How to Write the Beginning of a Story: 7 Powerful Techniques
Introduction
The beginning of your story determines whether readers choose to continue. The first few paragraphs—or even the very first sentence—are crucial. A strong opening sets expectations, builds intrigue, and establishes the tone of your narrative.
Why Your Story Opening Matters
First Impressions in Storytelling
A story’s opening functions like a doorway: readers decide whether to step through. Your first impression shapes how they perceive your characters, your world, and your writing style.
How Readers Decide to Continue
Most readers make the decision within seconds. They’re looking for clarity, intrigue, emotional pull, or a compelling voice. A weak or confusing opening can lose your audience before the story even begins.
7 Proven Story Opening Techniques
Technique 1: Start with Action
Beginning with action immediately pulls readers into the story. For example:
“The explosion shattered the morning silence, sending glass across the café floor.”
This opening raises questions and creates urgency. When practicing different opening styles, it helps to generate multiple story beginnings and compare which hooks feel most compelling for your genre.
Technique 2: Open with Dialogue
A conversation can instantly establish voice, conflict, or tension. Dialogue openings work especially well when they hint at relationships or stakes:
“You weren’t supposed to be here,” she whispered.
Technique 3: Begin with a Question
A question—literal or implied—creates immediate curiosity. It plants an idea in the reader’s mind that demands resolution.
Technique 4: Set the Scene with Description
Rich sensory details can establish mood and tone. Use description when atmosphere is essential to your genre, such as fantasy or literary fiction.
Technique 5: Start with Character Introduction
Introduce your protagonist with a revealing action or thought. Let readers instantly understand what makes this character interesting.
Technique 6: Use a Flashback or Flash-forward
Beginning out of chronological order can create mystery or dramatic irony. Use this technique sparingly and ensure your transition back to the timeline is smooth.
Technique 7: Begin with a Bold Statement
A strong, surprising, or philosophical statement can instantly hook readers:
“Everyone in this town kept a secret—except me.”
How to Write a Compelling First Sentence
Elements of a Great Hook
A strong first sentence often includes:
- A unique voice
- A sense of movement or tension
- A question or implication
- A clear tone
Great hooks are not necessarily flashy—they’re purposeful.
First Line Examples from Famous Books
- “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” — 1984
- “When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.” — The Hunger Games
- “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” — Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
These examples establish tone, conflict, or worldbuilding in a single line.
Essential Information to Include in Your Opening
Establishing Setting and Tone
Readers should quickly understand where they are and what emotional atmosphere surrounds the story. Is it eerie? Whimsical? Dangerous? Romantic?
Introducing Your Main Character
Your protagonist doesn’t need a full biography—but readers should know something meaningful about them early on.
Hinting at the Central Conflict
You don’t need to reveal the main plot immediately, but your opening should point toward the tension or journey ahead.
Story Opening Clichés to Avoid
Overused Opening Techniques
- Waking up from sleep
- Describing the weather without purpose
- Info-dumping worldbuilding
- Dream sequences with no relevance
These can work—but they require a fresh angle.
How to Make Common Openings Fresh
Focus on perspective, voice, and specificity. A well-crafted voice can turn even a familiar opening into something original.
Opening Techniques by Genre
How to Start a Horror Story
Horror openings often benefit from an unsettling first line. You might begin with something subtly wrong that escalates throughout the opening scene. For more horror-specific techniques, see our guide on how to write horror stories.
How to Start a Romance Story
Begin with emotional tension, a meet-cute, or a moment that hints at vulnerability or desire.
How to Start a Fantasy Story
Worldbuilding matters here. Start with atmosphere, lore, or a magical element that sparks curiosity.
How to Start a Mystery Story
Mystery thrives on questions. Open with something missing, suspicious, or unexplained.
Analyzing Great Story Openings
Example 1: The Hunger Games
The opening line establishes routine, absence, and oppressive tension—perfect for dystopian fiction.
Example 2: 1984
Orwell’s first sentence immediately signals a distorted reality and sets the novel’s tone.
Example 3: Harry Potter
The conversational narration introduces the mundane world and hints at its hidden magical counterpart.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to master story openings is to write many of them. Try writing 10 different openings for the same story premise. You'll discover which techniques feel most natural to your writing style and which best serve your story's tone.
Conclusion
Your story’s opening is your promise to the reader. Make it compelling, clear, and true to your story’s tone. Whether you start with action, dialogue, or description, ensure it raises questions that make readers want to continue.