how to start a creative writing story examples

Writing Prompts

150+ Story Starters: Creative Sentences To Start A Story

The most important thing about writing is finding a good idea . You have to have a great idea to write a story. You have to be able to see the whole picture before you can start to write it. Sometimes, you might need help with that. Story starters are a great way to get the story rolling. You can use them to kick off a story, start a character in a story or even start a scene in a story.

When you start writing a story, you need to have a hook. A hook can be a character or a plot device. It can also be a setting, something like “A young man came into a bar with a horse.” or a setting like “It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.” The first sentence of a story is often the hook. It can also be a premise or a situation, such as, “A strange old man in a black cloak was sitting on the train platform.”

Story starters are a way to quickly get the story going. They give the reader a place to start reading your story. Some story starters are obvious, and some are not. The best story starters are the ones that give the reader a glimpse into the story. They can be a part of a story or a part of a scene. They can be a way to show the reader the mood of a story. If you want to start a story, you can use a simple sentence. You can also use a question or an inspirational quote. In this post, we have listed over 150 story starters to get your story started with a bang! A great way to use these story starters is at the start of the Finish The Story game .

If you want more story starters, check out this video on some creative story starter sentences to use in your stories:

150+ Creative Story Starters

Here is a list of good sentences to start a story with:

I’ve read about a million stories about princesses but never thought I could ever be one.
There was once a man who was very old, but he was wise. He lived for a very long time, and he was very happy.
What is the difference between a man and a cat? A cat has nine lives.
In the middle of the night, a boy is running through the woods.
It is the end of the world.
He knew he was not allowed to look into the eyes of the princess, but he couldn’t help himself.
The year is 1893. A young boy was running away from home.
What if the Forest was actually a magical portal to another dimension, the Forest was a portal to the Otherworld?
In the Forest, you will find a vast number of magical beings of all sorts.
It was the middle of the night, and the forest was quiet. No bugs or animals disturbed the silence. There were no birds, no chirping.
If you wish to stay in the Forest, you will need to follow these rules: No one shall leave the Forest. No one shall enter. No one shall take anything from the Forest.
“It was a terrible day,” said the old man in a raspy voice.
A cat is flying through the air, higher and higher, when it happens, and the cat doesn’t know how it got there, how it got to be in the sky.
I was lying in the woods, and I was daydreaming.
The Earth is a world of wonders.
The fairy is the most amazing creature I have ever met.
A young girl was sitting on a tree stump at the edge of a river when she noticed a magical tree growing in the water.
My dancing rat is dressed in a jacket, a tie and glasses, which make him look like a person.
In the darkness of the night, I am alone, but I know that I am not.
Owls are the oldest, and most intelligent, of all birds.
My name is Reyna, and I am a fox.
The woman was drowning.
One day, he was walking in the forest.
It was a dark and stormy night…
There was a young girl who could not sleep…
A boy in a black cape rode on a white horse…
A crazy old man in a black cloak was sitting in the middle of the street…
The sun was setting on a beautiful summer day…
The dog was restless…”
There was a young boy in a brown coat…
I met a young man in the woods…
In the middle of a dark forest…
The young girl was at home with her family…
There was a young man who was sitting on a …
A young man came into a bar with a horse…
I have had a lot of bad dreams…
He was a man who wanted to be king…
It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.
I know what you’re thinking. But no, I don’t want to be a vegetarian. The worst part is I don’t like the taste.
She looked at the boy and decided to ask him why he wasn’t eating. She didn’t want to look mean, but she was going to ask him anyway.
The song played on the radio, as Samual wiped away his tears.
This was the part when everything was about to go downhill. But it didn’t…
“Why make life harder for yourself?” asked Claire, as she bit into her apple.
She made a promise to herself that she would never do it.
I was able to escape.
I was reading a book when the accident happened.
“I can’t stand up for people who lie and cheat.” I cried.
You look at me and I feel beautiful.
I know what I want to be when I grow up.
We didn’t have much money. But we knew how to throw a good party.
The wind blew on the silent streets of London.
What do you get when you cross an angry bee and my sister?
The flight was slow and bumpy. I was half asleep when the captain announced we were going down.
At the far end of the city was a river that was overgrown with weeds.
It was a quiet night in the middle of a busy week.
One afternoon, I was eating a sandwich in the park when I spotted a stranger.
In the late afternoon, a few students sat on the lawn reading.
The fireflies were dancing in the twilight as the sunset.
In the early evening, the children played in the park.
The sun was setting and the moon was rising.
A crowd gathered in the square as the band played.
The top of the water tower shone in the moonlight.
The light in the living room was on, but the light in the kitchen was off.
When I was a little boy, I used to make up stories about the adventures of these amazing animals, creatures, and so on.
All of the sudden, I realized I was standing in the middle of an open field surrounded by nothing but wildflowers, and the only thing I remembered about it was that I’d never seen a tree before.
It’s the kind of thing that’s only happened to me once before in my life, but it’s so cool to see it.
They gave him a little wave as they drove away.
The car had left the parking lot, and a few hours later we arrived home.
They were going to play a game of bingo.
He’d made up his mind to do it. He’d have to tell her soon, though. He was waiting for a moment when they were alone and he could say it without feeling like an idiot. But when that moment came, he couldn’t think of anything to say.
Jamie always wanted to own a plane, but his parents were a little tight on the budget. So he’d been saving up to buy one of his own.
The night was getting colder, and the wind was blowing in from the west.
The doctor stared down at the small, withered corpse.
She’d never been in the woods before, but she wasn’t afraid.
The kids were having a great time in the playground.
The police caught the thieves red-handed.
The world needs a hero more than ever.
Mother always said, “Be good and nice things will happen…”
There is a difference between what you see and what you think you see.
The sun was low in the sky and the air was warm.
“It’s time to go home,” she said, “I’m getting a headache.”
It was a cold winter’s day, and the snow had come early.
I found a wounded bird in my garden.
“You should have seen the look on my face.”
He opened the door and stepped back.
My father used to say, “All good things come to an end.”
The problem with fast cars is that they break so easily.
“What do you think of this one?” asked Mindy.
“If I asked you to do something, would you do it?” asked Jacob.
I was surprised to see her on the bus.
I was never the most popular one in my class.
We had a bad fight that day.
The coffee machine had stopped working, so I went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.
It was a muggy night, and the air-conditioning unit was so loud it hurt my ears.
I had a sleepless night because I couldn’t get my head to turn off.
I woke up at dawn and heard a horrible noise.
I was so tired I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep that night.
I put on the light and looked at myself in the mirror.
I decided to go in, but the door was locked.
A man in a red sweater stood staring at a little kitten as if it was on fire.
“It’s so beautiful,” he said, “I’m going to take a picture.”
“I think we’re lost,” he said, “It’s all your fault.”
It’s hard to imagine what a better life might be like
He was a tall, lanky man, with a long face, a nose like a pin, and a thin, sandy moustache.
He had a face like a lion’s and an eye like a hawk’s.
The man was so broad and strong that it was as if a mountain had been folded up and carried in his belly.
I opened the door. I didn’t see her, but I knew she was there.
I walked down the street. I couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.
I arrived at my parents’ home at 8:00 AM.
The nurse had been very helpful.
On the table was an array of desserts.
I had just finished putting the last of my books in the trunk.
A car horn honked, startling me.
The kitchen was full of pots and pans.
There are too many things to remember.
The world was my oyster. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
“My grandfather was a World War II veteran. He was a decorated hero who’d earned himself a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart.
Beneath the menacing, skeletal shadow of the mountain, a hermit sat on his ledge. His gnarled hands folded on his gnarled knees. His eyes stared blankly into the fog.
I heard a story about a dragon, who was said to be the size of a house, that lived on the top of the tallest mountain in the world.
I was told a story about a man who found a golden treasure, which was buried in this very park.
He stood alone in the middle of a dark and silent room, his head cocked to one side, the brown locks of his hair, which were parted in the middle, falling down over his eyes.
Growing up, I was the black sheep of the family. I had my father’s eyes, but my mother’s smile.
Once upon a time, there was a woman named Miss Muffett, and she lived in a big house with many rooms.
When I was a child, my mother told me that the water looked so bright because the sun was shining on it. I did not understand what she meant at the time.
The man in the boat took the water bottle and drank from it as he paddled away.
The man looked at the child with a mixture of pity and contempt.
An old man and his grandson sat in their garden. The old man told his grandson to dig a hole.
An old woman was taking a walk on the beach. The tide was high and she had to wade through the water to get to the other side.
She looked up at the clock and saw that it was five minutes past seven.
The man looked up from the map he was studying. “How’s it going, mate?”
I was in my room on the third floor, staring out of the window.
A dark silhouette of a woman stood in the doorway.
The church bells began to ring.
The moon rose above the horizon.
A bright light shone over the road.
The night sky began to glow.
I could hear my mother cooking in the kitchen.
The fog began to roll in.
He came in late to the class and sat at the back.
A young boy picked up a penny and put it in his pocket.
He went to the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror.
It was the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness. We once had everything and now we have nothing.
A young man died yesterday, and no one knows why.
The boy was a little boy. He was not yet a man. He lived in a house in a big city.
They had just returned from the theatre when the phone rang.
I walked up to the front of the store and noticed the neon sign was out.
I always wondered what happened to Mary.
I stopped to say hello and then walked on.
The boy’s mother didn’t want him to play outside…
The lights suddenly went out…
After 10 years in prison, he was finally out.
The raindrops pelted the window, which was set high up on the wall, and I could see it was a clear day outside.
My friend and I had just finished a large pizza, and we were about to open our second.
I love the smell of the ocean, but it never smells as good as it does when the waves are crashing.
They just stood there, staring at each other.
A party was in full swing until the music stopped.

For more ideas on how to start your story, check out these first-line writing prompts . Did you find this list of creative story starters useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Guides • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Dec 23, 2022

Creative Writing: 8 Fun Ways to Get Started

Creative writing is a written art form that uses the imagination to tell stories and compose essays, poetry, screenplays, novels, lyrics, and more. It can be defined in opposition to the dry and factual types of writing found in academic, technical, or journalistic texts.

Characterized by its ability to evoke emotion and engage readers, creative writing can tackle themes and ideas that one might struggle to discuss in cold, factual terms.

If you’re interested in the world of creative writing, we have eight fantastic exercises and activities to get you started.

1. Use writing prompts every week

Illustration of a writer getting ready for a creative writing contest

Coming up with ideas for short stories can be challenging, which is why we created a directory of 1700+ creative writing prompts covering a wide range of genres and topics. Writing prompts are flexible in nature, they are meant to inspire you without being too constrictive. Overall, they are a great way to keep your creative muscles limber.

