Story Beginnings

1
Story Beginnings

• How to write beginnings to capture your readers
  attention!

2
Lets Review

• You have learned about how to brainstorm new
  ideas for new pieces of writing.
• How do we do it?
• What is important to remember?
• You have learned about the features of narrative
  text.
• How do you know that you are reading a narrative
  piece of writing?

3
Story Beginnings

• The beginning of a story, just like when you
  first meet someone, are extremely important!
• If the beginning lags or sags, then the reader
  will put the story down.
• The authors job is to create an opening that is
  entertaining and interesting enough to compel the
  readers to read on!

4
Boring Story Beginnings

• One sunny day
• One rainy afternoon
• One dark night
• This story is about
• Hi, my name is
• I woke up, got dressed and had breakfast. Then I

5
Whats the problem?

• None of these story beginnings draw the reader
  into the fictional story.
• None of them give a hint as to what is to come or
  make you wonder what will happen next.
• They are BORING!

6
Purpose of a Story Beginning

• A story beginning should introduce the reader to
• The main character
• The story setting
• The purpose for the story action
• And most importantly, a story beginning should
  capture the readers interest and hook the reader
  into reading on!

7
Where Do I Begin?

• The place to begin a story is NOT at the very
  beginning.
• The story should begin as close to the main event
  as possible!
• For example
• If you write a story that takes place at the
  beach, dont begin the story at home when you
  woke up and got ready to go to the beach. Start
  your story AT THE BEACH.
• If you write a story that involves discovering a
  fairy while on a picnic at the woods, dont begin
  two weeks earlier while you planning the picnic
  at the kitchen table. Start your story IN THE
  WOODS!

8
Where Do I Begin?

• Here are the different types of beginnings that
  really capture the readers attention
• AN ACTION Put the main character in the setting
  doing something interesting that relates to the
  story.
• DIALOGUE Have the main character say something
  that expresses a feeling, creates worry, or
  raises the readers interest or curiosity. It
  could be an EXCLAMATION.

9
Where Do I Begin?

• Here are other types of beginnings that really
  capture the readers attention
• A THOUGHT OR QUESTION Show what the main
  character is thinking or worrying about.
• A SOUND A story-relevant sound effect or a
  description of a sound is a great attention
  getting technique.

10
How Do I Write These Story Beginnings?

• AN ACTION
• Ask yourselfWhat would you do?
• Instead of writing
• This is a story about how I found a fairy in the
  woods.
• Try this instead
• I walked along the shady forest path on a magical
  afternoon.

11
Lets Practice Action Beginnings

• Action Beginnings Practice Page

12
How Do I Write These Story Beginnings?

• DIALOGUE
• Ask yourselfWhat would you say or exclaim?
• Instead of writing
• This is a story about how I found a fairy in the
  woods.
• Try this instead
• What a magical day for a walk in the woods! I
  said.

13
Lets PracticeBeginnings with Dialogue

• Beginnings with Dialogue Practice Page

14
How Do I Write These Story Beginnings?

• A THOUGHT OR QUESTION
• Ask yourselfWhat are you thinking, wondering, or
  worrying about?
• Instead of writing
• This is a story about how I found a fairy in the
  woods.
• Try this instead
• Today seems sort of magical, I thought as I
  looked out into the forest.

15
Lets Practice Beginnings with Thoughts and
Feelings

• Beginnings with Thoughts and Feelings Practice
  Page

16
How Do I Write These Story Beginnings?

• A SOUND
• Ask yourselfWhat would you hear?
• Instead of writing
• This is a story about how I found a fairy in the
  woods.
• Try this instead
• Zing! Woosh! I spun around and stared into the
  forest. What had made that peculiar sound?

17
Lets Practice Beginnings with Onomatopoeia

• Onomatopoeia Beginnings Practice Page

18
More Tips for Writers

• Avoid sending your main character out into the
  story world with a number of friends. It can get
  confusing when there are too many characters.
• Your main character does not need to get out of
  bed, get dressed, or plan their day at the
  beginning of the story. We can already assume
  that they have done these things!

19
Lets Find Some Examples!

• We are going to examine (look carefully at)
  different books that have interesting and
  captivating beginnings!
• You will decide which type of story beginning the
  author used to catch the readers interest.
• Here are the types of beginnings that really
  capture the readers attention
• An action
• Dialogue
• A thought or question
• A sound

20
Mentor Texts
21
Mentor Texts
22
Mentor Texts