L.A.

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L.A. To write sentence openers for the start of a
story that engage the reader.
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TASK Read these story openers. Discuss which
ones are exciting and which ones are dull and
boring? Amy and her best friend Rachel were
walking to school. Just jump, roared
Sam. It was a bright, hot, summery day. The
bomb exploded exactly at half past twelve. Most
people think that ghosts do not
exist. Suddenly the scream pierced the
night. One day Jack was on his way to the
shops. Have you ever wondered what it might be
like to fall from a plane and not have your
parachute open? Make a list with your partner
about what you think makes them exciting?
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DO NOT CONTINUE UNLESS YOU HAVE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT
MAKES A GOOD SENTENCE OPENER.
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ALL GOOD STORY OPENINGS
GRAB YOUR ATTENTION
MAKE YOU WANT TO READ ON.
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Lets look at 4 different ways to start the
storys opening sentence.
In the middle of action
Contradiction
Unexpected or strange happenings
Asking the reader a question
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In the middle of the action
Suddenly the scream pierced the night. I leapt
to my feet. I stood totally motionless. All was
silent . . . and then it came again, only this
time closer to us.
Then the explosion ended the life I had once held
with such little regard. I felt soil and mud
raining down on me and when the noise stopped and
movement ceased I found that I was partly buried
and could barely move myself.
I dropped the container marked Dangerous.
Handle with care, and the world seemed to slow
down. I could swear that minutes passed between
it leaving my fingers and crashing to the ground
with such terrible consequences.
I tripped and found myself rolling towards the
cliff edge.
I drank the contents of the bottle and then
realised what a dreadful mistake I had made.
TASK Have a go at writing your own example of
this type of opener.
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Contradiction
Some days I loved Anne, but on others I hated her.
I felt as cold as ice but then my skin felt as
hot as fire.
TASK Using opposites, write your own
contradiction opening. hot / cold love /
hate young / old peaceful / scared tiny /
large
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Unexpected or strange happenings
I dragged myself up the face of the clock and
then sat on the second hand wondering what to do.
I didnt know that I could breathe underwater
until I fell into the deep end and found myself
sitting happily on the bottom!
TASK Now write a opening when you were part of
a strange and unexpected happening.
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Asking the reader a question
Have you ever wondered why things happen the way
they do? Is there something or someone
manipulating us like were little toy figures?
Well, let me tell how I know what really happens
and why.
TASK What have you just discovered that others
should hear about? Write a couple of sentences
to engage the reader and make them want to read
more.
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Discuss with a partner about the techniques you
should use to engage the reader with your opening
sentences. Be ready to share your thoughts
in a minute.