Example of Reedsy's Creative Writing Prompts

If you’re struggling for motivation, how does a hard deadline and a little prize money sound? Prompts-based writing contests are a fantastic way to dive into creative writing: the combination of due dates, friendly rivalries, prize money, and the potential to have your work published is often just what’s needed to propel you over the finish line.

We run a weekly writing contest over on Reedsy Prompts, where hundreds of writers from all around the world challenge themselves weekly to write a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words for a chance to win the $250 prize. Furthermore, the community is very active in providing constructive feedback, support, and accountability to each other 一 something that will make your efforts even more worthwhile.

Take a peek at our directory of writing contests which features some of the most prestigious open writing competitions in the world.

2. Start journaling your days

Illustration of a writer journaling in autumn

Another easy way to get started with creative writing is to keep a journal. We’re not talking about an hour-by-hour account of your day, but journaling as a way to express yourself without filters and find your ‘voice in writing’. If you’re unsure what to journal about, think of any daily experiences that have had an impact on you, such as…

Special moments . Did you lock yourself out of your house? Or did you catch a beautiful sunset on your way back from groceries? Capture those moments, and how you felt about them.

People . Did you have an unusual exchange with a stranger at the bar? Or did you reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in years? Share your thoughts about it.

World events . Is there something happening in the world right now that is triggering you? That’s understandable. You can reflect on it (and let some steam off) while journaling.

Memories . Did you go down memory lane after a glass of wine? Great, honor those memories by trying to recollect them in detail on paper so that they will always stay vivid in your mind.

Life decisions . Are you having an existential crisis about what to do with your life? Write down your thought process, and the pros and cons of the possible decisions in front of you. You’ll be surprised to discover that, not only is it a great creative writing exercise, but it can also actually help you sort your life out!

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3. Create an anonymous social media account

Like anonymous blogging, an incognito Twitter account sidesteps the pressure that comes with attaching your name to your work. Anonymously putting tiny stories out into the ether gives you the freedom to create without worrying about the consequences — which is great, so long as you don’t use it as an opportunity to troll people or spread conspiracy theories.

You could use the anonymous account in different ways. For example, you could…

Tweet from unique points of view (e.g. a dog observing human behavior );
Create a parody account of real or fictional people (e.g. an English poet from the Middle Ages );
Challenge yourself to write tiny flash fiction stories that fit into Twitter threads.

Just remember, you’re not doing this to fool anyone into thinking that your account is real: be a good citizen and mark yourself a fiction account in your bio.

How to Start Creative Writing | Screenshot of a tweet by the Twitter account

But if you’re not really a social media kinda person, you may enjoy our next tip, which is a bit more on the analog side.

GET ACCOUNTABILITY

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4. Find an old photo and tell its story

Illustration of a photo-inspired journaling exercise

Find a random old photo — maybe on the web, maybe from a photo album in a yard sale — and see what catches your attention. Look closely at it and try to imagine the story behind it. What was happening? Who are the people in it and how are they really feeling? Do they share a relationship, and of what kind? What are their goals and dreams?

In other words, bring the photo to life with your imagination. Don't be afraid to take artistic license with your story, as the goal is to be creative and have fun while writing.

How do you know it’s creative writing?

Creative Writing | info card listing 5 headers below

5. Create a character from a random name

Illustration of a young poet and a warrior back to back

Just as our universe started from a few simple elements, you can create a character from a few basic information, like their name, culture, and gender. Reedsy’s handy character name generator can help you with that, offering random names based on archetypes, Medieval roots, fantasy traits and more. A few examples? A Celtic heroine named Fíona O'Keefe, a hero’s sidekick named Aderine, or a Korean track star named Park Kang-Dae.

Once you've chosen their name, begin to develop their personality. Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and write anything that comes to mind about them. It could be a page from their FBI dossier, a childhood diary entry, or simply a scene about them boiling an egg.

Just ‘go with the flow’ and don’t stop writing until your time is up. Repeat the process a few times to further hone the personality. If you like what you end up with, you can always go deeper later by creating a character bible .

If a stream-of-consciousness exercise is not your thing, you can try to imagine your character in a specific situation and write down how’d they respond to it. For example, what if they were betrayed by a friend? Or if they were elected in power? To help you imagine situations to put your character in, we made a free template that you can download below.

FREE RESOURCE

Reedsy’s Character Questionnaire

40 questions to help you develop memorable characters.

6. Construct a character by people-watching

A writer observing a person and taking notes

People watching is “the action of spending time idly observing people in a public place.” In a non-creepy way, ideally. Sit on a bench on a public square or on a road-side table at your favorite café, and start observing the people around you. Pay attention to any interesting quirks or behaviors, and write it down. Then put on your detective’s hat and try to figure out what that tells you about them.

For example, the man at the table next to you at the restaurant is reading the newspaper. His jacket and hat are neatly arranged next to him. The pages make a whipping sound as he briskly turns them, and he grimaces every time he reads a new article. Try to imagine what he’s reading, and why he’s reacting the way he is. Then, try to build a character with the information you have. It’s a fun creative exercise that will also, hopefully, help you better empathize with strangers.

7. “Map” something you feel strongly about into a new context

Placing your feelings into new contexts can be a powerful creative writing exercise. The idea is to start from something you feel strongly about, and frame it into a completely different context.

For example, suppose your heart is torn apart after you divorce your life-long partner: instead of journaling or crafting an entire novel about it, you could tell a story about a legendary trapeze duo whose partnership has come to an end. If you’re struggling with politicking and petty power dynamics at the office: what if you “mapped” your feelings onto an ant who resents being part of a colony? Directing your frustration at a queen ant can be a fun and cathartic writing experience (that won’t get you in trouble if your co-workers end up reading your story).

8. Capture the moment with a haiku

Illustration of a haiku poet inspired by the four seasons

Haikus are poems from the Japanese tradition that aim to capture, in a few words, daily moments of insight (usually inspired by nature). In a nutshell, it’s about becoming mindful of your surroundings, and notice if you can see something in a new or deeper way 一 then use contrasting imagery to express whatever you noticed.

Here’s an example:

Bright orange bicycle

Speeding through the autumn leaves

A burst of color waves

It may sound a bit complicated, but it shouldn’t be 一 at least not for the purpose of this exercise. Learn the basics of haiku-writing , then challenge yourself to write one per day for a week or month. At the end, you’ll be able to look back at your collection of poems and 一 in the worst case scenario 一 revisit small but significant moments that you would have otherwise forgot about.

Creative writing can be any writing you put your heart and soul into. It could be made for the purpose of expressing your feelings, exploring an idea, or simply entertaining your readers. As you can see there’s many paths to get involved with it, and hundreds of exercises you can use as a starting point. In the next post, we’ll look more in detail at some creative writing examples from some fellow authors.

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how to start a creative writing story examples

How To Begin Your Story (With Examples!)

Unsure how to begin your story from in media res to character-focused openings, get inspired with creative examples here.

Sometimes, starting a story can be the hardest part.

Right now, I’m struggling with starting a new project. I have a few ideas kicking around in my head, but getting the right tone is difficult.

For example: there’s a fairy tale I want to write, but writing in the traditional fairy tale style isn’t working for it at all. It’s too removed. I think I’ll have to go with first-person POV or write it in present tense or something. Not sure yet. I’ve tried to write the beginning scene a few different ways, and haven’t hit the right one.

So while I ponder that, let’s go over a few of the options you have when starting your story.

Begin at the Beginning

You can think of this as the classic “Once upon a time” beginning, although nobody uses that phrase anymore unless they’re being ironic.

Witch Child by Celia Rees begins at the beginning, with its understated but powerful opening: “I am Mary. I am a witch.”

Readers will journey with Mary across the ocean and deep into Massachusetts’ woods, but it all begins with learning what Mary is: a witch. (Or is she? Read it to find out; it’s good!)

Begin Mid-action

Also known by its Latin phrase, in medias res . Beginning your story in media res is a great way to skip early exposition by showing what’s happening, rather than telling.

Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarity starts this way, introducing the reader to what will be the story’s climax, then rewinding several months to its beginning.

Begin with a Frame

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein also begins in media res , and is told as a “ frame story ,” or a story within a story. Frankenstein starts with a series of letters from one R. Walton to his sister.

R. Walton is exploring the North Pole when he comes across Victor Frankenstein, who then recounts his story to Walton — and so begins the real tale.

Begin with the Setting

If your setting is a character within your story — such as in Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House — then it makes sense to begin your story by introducing the reader to that character.

But your story doesn’t have to be gothic horror to begin with a focus on setting. My personal favorite book opening is found in JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit , which introduces you to the titular hobbit through the coziness of his home:

I WANT TO VISIT SO BADLY.

Begin by Addressing the Reader

Tolkien’s good friend, C.S. Lewis, was fond of addressing the reader in his Chronicles of Narnia series. As a reader, I was fond of being addressed. The Magician’s Nephew begins like so:

I love it. Doesn’t this just make the story come alive for you? My mouth is watering at the thought of those cheap, good sweets.

Begin with a Bold Statement

Do I even need to tell you what book this is from?

How about this one?

Write a sufficiently impactful statement, and go from there. This is also a useful tool for brainstorming story ideas!

There are other ways to begin your story — you can begin with a confession, or begin with a lie, for instance.

If you feel stuck on where and how to begin, try a few of these out. Or don’t stress about it and come back to it later; your beginning can always (and probably will) be rewritten.

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Ready for more?

How to Start a Story: 11+ Simple & Proven Strategies for Authors

Key Takeaways:

The steps for starting a story are to:

Write Unforgettable Characters: Develop and write relatable, memorable protagonists.
Have Great Hooks and/or Openings: Begin with an intriguing question or statement.
Include Tension & Conflict: Introduce suspense and drama early.
Start With Action and Dialogue: Start with dynamic events or conversations.
Include the Setting & Atmosphere: Describe the time, place, and mood concisely.

When writing a story, getting started is always the most challenging part. How do you find ideas? How do you know if those ideas are any good?

And how do you start writing your novel , short story , or screenplay once you’ve found a good idea?

Writing a story is like taking a journey, and the first sentence is the first step. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when starting a story, but with the right strategies, you can get your story off the ground.

This article will explore simple and proven strategies for how to start a story. Whether you are writing a novel or screenplay or simply want to tell a better bedtime story to your kids, these tips will help you get started right!

How Can You Start a Story?

The first page is crucial, as the opening lines are your introduction to your audience – both in terms of your main character and your setting, but also in terms of your style as a writer and a strong narrative voice.

The first few lines are your story hooks and will largely determine your reader’s interest going forward.

So, let’s look at some tips and ideas for writers struggling to start their short story or novel.

1. Create Unforgettable Characters

One of the best ways to ensure your entire story stands out is to create unforgettable characters that audiences can relate to and root for.

To make this happen, focus on giving your characters compelling and unique traits, both physical and personality-based.

