One great way to start a story is with an interesting character in an unusual situation. For example, 'There was a man who woke up one morning to find his house had disappeared overnight.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what will happen next.
Begin with a dialogue. For example, '“You can't be serious,” she said, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It makes the story feel immediate and alive. The reader is plunged right into the action and wants to know what the conversation is about.
One great way to start a story is with a captivating hook. It could be an interesting question, like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world without colors?' or a shocking statement such as 'The day the world ended, no one saw it coming.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read more.
There were many ways to start a novel, and some of the more common ones included:
1. Suspense technique: Set a fascinating suspense at the beginning to make the reader want to continue reading, such as:
" When he woke up, he found himself lying in a strange place surrounded by darkness."
2. Description technique: By describing the scene, characters, atmosphere, etc., the reader will resonate with them. For example:
"The moonlight shines through the window at night, and the room emits a faint fragrance."
3. The conflict method: Set up a conflict at the beginning to attract the reader's interest, such as:
"He felt uncomfortable and turned over to find himself trapped in bed."
4. Quoting Techniques: Use short words to draw out the main plot of the story, such as:
"In this world, only one person can control his own destiny."
5. Conversation techniques: Through the dialogue between the characters, show the character's personality and story background, such as:
"He looked at the girl in front of him and asked,'How did you get here?'"
The above are some commonly used novel opening techniques. Different techniques can bring different effects. The readers will choose the opening method they like according to their own preferences and reading habits.
One of the best ways to start a mystery story is with an intriguing event. For example, a strange disappearance. You can begin by describing the scene where a character vanishes without a trace. The suddenness and mystery of it will immediately hook the reader. It makes them wonder what happened and why, creating an instant sense of curiosity that will drive them to keep reading.
Starting with a mystery or a question can also be an excellent approach. Throw the reader right into a puzzling situation. Maybe there's a strange object found in an ordinary place or a person who has lost their memory but has a strange mark on their hand. This makes the reader want to keep reading to find out the answers, like 'She opened the old wooden box, not knowing what to expect. Inside was a key that didn't seem to fit any lock she had ever seen. What could it be for?'
I don't think there is a universal best way. A good start for a historical fiction could be 'In the year 1812, as the war drums beat across the land...' which grounds the story in time and place. But for a contemporary coming - of - age story, you could start with a relatable teen moment like 'I was standing in the school hallway, my heart pounding as I waited for the results of the test.' Different stories require different beginnings to engage their intended audiences.
Beginning with a miscommunication can be really funny. Say something like 'I thought my friend said we were going to a 'zoo party', so I showed up in a full-on zebra costume, only to find out it was a 'juice party'. Everyone was just sipping on smoothies while I looked like I escaped from the safari.'