Page 2 Story Beginnings
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Page 2 Writing Story Beginnings
Two friends were walking through the woods, when they thought they heard something.
They turned around and saw a big black bear charging towards them.
Both men dashed off when suddenly one of them stopped to change his shoes.
The second man hollered, "You don't have time to change shoes. You can't outrun that bear!"
The first man calmly replied, "I know I can't outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you!"
They turned around and saw a big black bear charging towards them.
Both men dashed off when suddenly one of them stopped to change his shoes.
The second man hollered, "You don't have time to change shoes. You can't outrun that bear!"
The first man calmly replied, "I know I can't outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you!"
©Pixabay
Narrative Hooks
How are you drawn in to a story or book?
Narrative Hook: Writers use a technique called a "hook" to attract the reader's attention, so that he or she will continue to read.
Examine the story beginnings below.
©Pixabay
A. Begin with a Dramatic Incident
If a story begins with an explosion of some sort, you want to know what happened or, what happens next.
If a story begins with an explosion of some sort, you want to know what happened or, what happens next.
©Pixabay
B. Begin by Setting the Scene
In a story, the author will begin by creating vivid imagery of where the story is or will take place.
In a story, the author will begin by creating vivid imagery of where the story is or will take place.
©Pixabay
C. Begin with a Question
By asking a question to begin the story, this makes you want to seek out the answer.
©Pixabay
D. Begin with Dialogue
Beginning a story with dialogue is intriguing and you want to know how the conversation will play out.
Beginning a story with dialogue is intriguing and you want to know how the conversation will play out.
A dramatic passage of dialogue (speech) can introduce the reader to the problem or conflict right away. However, then it is necessary to pause and provide some background.
©Pixabay
E. Introduce the main character's thoughts, feelings, or actions.
By beginning by introducing the main character's thoughts, feelings, or actions, this allows you to immediately understand what is going on with the character. This also allows you to gain an understanding of the character.
By beginning by introducing the main character's thoughts, feelings, or actions, this allows you to immediately understand what is going on with the character. This also allows you to gain an understanding of the character.
©Pixabay
Which of the above stories do you want to read and why?
A beginning must make a promise that this story will lead somewhere and that is worth your time.Like an arrow released from a bow, the beginning propels you through the story to the end, the target.
Examples
Click each tab to view examples.
The sign over on the wall seemed to quaver under a film of sliding warm water. Eckles felt his eyelids blink over his stare, and then sign burned in this momentary darkness:
TIME SAFARI, INC.
SAFARIS TO ANY YEAR IN THE PAST.
YOU NAME THE ANIMAL.
WE TAKE YOU THERE.
YOU SHOOT IT.
TIME SAFARI, INC.
SAFARIS TO ANY YEAR IN THE PAST.
YOU NAME THE ANIMAL.
WE TAKE YOU THERE.
YOU SHOOT IT.
A Sound of Thunder —Ray Bradbury
The long June twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the Liffey. Around
the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared.
Day had dawned cold and gray when the man turned aside from the main Yukon trail. He climbed the high earth-bank where a little-traveled trail led east through the pine forest. It was a high bank, and he paused to breathe at the top.
The Sniper—Liam O'Flaherty
Day had dawned cold and gray when the man turned aside from the main Yukon trail. He climbed the high earth-bank where a little-traveled trail led east through the pine forest. It was a high bank, and he paused to breathe at the top.
To Build a Fire—Jack London
"True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?"
"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, SightLines 8, page 22
"George, I wish you'd look at the nursery."
"What's wrong with it?"
"I don't know."
"Well, then."
"I just want you to look at it, is all, or call a psychologist in to look at it."
"What's wrong with it?"
"I don't know."
"Well, then."
"I just want you to look at it, is all, or call a psychologist in to look at it."
"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury, SightLines 8, page 248
The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons. We lived in three places - the school, the church and the skating rink - but our real life was on the skating rink. Real battles were won on the skating rink. Real strength appeared on the
skating rink. The real leaders showed themselves on the skating rink.
"The Hockey Sweater" by Roch Carrier, SightLines 8, page 44
She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails.
Thank You, Ma'am by Langston Hughes, SightLines 8, page 14
Please contact your teacher if you have questions.