Seven ways to start a story

Sitting in front of an 11+ creative writing exam question and not remembering how to start can affect confidence, timing and performance.

If you're revising 11+ story writing over the summer holiday, I highly recommend trying this 20-minute story-writing task. It's a great way to keep your child's skills sharp and their confidence high.

This will not only help your child remember many ways to start a story, but it will also help them overcome the fear of the blank page.

It's all about thinking about the first line - you only get one chance to start a story and hook the examiner.

But, finding that first sentence can be the hardest.

So, to help, here are seven tried-and-tested ways to start a story…

1. Background information
   Example: The park always shuts its gates at 9 p.m. each night.

2. Character introduction
   Example: Milfoy was the tallest person in the kingdom.

3. Action
   Example: Crouching in the shadows, Samir reflected that this was probably a bad idea.

4. Dialogue
   Example: "What's going on here?"

5. Questions
   Example: Would you have done the same as me if you'd had the choice?

6. Mystery
   Example: The town changed forever on that wet Saturday in June.

7. Setting description
   Example: The silent, shifting clouds cast an unfamiliar and unwelcome shadow on Sam's house.

Video

I had a quick search on YouTube for a short and easy-to-remember video on story starts – here's one from Twinkl that's pretty good (it's just over 2 minutes long):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUhL_0nJ7sQ

In an 11 Plus writing exam, there's little time to contemplate the benefits of various ways to start a story, so remembering your favourite is a surefire way to start the exam confidently (and the rest will follow).

Home Challenge

1) Read the exam question: Write a story using the picture as inspiration.

2) Discuss the picture on this printable/downloadable PDF. Decide on the 5Ws (Who, What, Where, When, Why).

3) Write seven story starters.

1. Background information
   2. Character introduction
   3. Action
   4. Dialogue
   5. Questions
   6. Mystery
   7. Setting description
   
   

Happy writing!

Anna