You can give them facets borrowed from people in real life or build them up with interesting quirks and abilities that set them apart from others. Either way, reflect on what makes them different than other people.

Think about your main characters’ goals, ambitions, and motivations to create character development and an internal arc for each one.

Show us a little of what drives or holds them back and how they’re not living up to their potential the first time we meet them.

Without truly fleshed-out characters, no matter how gripping your whole plot is, your reader won’t be as invested in it.

With engaging characters with definitive personalities, you’ll have a solid foundation for starting an unforgettable piece of writing.

2. Choose Your Point of View

One of the most critical elements to consider when beginning a story is the point of view (or POV) that will be used.

The point of view represents the perspective from which the story is presented to the reader, which can significantly influence the reader’s interpretation and understanding of the events and characters within the story.

Choosing a first-person point of view, for example, can give the reader a more intimate connection with the protagonist and their innermost thoughts and feelings.

At the same time, third-person narration can help provide a broader, more detached view of the story.

Depending on the direction that an author wants to take their story, the choice of point of view can make a significant impact on how the story is perceived and can be an essential factor in setting the tone for the story’s beginning.

By considering the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of points of view, an author can make an informed decision about the most effective way to create a strong narrative voice and start telling their story.

3. Use Hooks and Openings

When creating an enticing story, one of the most important aspects to consider is the story hooks and openings you use.

A hook piques the reader’s interest, introducing them to the world of your story and enticing them to keep reading. It can be anything from an intriguing question, a shocking statement, or an original opening line.

A good hook should give a glimpse of your story and why the reader should stay engaged with it.

Whether it’s the first paragraph or the first line, a good opening should provide enough information on what to expect in future chapters while maintaining intrigue and immediately establishing your writing voice.

A great way to start your story off on the right foot is to use characters that readers can quickly identify with as they embark on their journey. Additionally, vivid imagery in your first few lines can help situate readers within the scene and invite them into the story.

If done correctly, these hooks and openings will give most readers a strong foundation for enjoying your story for many chapters (and books!) to come.

4. Write a Prologue

If you want to create a truly memorable story, you may want to consider adding a prologue to your writing.

A prologue is a brief introduction or preface to your story that comes before the actual narrative.

Though this technique has become frowned upon in recent years, a well-crafted prologue can help set the scene and provide the reader with a glimpse into the world of the story.

This introduction can help better establish the setting, characters, and plot, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the story’s tone and themes while building up anticipation for the upcoming narrative.

For example, a prologue may introduce a pivotal event or establish the setting by providing background information. It can also be an effective way to foreshadow future events or incite a sense of unease or excitement.

Whatever the purpose, a prologue is an excellent tool to grab the reader’s attention, set the tone, and prepare them for the story ahead.

Whether you decide to include it or not in the final product is up to you – but the exercise alone can still provide valuable insight into how to start a story.

5. Introduce Tension & Conflict

Introducing tension and conflict early on in a narrative is an effective way to draw the reader into the story.

These elements create intrigue, suspense, and drama that make the story more compelling for audiences.

Writers can establish tension and conflict by setting up opposing forces between the protagonist and other characters or raising issues without clear solutions.

Introducing these elements right at the start of a story can build anticipation and motivate audiences to continue reading to find out how the central conflict and tension are resolved.

6. Use Action and Dialogue

how to start a story: use action and dialogue

Starting your story with a bang can set the tone and excitement for your first page. Utilizing action and dialogue are outstanding elements to consider when getting started with your story writing.

Action captures the reader’s attention immediately, painting a vivid picture of what is occurring as your characters move through time and space.

Dialogue can give an intimate peek at various characters’ personalities without having to write long, detailed descriptions. Capturing character interactions or conversations between characters will draw audiences further into the story and keep them engaged.

Introducing characters by how they react and respond to their surroundings can be a powerful way to create suspense or hook readers.

For example, if characters are caught in a dangerous situation, you could start a story by having them struggle or make quick decisions that will ultimately change the course of their experiences.

Starting your opening lines with action and dialogue will make your opening scene compelling and make your reader immediately want to keep going!

7. Setting & Atmosphere

how to start a story: establish the setting

One of the most important things to consider when determining how to start a story is when and where it will take place.

Whether it’s a bright, cold day over a frozen tundra or a dark and stormy night outside a window by a smoldering fire, building an accurate setting with an intense atmosphere can help hook your audience in from the outset and make them feel part of the journey.

You can evoke the feeling of the setting through description or have your characters interact with it directly – either way, it helps draw them in.

To craft a genuinely captivating start to your story from the opening sentence, strive to create a vivid world that sucks the reader in through its uniqueness.

Every detail you add about the setting should contribute to telling the story, even if only subtly.

What does this environment look like?
What does it smell like?
What does it feel like?
What time period is it?
What is the weather like?
How do the answers to the questions above add texture to your character’s experience?
How does this place and time shape their day-to-day lives?

The setting is so much more than geography – how you establish the sensory details of your story’s world will shape the impressions of your audience and provide context for them to get lost in the world you have created.

8. Start in the Middle

how to start a story: start in media res

Starting in the middle of a story might sound intimidating, but it can actually be one of the best ways to grasp your reader’s attention from the first sentence.

With ‘in medias res’ (Latin for ‘in the middle’), instead of introducing characters in their everyday lives, you plunge audiences into a devastating conflict or another exciting scenario which immediately gives your story momentum.

This disrupts the conventional story structure that might otherwise be formulaic and makes for a more riveting read as tension is cranked up from page one.

Think about having readers thrown into an action sequence or dramatic moment – doing this well will keep them hooked until you give them the what and why of everything happening around them.

Often, starting in the middle also gives writers more creative freedom because they aren’t limited by needing to cover all of the plot points that typically come in the opening lines of a story.

The process of discovery serves as just another exciting component to draw a reader even deeper into the plot.

9. Provide a Backstory

Start a Story Steps: character backstory

Knowing what inspired your characters, formed them, and created their past is an essential element for any story. An engaging backstory for each character can make your narrative stand out.

To create compelling backstories, consider the details that led up to the major events in each person’s life. Think about where they come from and what has shaped them over time.

You can provide this information in different ways – through conversations or narration, for example – so that readers feel as though they know your characters inside out.

Establishing a timeline of significant events in each character’s past gives you a solid foundation to build upon as their role in the story develops.

A good backstory will allow you to give a taste of personality, social standing, education, and life experience through their words and actions in the opening scene.

With meaningful backstories driving your characters’ motivations and decisions, no matter if they are heroes or villains, audiences will be captivated by their story arcs.

READ MORE: For more inspiration, check out these character backstory ideas , organized by type of backstory!

10. Ask Questions

Hooking audiences into your story by asking questions and making predictions can be a great way to start a story.

This engages the reader’s imagination and encourages them to come up with their own conclusions or explanations.

You could also use this tactic to bring mystery or suspense into your story as readers try to guess the answers to the questions they have been posed.

Asking questions and making predictions is an effective tool for rousing a reader’s interest right from the beginning of your narrative and inspiring them to reach their ultimate resolution.

11. Paint a Picture with Description

Crafting an engaging story is a challenge, but painting a picture with a description can help to create the perfect opening.

Starting your narrative off with vivid imagery can capture a reader’s attention and will set the stage for the plot to unfold as you move through your story.

Think of it like taking a photograph – choose one moment in time in the world that you have created, focus on the details, and invite the reader in with vivid descriptions of what they are seeing.

Experimenting with adjectives, metaphors, and similes can not only help you find new ways to paint a picture but also give a distinctive voice and tone to the story from its very first page.

Ensure that your first few pages contain enough visual details of the story’s setting so that when readers pick up your book later on down the road, they’ll still be reminded of that initial breath-taking moment as if it were real.

12: Introduce Foreshadowing

When writing story beginnings, introducing symbolism and foreshadowing can help to generate interest and establish the tone. Symbolism is a great tool to give your readers subtle hints about certain aspects of the story that may be important later on.

For instance, if your protagonists enter a mysterious forest and encounter a black cat, this symbolizes something sinister they will need to face.

Foreshadowing involves weaving in clues that hint at what’s to come but create uncertainty and suspense.

For example, if one of your characters loses their watch as they set out, this could mean a difficult time ahead in terms of keeping track of time or their progress throughout the story.

Including symbolism and foreshadowing helps to create an immersive world for readers by creating an atmosphere full of questions and anticipation.

Examples from English Literature

Harry potter.

Close-Up Shot of a Spell Book and a Wand

If you’re looking to create a good story and get your readers absorbed right away, why not start it off with a simple scene set in an ordinary location?

That’s exactly what J.K. Rowling did when she began her renowned Harry Potter series by introducing readers to the Dursleys rather than Harry’s adventures at Hogwarts.

Not only does it act as our first glimpse into the magical world, but it also serves as an excellent contrast between the mundane world inhabited by Harry and his exciting destiny in store.

Plus, it sets up a whole series of themes about which we immediately want to know more – like the rejection Harry feels from his relatives from the outset and his desire for freedom from his captivity under the stairs!

The Godfather

The renowned novel by Mario Puzo begins not with the titular character but a collection of side characters somehow being wronged, and then attending Don Vito Corleone’s daughter’s wedding to gain an audience as he is the only man who can solve their problems.

This is an effective introduction, as it reveals how the world views Don Corleone and the mystique that surrounds him – so by the time the reader gets to the part with the man himself, there is a feeling of anticipation and a question of whether he’ll live up to his legend.

And as anyone who’s ever read The Godfather or watched the movie, Vito exceeds all expectations!

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your story will be engaging from the opening sentence.

Of course, there is no guarantee that your story will be a masterpiece from the first paragraph – but by using hooks and openings, action and dialogue, and establishing setting and atmosphere, you will be well on your way to writing a great opening scene.

With practice, you’ll be able to start all of your stories in a way that captivates your audience and keeps them coming back for more!

Interested in great storytelling ? Check out these other articles!

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Filmmaker, Author, Actor and Story Consultant

Neil Chase is an award-winning, produced screenwriter, independent filmmaker, professional actor, and author of the horror-western novel Iron Dogs. His latest feature film is an apocalyptic thriller called Spin The Wheel.

Neil has been featured on Celtx, No Film School, Script Revolution, Raindance, The Write Practice, Lifewire, and MSN.com, and his work has won awards from Script Summit, ScreamFest, FilmQuest and Cinequest (among others).

Neil believes that all writers have the potential to create great work. His passion is helping writers find their voice and develop their skills so that they can create stories that are entertaining and meaningful. If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level, he's here to help!

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70 Opening Paragraph Examples to Kickstart Your Story

Starting a fiction story is no small task. It's often said that the beginning is the most important part of any tale. Yet crafting that perfect opening paragraph or sentence can sometimes feel elusive, even to the most seasoned writers. It's a delicate balance, introducing a new world and its inhabitants in a way that is both engaging for readers and true to the narrative that follows.

