - seated emotions that most people can understand.

One way is to expand on the characters introduced or hinted at in the opening sentence. Say the opening is 'She stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping in the wind'. You can start by giving her a name, like Emily. Then, think about why she's there. Is she thinking about jumping? Or is she waiting for someone? As you build the story, keep the tone consistent with the opening. If it's a somber opening, don't suddenly make it a comedy. Add details about her past, her dreams, and how the situation at the cliff is going to change her life.

One of the best is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. It immediately sets a tone of contrast and historical context, making the reader wonder about the times being described.

One of the best opening sentences is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This sentence immediately sets the tone for the story which is largely about marriage and social status in the 19th - century English society.

The opening sentence of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' is also remarkable. The unexpected 'clocks were striking thirteen' creates a sense of unease and immediately makes the reader curious about this strange world. It's a great start to introduce the dystopian setting of the novel.

One of the best opening sentences is from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'. This immediately sets a complex and thought - provoking mood, making the reader wonder about the contrast it presents. It draws you in and makes you curious about the story that will unfold in these two very different 'times'.

The opening sentence 'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.' is excellent. It immediately makes the reader think about the concept of the past and how it might be different. It can lead to all sorts of stories, whether it's about a character's personal past or a historical setting.