Story Openers

1) Speech with an Action/characterization:

Damn! I cursed, stumbling over a log and landing face down in a pile of leaves.
This is the place, I informed Jarred as we stepped out of the trees and into the
clearing.
Dont go any further, I yelled, you dont know whats in there.
Oh gosh, look at the time! gasped my flatmate Caroline as she nudged me awake.
We gathered up our books and sleepily made our way to the library car park.
"Robbie, time to get up!" his mom shrieked in a high-pitched tone.
2) Setting (time and/or place):
It was late evening by the time I found my way to the clearing.
It was a damp, chilly night when Caroline and I eventually left the library. As soon as
I stepped outside I shivered, feeling that something strange was about to happen.
The snow lay like frosty icing on a Christmas cake, its new whiteness covering the
garden like a soft fluffy blanket. It was still snowing frozen crystals falling gently
from the heavy grey sky.
At the edge of my small town was a small but dense area of woodland with a
reputation that should have prevented me from ever setting out that night.
The autumn mists were gathering early, and the night was growing dark when

The sun went down over the tall towers that loomed over the smoke filled city. New York was
a pretty impressive place. A place that once youd been, you didnt want to leave.
The door burst open, leaves swirled around the passage. Distant screams could be heard,
as the misty night grew darker and colder.
Bright morning sunlight shone through my bedroom window when I woke. I lay there
lazily for a few minutes; then I jumped out of bed and stepped under the hot water
of the shower. The smell of coffee drifted through from the kitchen
3) Name:
Toby paused on the edge of the clearing and looked round with wonder.
Rebecca was a lazy girl-even her mother thought so. She was so lazy, she couldnt even be
bothered to pick her own nose.
Willy wouldnt hurt a fly.
4) Exclamation:
Crack! A twig snapped under my foot, shattering the sheer silence of the place.
5) Dramatic Action:
I hurtled out from between the trees, missed my footing and tumbled down the steep
bank before landing with a yelp of pain on the edge of a small clearing.

 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.
6) Addressing the Reader directly:
You know those spring nights that are still really cold and damp? Well, Ill tell you
what happened to my friend Caroline and me, on a night just like that.
7) Rhetorical Questions:
Why is it that the most important changes in our lives happen when we least expect
them to? My life had settled into a comfortable, satisfying routine when suddenly
everything changed.
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to fall from a plane and not have your
parachute open?
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.

8) Adjective to describe a character:

Ugly. Thats how youd describe Billy Bobbins. Ugly. With his large spotty nose, crooked teeth
and puffy eyes, he wasnt exactly a model.
Brave. Thats the first word that crosses my mind whenever I remember/have to describ
James.
9) Participles:
Crunching and crackling, the clatter of the brown crisp leaves underfoot broke
through the silence and sent birds scattering off the branches above.
Blazing and steaming, the sun was glaring right into my eyes.
10)
Parallel Structure:
I stumbled forward, grabbed at a branch for balance then fell clumsily into a
clearing.
I woke up, got out of bed, had a shower, ate breakfast and left.
11)
Personification:
The trees long fingers reached out and tugged at my hair as I pushed my way into
the clearing.