To assist with this, we have created 70 opening paragraph examples. Here, you'll find starting paragraphs for fiction genres including fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, thriller and suspense, and western. Each example offers a potential pathway into a narrative, providing a foundation that you can build upon to craft your own unique tale.

Please note that this material is copyrighted by ServiceScape and is designed to be used for writing inspiration. We encourage you to use our ideas as fertile ground to grow your own unique stories. Should you find one of our example opening paragraphs to be the perfect launchpad for your next tale, there's no need to credit us — although we'd certainly appreciate it. A simple link to ServiceScape is enough.

One caveat: Please do not publish our example opening paragraphs as-is, in their entirety without attribution. This is not the intended use.

As you explore the various ways to start a story, we hope you find the inspiration you're seeking. Happy writing!

The sky tore open with a roar, signaling the arrival of beings of light in the medieval world of Elarion. These warriors, with their electrifying presence, brought with them the promise of change, merging realms and forging unexpected alliances in a world that had known only traditional bounds until now.
Thalia stood amidst figures draped in twilight hues, ready for the celestial conference — a gathering rooted in ancient magic, where dreams and fears intermingled. She was a young delegate with old eyes, prepared to share and receive wisdom in dialects forgotten by time. It was a meeting of minds, of secrets whispered in the canvas of the night, inviting the brave to witness and listen.
"Curiosity, they often told me, is a dangerous thing, Cray," the wind seemed to whisper as young Cray ventured deeper into the realms of his dreams, far beyond the reality known to the villagers. Guided by whispers and the glow of moon-soaked stones, he found himself approaching the ancient door that stood at the world's end — the gateway to mysteries untold.
Lord Draven sat alone in his study, poring over ancient texts. The castle that housed generations stood tall, but as he thought about his impulsive heir, Callum, the walls seemed to close in on him. The long lineage of wisdom seemed threatened, and as twilight descended, Draven wondered if his legacy would find a respectful steward in the young man or face ruin.
Young Onar lay in bed, lost in dreams fueled by the elders' tales of golden trees and wandering islands in an endless sea. His deep blue eyes saw more in the dream realm than in the waking world — mermaids singing in distant waters, seashells whispering secrets. He awoke with a determination to unravel the mysteries that danced on the edges of his dreams.
With a heavy heart, Ser Delan meandered through the courtyard littered with memories of a happier time. It had only been hours since the dreadful news reached him — the northern lands had fallen. Anger, sorrow, and a whisper of hope fought within him as he grappled with the shocking turn of events, trying to formulate a pledge of vengeance amidst the ruins of his homeland.
In the heart of the untouched forest, the Stoneborn were awakening — elemental beings birthed from the earth itself. Somewhere nearby, a deer raised its head, sensing the shift in the world's equilibrium. It was a quiet yet profound change, a rebirth dictated by an ancient pact forged to preserve the balance between man and nature.
Beatrice walked with determination, her senses alive to the magical pulses of the city that breathed around her. Lanterns glowing softly guided her through streets rich with secrets and untold stories, whispering to her of alliances to be forged in the heart of the night. It was a path laden with promises, each step bringing her closer to the unseen spirits eager to connect.
In the silent streets of the sleeping town, a celestial creature roamed — a rare sight, with feathers that bore the depth of night skies and eyes that held galaxies. To a watching cat, this being was an enigma, a creature of starlight and cosmic dreams, and to those who would witness its path, a promise of stories spun from the grand tapestries of the cosmos.
Meriel felt a hand on her shoulder, breaking her trance. She found herself amidst the villagers under the glow of twin moons, watching figures in maroon cloaks emerge from the forest. An initiation — the Breaking — was underway, and the deep voice that spoke next hinted that her life was about to take a turn: "Fate, untethered, seeks the brave."
Sam Berringer hurried down Harrowville's main street, an unsettling energy urging him forward. The children, the elderly — everyone felt it, a prelude to catastrophe. As the sun arched toward the west, he couldn't shake off the fear gnawing at him, a fear of the irreversible change that would come with the sunset.
Alma stood frozen in front of her peculiar house — the one that leaned to one side just a little too much. It had whispered secrets to her in the still of the night for as long as she could remember. But today, as she approached it, it seemed almost like it was trying to scream something terrible, something dark.
Young Thomas Kale found himself tracing back to the early moments of his morning, before the sky had clouded over with a foreboding atmosphere that seeped into Lakeshire's streets. His mind raced through recent memories, trying to pinpoint when exactly the world had tilted from comforting familiarity into chaotic, swirling danger.
Lestra moved briskly through the rooms, the heavy history of New Orleans surrounding her in whispers of past and present mingling uncomfortably. The old home was more alive today, more demanding. She paused, realizing the house wasn't just a repository of long-buried family secrets; it had become a character in the unfolding drama, urging her to unearth truths tied to the land's very soil.
Ashton Creed stared at the grotesque shapes taking over his once beautiful garden. The weird, twisted faces emerging from the petals were unlike anything he had ever seen. With a sudden chill, he realized this wasn't just an anomaly; it was a horrifying invitation to a reality he had never anticipated, where the natural order of things was breaking down.
Eleanora wandered the forbidden areas of Eldridge, a place cloaked in tales and whispered fears. As she ventured deeper, the unspoken rules that kept others at bay seemed insignificant, a foolish barrier between her and the truth. The quiet bravery blossoming within her spurred her on, ready to pull back the curtain and expose whatever darkness lurked there, waiting.
Gregory found himself in a world where rain carried the smell of decay, a stark departure from the town he knew just yesterday. The change was grotesque, impossible, and yet it was happening right before his eyes. A sense of duty overcame him, a resolve to trace this terror to its source, though every step forward felt like a step into the unknown.
The world blurred at the edges as Martha Cray found herself unable to discern reality from illusion. Every step forward felt like a journey into the unknown, questions multiplying with each heartbeat. Yet deep within her, a fire burned, a desire to untangle the knot of confusion and fear that wound tighter with every passing moment.
Ember Hollow was engulfed in an all-consuming obsession that masked itself as love. As the residents succumbed to overpowering desires, it was as if a dark spell had been cast over the town. The air crackled with passion and danger, a looming darkness turned love grotesque, threatening to transform affection into a force voracious and uncontrollable.
Reverend David Amery stood silent in the chapel, holding a child that seemed to be both a beacon of hope and a harbinger of doom. He felt a chilling premonition, an unraveling future where heavenly battles between good and evil threatened to spill into their world, centered around this innocent being cradled in his arms. The burden of what to do next weighed heavily on him, every choice carrying a shadow of peril.
The gunshot echoed, a stark interruption in the early morning quiet. Inspector Devereux turned sharply, heart pounding in his chest, knowing that a life might have just been irrevocably altered. In the square, faces emerged from windows, all drawn to the sudden burst of violence that intruded upon their morning routines.
Inspector Ainsley stood rooted to the spot, the whispers of a secret echoing in the halls of the great London institution that had stood for centuries. A whispered rumor about a lost artifact that was believed to be a mere myth. The inspector's mind raced, filled with questions — who had taken it, why now, and what dark secrets would it unveil?
Dublin seemed like a different city in Kilroy's childhood memories. As a child, the streets had been wider, the sky bluer, and dreams bigger. Now as Detective Kilroy stood there, a surreal feeling engulfed her, as if she was meeting an old friend after many years. The city whispered old secrets in her ears, luring her into a maze of past and present.
Oxford was a place of academic rigour and tradition, unchanged in many ways since its foundation. Yet, for Professor Thurgood, the landscape had altered subtly overnight. The walls seemed to speak of something sinister, a dark underbelly that was gradually coming to the surface, promising to change the university and its inhabitants forever.
Los Angeles lay sprawled under a sun that seared unkindly, a city of extremes where dreams either blossomed wildly or withered mercilessly. Detective Hale breathed in the acrid air, feeling it resonate with the city's pulse of desperation and unspoken desires. It was a place of contrasts, and something in the atmosphere that day spoke of changes on the horizon, of simmering tensions reaching a boiling point.
"You know, I used to be someone else," Vanessa murmured to herself as she navigated through a world of wealth and detached smiles. Her voice carried a weight of sadness, a longing for simpler times before deceit and hidden agendas became her daily currency. As she uttered those words, it was as if she was preparing herself, steeling herself for the path that lay before her, a path paved with secrets, betrayals, and perhaps, a chance for redemption.
The siren wailed urgently, breaking the deep silence of the night as Detective Rawlins sped through the city streets, the grim reflection of neon lights flashing across his stern face. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, a frantic drum heralding a plunge into the chaotic underbelly of a city burdened with secrets and sins that were about to spill into the harsh light of day.
A scream reverberated through the cold streets of Boston, where history met modernity at every corner. Detective O'Sullivan raced toward the source, his mind filled with dreadful possibilities. The city seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the revelation of a mystery that promised to expose the sins of the present intertwined deeply with echoes of the past.
Jack Tracer could still hear the optimistic words of his younger self as he looked out over the roads stretching into the horizon, a beacon of endless possibilities. But the roads were different now, marked with signs of conflict and betrayal. Tracer knew that the vibrant pulse of America he had once felt had transformed into something more sinister, pulling him into a vortex of dark secrets that lay hidden in the depths of human souls.
In Mississippi, a courtroom buzzed with tense energy, a microcosm of a world teetering between justice and corruption. Elias Harper stood there, a young lawyer on the cusp of unraveling a tangled web woven from power and greed, grounded by a steadfast belief in justice. As he looked around, he knew that the path that awaited him was fraught with moral dilemmas and truths that could shake the foundations of the society he was a part of.
Maeve Delaney sprinted between the rows of grapevines, her heart pounding in time with her swift footsteps. The phone call had come at the worst possible moment, a harbinger of change right as she had begun to find peace amidst the ancestral vines.
It was amidst the laughter and swirling aromas of the bustling room that Jamison's gaze locked with that of a stranger—a stranger who somehow seemed familiar. Every fiber of his being urged him to find out who she was, to unearth the secret stories that lived within her alluring gaze.
Lady Daphne found herself lost in the echoing halls of grandeur, a relic from a past age thrust into the modern whirlwind of the London season. As she maneuvered gracefully through the lively corridors, whispers of her hidden, youthful liaisons with a past love reverberated in her heart, a secret key to understanding her present self.
The morning embraced Loretta with a kiss of warm sun as she stepped out into the post-reconstruction Georgia. She bore in her veins the dreams and aspirations of generations, and today was a testament to the unfettered spirit of resilience and change that echoed through the mighty oaks dotting the landscape.
Elara wandered the quaint streets of the seaside town, a place where the cobblestone paths narrated stories of countless lives intertwined in a rich tapestry of human experiences. Each step she took was guided by an unwavering empathy, an open heart ready to receive the myriad currents of romance that flowed through the town's veins.
"I've always felt somewhat apart from all this," Miss Elspeth Harrington mused aloud, her sharp eyes dissecting the kaleidoscope of romantic entanglements that painted her village in vibrant hues of emotion. Despite her rationality, a quiet hope whispered within her, suggesting the possibility of a connection that was truly her own.
John found himself on the North Carolina shore with no memory of how he arrived. The waves gently lapped at his feet, as if trying to soothe the raw, unyielding pain that enveloped him, reminding him of the love lost and the void it left behind—a gaping wound that yearned for healing and redemption.
"Why am I here?" Olive asked herself as she ventured into the realm of love, a landscape fraught with uncertainty and juxtaposed realities. Her cynicism danced with hopeful romanticism, promising adventures that defied the logic she held so dear, yet irresistibly pulling her into a whirlpool of the extraordinary and the mundane.
As Miss Amelia Cavendish sat in the meticulously arranged parlor of the Fairbrook estate, memories of secret meetings in the dawn's early light flooded back, shaking the foundations of her meticulously built world. Hidden desires, once locked away, surged forward, compelling her to question the stringent rules of society that confined her.
In a bustling café bathed in golden afternoon hues, Elara found herself at a pivotal crossroads in her life—a divergence between the predictable and the unknown. Each patron carried stories untold, lives unfolding in synchronous harmony, setting the stage for encounters both ephemeral and potentially life-altering as she navigated the modern world of digitalized romances and fleeting connections.

