how to start a story

Ah, the art of storytelling! Always start with a compelling scene that makes a promise to the reader.

For instance, a car hurtling off a cliff hints at a suspenseful tale to come. A brief, quirky exchange between characters can signal a fun and lively story. You can also set up an emotional scene to engage the reader on a deeper level, like an intimate moment between loved ones.

Remember, your first scene should bait the hook to reel your readers in!

Starting a story is, perhaps, the most crucial part to get right. After all, it's your gateway to the reader's attention. A common practice is to plunge right into the action. Imagine, you could start off with a bank robbery happening right in the middle of your character's lunch break! This way you hook the reader from the get-go.

Now, not all stories have to embark with adrenaline-pumping thrills. Take, for example, the literary classics, they tend to warm up before the action, brewing a tender engagement between the characters and the readers. Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway' begins ever so subtly on a summer morning, yet it lures you into the protagonist’s world.

A more speculative story could start with a peculiar setting or an eerie mystery to stir up curiosity. Consider the opening line, 'In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.' from J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'. Overwhelmed with curiosity and filled with questions, the reader cannot resist from venturing further into the tale. This shows the importance of crafting an intriguing, engrossing beginning.

Another approach is to paint a vivid visual introduction, like Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 'One Hundred Years of Solitude', which describes the quiet town of Macondo in its primal beauty, enticing the reader into a magical realism journey. Whether you decide to start with an action, a statement, a mystery, or a detailed description prioritize drawing the reader into the story.