Science fiction

"What did it say?" Elira rushed towards the eldest, her heart beating in harmony with the grand hall's pulsating rhythm. Each person here was a walking library, with minds rich in lifetime-cultivated knowledge, and it was in this cacophony of wisdom and curiosity that young apprentice Elira was about to dive deeper than ever before.
Dr. Kael's breath caught as he lifted the prism, galaxies swirling within it, whispering the secrets of the universe. In the solitude of the Intergalactic Archive, surrounded by ancient relics of knowledge, Kael faced a mystery that beckoned him into a complex dance with the celestial unknown.
Xan couldn't shake the vision from last night, the luminescent plants weaving tales of distant worlds through their ethereal glow. In the comet's subterranean tunnels, where Xan tended to his garden, he was beginning to unlock the secret language of the cosmos, and today, the plants seemed to be urging him on a journey unlike any before.
Aria Sandoval felt the pulse of a thousand worlds bearing down on her as she orchestrated the symphony of diplomacy that held the United Interstellar Communities together. With every gesture and word chosen with meticulous care, she was a conductor for peace, wielding strategy and empathy in equal measures.
The lost era summoned him, acting as a beacon from a time when harmony and light graced the world. As Professor Mallick gazed through his newly invented tool, glimpses of the distant past unveiled themselves, pulling him into an obsession with understanding the beauty that once was.
Taelia felt the ancient song resonate in her bones, a harmony forged from the whispers of the trees and the gentle murmurs of the river. As she ventured deeper into the forest towards the old world-tree Yorlin, the young seeker grasped at the tendrils of knowledge flowing through the interconnected dance of life unfolding before her.
Dr. Lin stood at the threshold of the physical and the abstract, lost in the fluid dance of geometric patterns and swirling equations. This was the underlying narrative of the universe, a mathematical tapestry waiting to unravel its greatest secrets under Lin's eager gaze.
"This isn't real," Detective Calder muttered, stepping through the shattered boundaries between the real and the surreal. In a world fractured into countless realities, each case became a mind-bending journey into human consciousness, a labyrinth where dreams held more weight than reality.
The city whispered stories to Ansel as he wandered its living streets, where buildings breathed and paths pulsed with life. Every element shared secrets, weaving tales of wonder from sunlight and leaf whispers, kindling the young boy's sense of fascination and urging him to look deeper, to see the magic in the everyday.
"Ready?" The virtual landscape stretched infinitely before Alias, a realm forged from codes and streams of data. With each digital spell cast, she unraveled the virtual world's closely guarded secrets, a hacker embarking on quests filled with hidden knowledge, and mysteries waiting to be unearthed.

Thriller and suspense

Mitch Rapp's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped into the desolate place that barely clung to hope. Every step was both a discovery and a threat, guided only by skills forged in unseen battlefields. The small town stretched before him, its troubles hiding behind forlorn structures. Mitch was ready to unearth every one of them.
Lily paused, the too-bright day casting deep shadows that clashed with the smiles of the overly joyous people around her. The uneasy feeling grew with each step, fueled by a deep-seated intuition that recognized the deceit permeating the air, masked by pristine houses and manicured lawns. The apparent perfection held a secret, and she was determined to unravel it.
The only sound disturbing the silent, fog-swathed morning was Thomas Elster's footsteps. As he ventured deeper into the obscured streets, memories from past mornings crowded in, each one revealing a hidden cruelty, a secret kept in daylight's shadow. Each step forward was a step back in time, preparing him to reveal yet another tale hidden in the cracks of daily life.
Below the rush of Cyan's breath and pounding heart lay a city struggling under the weight of corruption. Each leap across the rooftops became a statement, a rebellion against the darkness festering below. Every painful inhalation was a testament to her determination to cleanse the place, regardless of the personal cost.
Eli Doyle was a shadow in a crowd of substance, moving with a purpose only he understood, with every heartbeat echoing concealed danger and impending action. The vibrant city beat rhythmically around him, unaware of the perilous dance about to unfold as Eli maneuvered closer to the epicenter of chaos.
"You wouldn't believe the stories these trees could tell," David Hunter whispered to himself, moving deliberately through the whispering forest. Each step forward was accompanied by the soft chorus of leaves sharing tales of a nation in distress, a world on the verge of chaos. David was a solitary figure in a living, breathing repository of secrets, ready to stand against the shadows threatening to engulf everything.
In the heart of the operations room, Admiral Sarah Jennings surveyed the geopolitical landscape displayed on digital maps. The world resembled a chessboard of shifting alliances and burgeoning rivalries. Sarah stood firm, a beacon of resolve, prepared to steer her nation through the tumultuous waters that lay ahead.
In a room heavy with the weight of history, Professor Adrian Kane felt a pull towards the ancient texts that promised hidden truths. The boundary between science and mysticism blurred as he delved deeper, ready to uncover knowledge that might alter the very fabric of human understanding.
Darkness fell, casting the city into a world of shadow and mystery where Jaden found himself an unwilling hero. A silent battle raged in the hidden corners of the night, a conflict of good against evil that beckoned him, drawing him deeper into its ancient, cosmic pulse.
The message pierced the tranquility of Alex's Sunday morning with cold, sharp words slicing through the screen and shattering the illusion that held his life together. Suddenly, he found himself on the brink, facing shadows from his past that threatened to engulf the life he had so carefully built, revealing dark secrets eager to flood into the light.
As Jedediah trod upon the undisturbed soil, the grandeur of the landscape lay before him, a tapestry woven from golden grasses and deep crimson canyons. Yet, a deeper purpose fueled his steps: a secret nestled in the heart of the untamed land, ancient and waiting to be unraveled.
In the heart of the Texas plains, whispers of change caught on the wind traveled from person to person, stitching a thread of fragile hope across weary hearts. As evening descended, stretching shadows across the land, it became a visual echo of the hopes and dreams nestled in the souls of the toiling populace, each one harboring a tender wish nourished by the day's end.
Amid the wild frontier, a group of unlikely companions formed — a lawman hardened by time, a naïve young cowhand, a native steeped in wisdom, and a madam with eyes that bore untold stories. Though their paths were distinct, they began to entwine, pulled together by the strings of a fate yet unrevealed.
Under an unyielding sky, a determined band pushed forth, each step echoing with hopes and dreams yet unfulfilled. Driven by a shared vision of what lay beyond the horizon, the beating of hooves against the earth marked their united rhythm, a heartbeat of collective ambition and raw, unyielding determination.
From above, a lone vulture surveyed the ever-changing narratives below, a dance of tiny figures drawn on the vast canvas of the earth. A sense of mounting tension permeated the air, hinting at unfolding dramas, with lives on the verge of collision in the ruthless theater of survival.
As darkness embraced the world, a group of weary souls gathered around a flickering campfire, the moon casting a silent witness to their shared solitude. Among them, a figure stood poised, embodying a resolve forged from the day's labor, eyes fixed on the dark expanse, ready to guide them through the uncertainties that awaited with the dawn.
In a land that demanded sacrifice, dreams forged from resilience blossomed stubbornly. Individuals from different walks of life united, driven by a shared longing for warmth and community, building bonds stronger than the harsh conditions of the frontier, their collective will inscribing a narrative of hope upon the unforgiving canvas.
The wild lands bore silent testimony to the lives that ventured through its expanses, a vibrant backdrop awaiting new stories to grace its surface. It held both potential and peril, a vast stage ready to play host to tales of courage, loss, and unexpected bonds forged in adversity.
Pastor Grey stood contemplating the essence of the frontier, a realm that sculpted both brutality and kindness from those who dared to call it home. Guided by deep-seated conviction, he embraced his mission to foster a community that thrived in harmony with the untamed spirit breathing life into the west.
Ember Creek vibrated with the tenuous dance between hope and despair, a pulsating rhythm guiding the lives of its denizens. At its helm, Sheriff Hannah Callahan bore witness to the simmering pot of dreams and secrets, her vigilant presence a grounding force in a place teetering on the precipice of change, nurturing the spark of potential residing in every heart.

Header image by michaklootwijk .

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How To Start a Short Story [8 EXAMPLES & STRATEGIES]

The power of a captivating opener can’t be underestimated when it comes to writing effective short stories. A story beginning should grab attention, intrigue, surprise, shock, or spark an emotional reaction in your reader. This will lead them to finishing the story. If you can’t hook them at the start, you might lose them entirely.

Here are 8 short story opener strategies, a few tips, and some writing prompts to get you started!

8 Strategies For Starting a Short Story

Here are 8 solid strategies for starting a short story. Different methods might suit your story better than another, so choose carefully, and don’t be afraid to experiment!

In Medias Res Opener

In medias res is Latin for “into the middle of things”. In literature, we use this term to refer to stories that start in the middle, rather than having any lead-up before the real plot begins.

“Start late, end early” is a common piece of writing advice for a reason! Especially in short stories, this type of opener can save you lots of page space for more important things, plus get your reader right in the middle of the action from the jump.

How To Hook a Reader: In Medias Res

Of course, not all stories are suited for this method, so keep reading to see if another might work better for your goals.

Dialogue Opener

You might open your short story with a bit of dialogue. This can be an intriguing or fun way to start a story. Be careful with this one: It’s easy to go overboard trying to make the first line interesting, and it might end up coming off a little trite.

Flash Forward Opener

A little snippet of the future might interest your readers and make them want to know what led up to that event. Be careful with this one, too. It’s sometimes tempting to “cheat” with this method by using an exciting flash forward out of context, then the story can’t build up to and “earn” that scene. With any opener strategy, be sure you’re using it strategically and not as a shortcut.

Setting Opener

Many stories start with the setting. If setting is important, representative, or symbolic for your story, you might open with description.

This is a great strategy for genres like horror, where the setting is often pivotal to the plot and/or character development. Look at this devastatingly sexy opener from Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House .

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against the hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.

This is a strong literary example of the Setting opener. Hill House is almost the main character of the story, dragging each human character through their own personal trials and realizations. Opening on a spooky description of the book’s main setting makes perfect sense. Also consider weather, season, and time of day when choosing your opening setting.

Huh ? Opener

You can also open stories with something shocking, confusing, or intriguing in order to pull your reader in immediately. Take this paragraph from the short story St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell:

At first, our pack was all hair and snarl and floor-thumping joy. We forgot the barked cautions of our mothers and fathers, all the promises we’d made to be civilized and ladylike, couth and kempt. We tore through austere rooms, overturning dresser drawers, pawing through the neat piles of the Stage 3 girls’ starched underwear, smashing light bulbs with our bare fists. Things felt less foreign in the dark. The dim bedroom was windowless and odourless. We remedied this by spraying exuberant yellow streams all over the bunks. We jumped from bunk to bunk, spraying. We nosed each other midair, our bodies buckling in kinetic laughter. The nuns watched us from the corner of the bedroom, their tiny faces pinched with displeasure.

This paragraph opens several questions that the reader wants immediately answered. Who are these human/wolf creatures pissing all over this school? Is it a school, or a church, or something else? Why are they learning to be “civilized”? Who are their parents? What the hell is going on?

That’s what you want your opening paragraph to do: Intrigue .

Read the last line of St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves .

The “Once Upon a Time” Opener

This one is exactly what it sounds like–winding up your story like a Proper Story. This is typically best from an omniscient perspective, and it might be considered a “Setting” opener as well. Here’s an example from Mother of Starlight .

A child was raised on stories of crows—dark creatures with black intentions. She’d know them by their raspy shriek, their crusted talons, their darting, evil eyes. She was warned that if she ever saw one, she should kill it. If she couldn’t kill it, she should flee and say a thousand prayers, then a thousand more.

This is a Storytelling Voice with an omniscient narrator. This perspective and tone suit stories like fairytales, children’s stories, and allegories. It is pretty stylistic, so this is something you won’t see very often in adult literature, but it can bring whimsy to your opener.

The Ending Opener

Begin with the end. I mean this differently than the “flash forward” opener, as this can be as simple as a single line, observation, character thought, or description. A tight way to end your short story is to connect it with the beginning –you can set this up in the actual first lines of the story.

Description Opener

The description opener is very versatile. You might describe a location, character, action, or anything else. The Mermaid by Eva Sandoval begins with an intriguing description:

Davey was on the beach checking his Uncle Chet’s crab trap the first time he saw the mermaid. She was pale and thin, with seaweed-colored hair that clung to her body and long fins that stood up out of the water where she hunched by the rocks. Her small white hands pawed in the surf. She was strangling a long silver fish.

This opener gives a beautiful description of something very strange, which pulls the reader into the story immediately.

TWs for The Mermaid: adult language, violence, homophobia, murder, SA

Writing Prompts for Short Stories

Here are some writing prompts for each of those strategies to get you rolling!

En Media Res Writing Prompts

Your character is on the floor of a bank, being held up at gunpoint. Who is the robber?
Your character wakes up blindfolded and tied to a chair, with no memory of how they got here. They feel a pain in their head, smell mold, and hear a consistent drip of water plinking against metal. What now?
A spaceship alarm blares, waking a character from a cryogenic sleep. They are floating around the room because the artificial gravity has failed. The character woke early because their little robot bed (idk, I’m not an astronaut) came unplugged. The character has to fix the problem before it wakes everyone else. What do they have to do? And what do they do after? And where is the ship headed? And does the character have to poop immediately (I always assumed, but I really don’t know)?

Dialogue Writing Prompts

“Is someone sitting here?”
“I found this on the floor.”
“Where are you going?”

Flash Forward Writing Prompts

Your character is looking down at the consequences of their actions on the floor. What is it, and how did they get here?
A character runs through a dark forest until they find a cabin. They hurry inside and lock the door behind them. How did they end up alone in the woods, and what are they running from?
A vampire brings a nearly dead human into the hospital and disappears. When the human wakes, what story do they tell the doctor of how they ended up like this?

Setting Writing Prompts

Open your story in a nighttime swamp. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and feeling of the setting.
Begin your story with an overhead shot of Mount Everest (or some other tall guy). Describe the snow and wind and the human corpses they blow over. Then reveal your character.
Follow the POV of a rat in the walls as they scurry through a castle, poking their head into different rooms and hearing snippets of conversation. This will give the story context before it begins.

Huh? Writing Prompts

A character brazenly admits to killing a family member/close friend. Why did they do it?
A character is scribbling in their journal before they pause to climb onto a chair and press their ear to the ceiling. They step back down and write something else.
Open a story with a character calmly walking the street at night, musing on their day so far, until they reach a house. They creep into the yard, pull a bottle of lighter fluid and box of matches from their bag, and set the house on fire. Spend the rest of the story revealing why.

“Once Upon a Time” Writing Prompts

Many years ago, a mother had a strange idea.
In the distant future, long after the rivers are dry and seemingly the only surviving species is cockroaches, a baby is born.
On a planet quite similar to ours, a child quite similar to you peers through a lens pointed at Earth.

The Ending Writing Prompts

Start a story with a character sitting under a tree, then end it with the character seeing that tree many years later.
Title your story with a question, then make the last line of the story work as both a logical last line, plus the answer to the question.
Make the last line of your story the same as the first, but with the complete opposite meaning.

Description Writing Prompts

Describe a character as they dress in spelunking gear, including unexpected tools that hint at what waits below.
Tell a brief, minimalist story by describing what a character has packed in their bag.
Open a story by describing the room in which you currently sit, but something dark lurks.

Writing a strong opener is imperative to collecting readers that will stick with you through the end. Employ these tips and strategies to start your story off on the right foot. Now, how do we write the ending of a short story?

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Short Stories vs Novels | Which is easier to write?

How to describe clothing in a story (with examples)

The clothes a person wears tells us many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a person’s current state of mind or intent. Understanding how to describe clothing in a story well will help you create fuller, richer character portraits.

Post author By Jordan
20 Comments on How to describe clothing in a story (with examples)

How to describe clothing: 6 simple tips

Use clothing to show status and position
Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions
Describe clothing to contrast character personalities
Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling
Change clothing to highlight character development
Use clothing details to create authentic setting

Let’s delve further into these ideas about describing characters’ dress:

1: Use clothing to show status and position

Think of your characters’ clothing like an actor’s costume in a play.

Costume is a large part of a character. As soon as the actor enters stage right or left, we have an inkling of whether they’re a wealthy landowner or peasant, an elegant heiress or humble flower-seller.

In Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera (1985), we learn of a doctor’s status through his being the only person at an event who is not smartly dressed:

Although it was not customary for invitations to request special attire, least of all for a luncheon in the country, the women wore evening gowns and precious jewels and most of the men were dressed in dinner jackets with black ties, and some even wore frock coats. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. Gabriel Garcia Marquez , Lo ve in the Time of Cholera (1985), p. 35.

What the description shows is that many of the invitees play at status through fancy dress. Yet Dr. Urbino’s status as a respected doctor is earned – he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status.

Like Marquez, compare and contrast character’s clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. You can weave clothing description into your process when using our story planner for writers.

Tom Wolfe on clothing and character background

2: Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions

You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. Tweet This

For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress.

You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch:

A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes.

What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? Or one who was forever wearing poorly-fitted clothing that appeared to be handed down from friends?

These detail could suggest that your character is miserly or down-to-earth despite their wealth. Dr. Urbino in Marquez’s example above fits the latter category.

Let’s have a look at this description in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: ‘Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in.’

Gatsby’s extravagant and meticulously chosen attire reflects his wealth and the opulence of the Jazz Age. The details about his clothing contribute to the overall image of him as a mysterious and wealthy figure, obsessed with appearances and the trappings of success.

Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest?

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3: Describe clothing to contrast characters’ personalities

A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities.

The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories.

Consider this example from Hard Times . See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearing teacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wife’s personalities through (among other details) their clothing description.

In this scene, Gradgrind returns home to find his children playing outside:

A space of stunted grass and dry rubbish being between him and the young rabble, he took his eyeglass out of his waistcoat to look for any child he knew by name, and might order off. Charles Dickens, Hard Time (1853), p. 15.

The bully Gradgrind is the type who’d wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out.

Compare this, then, to Dickens’ description of Gradgrind’s wife in the following chapter (Gradgrind’s wealthy but poverty-claiming friend has just told Mrs. Gradgrind he was born in a ditch):

Mrs. Gradgrind, a little, thin, white, pink-eyed bundle of shawls, of surpassing feebleness, mental and bodily; who was always taking physic without any effect, and who, whenever she showed a symptom of coming to life, was invariably stunned by some weighty piece of fact tumbling on her; Mrs. Gradgrind hoped it was a dry ditch? Dickens, p. 19

In one single piece of clothing description (‘a pink-eyed bundle of shawls’), Dickens conveys how timid and ailing Mrs. Gradgrind is in contrast to her bullish, overbearing husband.

Similarly, in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, we read:

Armansky’s star researcher was a pale, anorexic young woman who had hair as short as a fuse, and a pierced nose and eyebrows. She had a wasp tattoo about an inch long on her neck, a tattooed loop around the biceps of her left arm and another around her left ankle. On those occasions when she had been wearing a tank top, Armansky also saw that she had a dragon tattoo on her left shoulder blade. She was a natural redhead, but she dyed her hair raven black. She looked as though she had just emerged from a week-long orgy with a gang of hard rockers.

Salander’s tattoos, including her iconic dragon tattoo, the dyed hair and the fact that she looks like she’s been with a gang of hard rockers show us her rebellious and unconventional character.

Similarly, show how different characters’ personalities are through apt clothing description.

[Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]

4: Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling

Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell.

For example, if a character is going on a date, you could write:

Gem wanted to look sexy for her date downtown (but not easy), so she changed into more comfortable clothes.

However, you can show and imply a character’s intention without spelling it out:

They’d agreed to meet downtown at six. At a quarter to six, Gem pulled off the low-cut top Emma had wolf-whistled and clapped at when they’d met for their usual weekend catch-up. ‘Make them earn any sight of skin,’ Aunt P always said. Jeans and a tee it was.

Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem.

The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. We see the contrast between the character’s friend’s reaction and the advisory words of Gem’s aunt. The fact Gem goes with jeans and a tee could suggest that she trusts her aunt’s advice. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to ‘be good’.

There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too.

Meanwhile, in The Devil Wears Prada, the first chapter immediately shows us that the first-person narrator, Andrea, pays close attention to fashion. We learn more as the novel continues. Here’s the excerpt:

I had a few seconds … to pull off my Manolos and toss them into the passenger seat. There was nowhere to wipe my sweaty hands except for the suede Gucci pants that hugged my thighs and hips so tightly they’d both begun to tingle within minutes of my securing the final button. My fingers left wet streaks across the supple suede that swathed the tops of my now numb thighs

How to describe characters clothing infographic | Now Novel

5: Change characters’ clothing to highlight character development

Changes in characters’ clothing can help reveal character development. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a character’s arc.

In Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment , the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovna’s husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart.

The novel’s protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. Dostoyevsky describes how Katerina’s landlady, Amalia Ivanovna, dresses for the funeral:

…the table was properly laid at the time and fixed, and Amalia Ivanovna, feeling she had done her work well, had put on a black silk dress and a cap with new mourning ribbons and met the returning party with some pride. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment (1866), p. 340.

Katerina is affronted by Amalia’s fine dress because it is ‘new’ and shows ‘pride’. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral.

Amalia’s dress thus comes across as insensitive to her; malicious even. The landlady’s dress highlights, by contrast, the downward spiral of Katerina’s fortunes, and she responds to the landlady’s prideful clothing with her own wounded pride:

Look at her, she’s making round eyes, she feels that we are talking about her and can’t understand. Pfoo, the owl! Ha-ha! (Cough-cough-cough.) And what does she put that cap on for? … Look how she sits with her mouth open! An owl, a real owl! An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! Dostoyevsky, p. 343.

Embarrassed by her own inability to dress in finery for the occasion (and by being upstaged), Katerina resorts to scathing mockery of Amalia.

Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a character’s change of clothing can affect their own or others’ behaviour.

David Foster Wallace on his clothing and persona

6: Use clothing details to recreate authentic setting

Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place . Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own).

Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinal’s residence being plundered by the King’s men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall . Mantel describes the cardinal’s vestments:

They bring out the cardinal’s vestments, his copes. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall (2009), p. 49.

Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. The fact the clothes ‘seem to stand by themselves’ indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery.

The details create an authentic sense of a prominent cardinal’s dress in the 1500s.

Elsewhere, Mantel’s novel is full of descriptions of garments for specific, era-appropriate purposes: Riding cloaks, town coats, and other clothing people of means would have worn at this time.

The same set of details are present in Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth in the following extract:

Tom lifted her easily, and set her down gently on his cloak. He knelt beside her. The wool tunic she was wearing underneath her own cloak had buttons all the way down the front.

By using the words ‘cloak’ and ‘wool tunic’ we are immediately catapulted into the 12th century world of this novel in this description of clothes.

Similarly, find out (or, if you’re creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions.

Ready to sketch vivid characters for your novel? Use the ‘Character’ section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your story’s cast.

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Tags character description , writing about clothing , writing about social position

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

20 replies on “How to describe clothing in a story (with examples)”

I used to be under the mindset that describing attire was boring and it was better to let the reader fill in those details… but especially with the novel I’m working on now, I have used clothing to portray more about their character. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they don’t wear.

True, it all depends on your purpose. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios.

This article was very helpful…can you post some examples of showing versus telling when describing clothing? Thanks I will be following your blog from now one I just came across it today.

Thanks Liv, I’m glad you found this helpful. As for showing with clothing rather than telling, a writer could say, ‘He was lazy and inattentive to his appearance’ about a character, or they could say ‘his clothes always looked like he’d just pulled them out of a pile in some corner of his bedroom and had thrown them on without a glance in the mirror’. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the reader’s mind’s eye.

I love the way clothes can describe a character. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and ‘Jesus’ was in a sharp black suit. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! But as the show moved forward the suit got more ragged – the jacket was open, then gone, the shirt cuffs undone, half the buttons undone and I think by the end when he was on the cross the shirt was gone. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus’ plight. Our characters are always (mostly!) clothed and we should definitely be using them to portray our characters’ personalities. Love this topic!!

Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. That’s a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a character’s arc.

I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. What is a good way to do “Show not tell” in a first person POV state?

Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). One way is to avoid what we call ‘filter words’. Instead of saying, for example ‘I saw that the station gate was coming down and the last train was about to leave’, you could say ‘The station gate is already screeching closed. The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.’

Use your first-person narrator’s senses – sight, hearing, touch, etc. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes.

Thank you so much this really helped.

What I would like to ask is how you would go about describing very specific details on more complex clothing? Like say a vest with mirrored sequins and rhinestones, but they all go in a pattern and you feel the need to describe the pattern line by line?

In my case my character is new in town and this description of clothing doesn’t come until he’s getting ready for the party in chapter 4 and it’s in the context of getting dressed, there are reasons behind it, the party is a very big deal for him getting his foot in the door with other teens in town and he wants to be impressive or maybe wants lot of attention with all the sparklies. Also his mother was poor and anyone who knew that might wonder how he could afford such clothing so it hints at the actual story.

Normally I don’t dress characters with such complex clothing that takes more than a few sentences to describe but the vest was inspired by a picture I saw and it took at least a paragraph to describe.

What also worries me is that in Chapter 3 I used a lot of descriptions of the house, like the main characters room and then I had him go to various other rooms, looked at pictures of his family he has yet to meet so chapter 3 had the least story development or social scenes but the ones it had were good ones and I ended it with a scene that creates more development and story hype.

Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. It’s a bit OCD of me.

I didn’t even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. The fact that it’s obviously black with a centered zipper is easy but then the various pieces, the shapes, the colors, like two rows of this then a row of that, you get what I mean? Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern?

Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg

I will try to be a doctor.

Good luck, I hope you achieve your goal.

Very informative. Really like your article.

Thanks, Sana. Thank you for reading our blog!

When describing clothing in a story, consider using it to show status, position, and character background. Clothing can also be used to build or contradict expectations and contrast character personalities. Avoid over-telling by showing clothing details rather than relying on telling. Use changes in clothing to highlight character development and use clothing details to create an authentic setting.

Hi Varsham, thank you for sharing these tips and for reading our blog!

I love how you break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand terms. Your ability to simplify things without compromising on quality is impressive.

Hi Ranit, thanks for your kind feedback. I’m glad you found this easy to understand.

This post is a lifesaver for aspiring writers like me! Describing clothing has always been a challenge, and these examples make it so much clearer. I can already imagine my characters’ outfits coming to life in my next story. Thank you for breaking down the process and providing such helpful tips!

Thanks for writing in. It’s good to know that it was helpful!

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The 9 Types of Stories and How to Master Them

by Joe Bunting | 2 comments

How do you write a best-selling novel or an award-winning screenplay? You might say, great writing or unique characters or thrilling conflict. But so much of writing a great story is knowing and mastering the type of story you're trying to tell.

What are the types of stories? And how do you use them to tell a great story?

In this article, we're going to cover the nine types of stories, share which tend to become best-sellers, and share the hidden values that help you master each type.

But first, what do I mean by “types of stories”?

Definition of Story Types

As stories have evolved for thousands of years, they began to fall into patterns called story types. These types tend to operate on the same underlying values. They also share similar structures, characters, and what Robert McKee calls obligatory scenes.

But Wait, Do Story Types Really Exist?

First, I want to address some discomfort you might be feeling with this idea. If you think that stories are magical and mystical, and the idea of putting them in a box feels terrible to you, I just want to say, I get that. I feel like that about stories, too!

You see, there are two ways you can figure out the patterns that stories take—the different types of stories.

You can start with stories themselves: looking through hundreds or even thousands until you get to four, seven, twelve, or even thirty-six master plots. This is what Christopher Booker did with his excellent guide The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories , and you can get breakdowns of each of his types here .

And that can be helpful, certainly, but what about stories that are a little strange, genre-breaking, or out of the box?

Do they not have a “type”?

The other way you can figure out the types of stories is by going deeper, to the underlying reasons humans tell stories in the first place, the reason we've been telling stories for thousands of years, all the way back to the campfire stories our ancestors told each other.

Why do we tell stories? The reason humans have always told stories (and always will) is because we want something.

Maybe we want something as simple as to stay alive. This was one reason our long-ago ancestors told stories about surviving attacks from ferocious beasts.

Maybe we want love or belonging, so we tell great love stories about couples destined (or doomed) to be together.

Maybe we want to become the best version of ourselves. We tell stories about how people have overcome adversity, even pushed back against their narrow-minded communities, to fully self-actualize.

Or maybe we want to tell stories about what it's like to transcend, to go beyond yourself and your circumstances and serve the good of the whole community, the whole world, and so we tell stories about sacrifice and great heroism.

In other words, basic story types arise from values, from the things humans want, and the great thing is, there has been a lot of research into the values humans find to be universal.

Story Types Are Defined by 6 Values

Great, bestselling stories are about values.

Value Definition

Value, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

In other words, a value is something you admire, something you want. If you value something, it means you think it’s good .

Values in Stories

Here are some examples of things you might value:

Organization
Environment
Productivity

This could easily become a never-ending list.

But if you think about it, every value can be distilled to six essential human values. Building off of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, these values are as follows (credit to Robert McKee and Shawn Coyne for introducing me to these concepts):

Survival from Nature. The value of life. Because if you don’t have your life, you don’t have much.
Survival from Others. Surviving crime, other people, even monsters, you could say.
Love/Community. The value of human connection.
Esteem. The value of your status and hierarchy within a community.
Personal Growth. The value of reaching your potential.
Transcendence. The value of going beyond yourself to discover a larger purpose.

Once you distill these values, you can turn these values into scales, because these values are usually in conflict with their opposite.

Survival from Nature > Life vs. Death
Survival from Others > Life vs. Fate Worse than Death
Love/Community > Love vs. Hate
Esteem > Accomplishment vs. Failure
Personal Growth > Maturity vs. Immaturity
Transcendence > Right vs. Wrong

In fact, it is the conflict between these values that generate the movement and change that makes the story work.

These are the same values that drive good storytelling.

If you take them a step further you can take these value scales and map them to different types of stories—or plot types. Here's how it works:

Life vs. Death: Adventure, Action Stories
Life vs. Fate Worse than Death: Thriller, Horror, Mystery Stories
Love vs. Hate: Romance/Love Stories
Accomplishment vs. Failure : Performance/Sports Stories
Maturity vs. Immaturity: Coming of Age stories
Right vs. Wrong: Temptation/Morality Stories

These plot types transcend literary genre . You can have a sci-fi love story , a historical thriller, a fantasy performance story, a mystery romance story, or even a young adult adventure story. (For more, check out my guide on literary genres here .)

Your story’s plot type will determine much of your story: the scenes you must include, the conventions and tropes you employ, your characters (including protagonists, side characters, and antagonists), and more.

How does that work practically? Let's look at a couple of examples:

Adventure Story Type Example

Let's look at a classic example, The Hobbit , one of the best-selling novels of all time, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

When you're trying to understand the type of story you're trying to tell, the first question to ask is, “What value scale do a majority of the scenes move on?”

The question constantly coming up in The Hobbit is this: “Is Bilbo Baggins going to survive the run-ins with the spiders and trolls and orcs, or is he not going to survive?”

The Hobbit , at its core, is an adventure story, and that means that a majority of the scenes move on the Life vs. Death Scale.

While there are certainly scenes that fall on the Right vs. Wrong and Maturity vs. Naïveté scales, it is the Life vs. Death scale that most of the scenes move on.

Plot Type: The 9 Types of Stories

Now that we've looked at an example, let's break down each of the ten main story types and talk about how they work.

Each of these plot types has typical archetypes for their inciting incidents and main event/climax. While you can certainly tweak or even re-work these archetypes, it's best to understand how they work and ensure that your new version of the event can bring out as much of the conflict as the typical method.

For more on this, check out our respective guides on inciting incidents and climaxes .

These ideas are not new, and I also have to acknowledge a huge debt to the story theorists who have gone before me, especially Blake Snyder, author of Save the Cat ; Robert McKee, author of Story ; and Shawn Coyne, author of Story Grid .

1. Adventure Story Type

Adventure Plot Type Definition: Adventure stories are primarily driven by a MacGuffin, the thing everyone is looking for, whether that is an ancient relic, a kidnapped character, or some other item, and often ends in a final showdown with an antagonist over who can control the MacGuffin.

Value : Life vs. Death

Conflict source: External

Inciting Incident Archetype(s): The Quest for the MacGuffin. A MacGuffin is an object, place, or (sometimes) person of great importance to the characters of the story, and the thing that drives the plot. For example, the ring in Lord of the Rings , the horcruxes in Harry Potter, or the ark of the covenant in Indiana Jones . Most adventure plot types revolve around a MacGuffin, and the inciting incident involves introducing the MacGuffin and its importance.

Main Event: Final showdown with the bad guys (while trying to get the MacGuffin).

Examples: The Odyssey , The Lord of the Rings , The Hobbit , Ready Player One , Alice in Wonderland

Note: Most (but not all) hero's journey stories fit this type, as well as any “voyage and return” type plots.

Need some inspiration? See our full guide on How to Write Adventure Stories and check out our best adventure book ideas here .

2. Action Story Type

Action Plot type definition: Action stories are primarily driven by an antagonist, whether that is a person or some kind of force, and often ends in a final showdown with the antagonist.

Inciting Incident Archetype(s):

Great Crime Against Me. Many action plots begin with some kind of wrong done to the protagonist, usually but not always by the chief antagonist. This begins the action of the story as the protagonist seeks to right this wrong or, often, get revenge.
The Emergence of a Great Evil. An alternative inciting incident involves the emergence of some kind of great evil. This may be another character like an antagonist, a natural force or disaster, or some kind of other creature. The emergence of this evil thing creates a need for the protagonist to respond urgently.

Main event: Showdown with the Bad Guy

Examples: The Count of Monte Cristo , Hunger Games

3. Horror Story Type

Horror Plot type definition: Horror stories are primarily driven by some kind of monstrous antagonist. The antagonist sometimes chooses to target the main character(s) after they commit some kind of taboo, and the story often ends in a final showdown, during which the protagonist is, at some point, at the mercy of the antagonist.

Value : Life vs. Fate Worse than Death

Forbidden Object/Act. Many horror stories begin with the main character doing some kind of forbidden thing, whether stealing a forbidden object or causing the death of someone else, which leads to a reprisal, often in the form of a monstrous creature, being, or person.
“Monster in the House.” This plot type, coined by Blake Snyder of Save the Cat , begins when the characters are trapped within some kind of space—often a house but potentially any limited amount of space like a city or even the world as a whole—with some kind of monstrous creature, being, or person.

Main Event: Confrontation of the Monster

Examples: The Shining , The Exorcist , The Haunting of Hill House , The Grudge, Candyman , Macbeth

Need some inspiration? Check out our best horror book ideas or learn how to write an horror story .

4. Mystery Story Type

Mystery Plot type definition: Mystery stories begin with some kind of crime and are driven by the investigation into that crime and the restoration of “justice.” They feature red herrings in which the audience is led to believe another character is the criminal rather than the true antagonist, and the story usually ends with some kind of confession.

Value : Life vs. Fate Worse than Death (in the sense of a restoration of Justice)

Inciting Incident Archetype(s): Show Me the Body. All mystery plot types contain an inciting incident in which a crime is discovered, whether it's a literal dead body, a theft, or some other type of crime.

Main Event: The Confession. The antagonist confesses to the crime and justice, the power of life over death, is restored.

Examples: The Inspector Gamache series , Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (as a subplot)

Need some inspiration? Check out our best mystery book ideas or learn how to write a mystery novel here .

5. Thriller Story Type

Thriller Plot type definition: Thriller stories begin with some kind of crime and are driven by the investigation into that crime and the restoration of “justice.” They typically feature especially monstrous or evil antagonists and can be full of danger and psychological tension, almost a cross between horror and mystery with a touch of action. The story often ends in a final showdown, during which the protagonist is, at some point, at the mercy of the antagonist.

Value : Life vs. a Fate Worse than Death

The thriller plot type is closely related to the Action and Mystery plot types. Both begin with some kind of crime, contain investigative elements, and climax with the hero at the mercy of the villain.

However, what makes it unique is there is always a horror element, a sense that this is somehow worse, more monstrous, than your average crime.

It's a fine line, though, and many story theories, like those from Robert McKee, make no distinction between the Thriller with the Action plot types.

Inciting Incident Archetype(s): Show me the (Monstrously Brutalized) Body. As with the mystery plot type (below), Thriller plot types contain an inciting incident in which a crime is discovered, whether it's a literal dead body, a theft, or some other type of crime. However, with thriller, the crime has a horror feel to it, the crime being particularly monstrous, brutal, etc.

Main Event: Hero at the Mercy of the Villain. In the climactic scene, the main character is caught by the antagonist and at their mercy, showing their (temporary) dominance. Depending on the story arc, the protagonist may reverse their situation or succumb to the antagonist.

Need some inspiration? Check out our best thriller book ideas or learn how to write an thriller novel .

6.Love Story/Romance Type

Love Plot type definition: While Love Stories are typically about a romantic relationship, they are one of the broadest and most flexible plot types, and can focus on the power of either belonging or isolation and a protagonist's relationships with friends, family members, or even their community. Stories in which the couple are not together at the start of the story usually begin with some kind of “meet cute” in which they connect in some kind of emotional charged way, regardless of whether that meeting leads to intrigue or repulsion. Stories in which the couple begin the story together often involve some kind of betrayal, during which the relationship is tested. There are typically rivals to the relationship, whether other romantic interests, love triangles, or other obstacles standing in the way of the couple's relationship, and they often end with a “proof of love” in which one goes to great lengths to dramatically prove their love in some way.

Value : Love vs. Hate

Inciting Incident Archetype(s): Meet Cute OR We Should Break Up. Love plots either begin with the couple meeting or breaking up/getting into some kind of conflict. The meet cute inciting incident involves the couple meeting in some unexpected, comedic, and/or often shambolic way, often while having extreme distaste for each other at the outset.

Main Event: Proof of Love. After some kind of separation, the protagonist must overcome obstacles to prove their love to the other.

Examples: A Midsummer Night's Dream , Romeo and Juliet , 10 Things I Hate About You and most Rom-coms

Need some inspiration? Here's our comprehensive guide to How to Write a Love Story and check out our best love story ideas here .

For more on writing or editing a love story , start check by checking out our definitive guide on how to write a love story here . Then watch this coaching video between me and an author writing a love story.

7. Performance/Sports Story Type

Performance Plot type definition: Performance/sports stories revolve around some kind of competition, and deal with the main character(s) working to achieve success and esteem within the eyes of their community as well as dealing with the potential and consequences of failure.

Value : Accomplishment vs. Failure

The core value of the performance story type is esteem, which is all about looking good in front of your community, usually after accomplishing a great feat or winning a widely recognized competition.

Inciting Incident Archetype(s): Entry into the Big Tournament. Performance stories—whether the performance medium is sports, music, art, or some other avenue—all contain an inciting incident where the characters enter a major tournament, performance, or competition. This competition is usually an actual event (e.g. the Olympics, the state championship) but may be a less formal competition.

Main Event: The Big Tournament. After preparing for the big event by overcoming smaller obstacles throughout the story, the protagonist faces their challenger in the final competition.

Examples: Miracle , Cobra Kai , Ghost , Hamilton

8. Coming of Age Story Type

Coming of Age Plot type definition: Coming of Age stories can be about characters of all ages who are focused on either self-actualizing and reaching their full potential or diverting from their full potential and becoming a worse version of themselves. They may deal with issues related to the characters maturity or their worldview, and typically involve one or more mentors.

Value : Maturity vs. Immaturity

Conflict source: Internal

Here There Be Dragons (Confronting the Unknown). Coming of age plots often begin with an inciting incident involving something unknown, something that is outside of the protagonist’s current worldview. This throws the protagonist into confusion and shows them how much they must learn about the world.
The Principal's Office. Alternatively, the character may get into trouble early on, often in a school setting. This forces the character to begin the process of reflecting on his or her life and making changes.

Main Event: The Revelation. In a moment of crisis, the protagonist has a major worldview revelation, leading them to see the world in a new, more sophisticated way.

Examples: How to Train Your Dragon , Catcher in the Rye , Good Will Hunting , Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , The Ugly Duckling

Need inspiration? Here's the Complete Guide to How to Write a Coming of Age Story and see our Coming of Age Writing Prompts for some ideas to get you started.

9. Temptation/Morality Story Type

Temptation Plot type definition: Temptation/Morality stories begin with some kind of battle between a characters internal dilemma toward right and wrong, what they desire to do but which is harmful to them or their community versus what they don't want to do but might benefit themselves and their community. There are typically “deals with the devil” in which the character violates their own conscience, and they often experience some kind of judgment.

Value : Right vs. Wrong

The value of right vs. wrong here is not “The Good Guys” vs. “The Bad Guys.” That plot type is usually action. Instead, the evil is within the character, and they must choose whether to do the good, self-sacrificial thing or the selfish, evil thing.

Inciting Incident Archetype(s): Let's Make a Deal. Often temptation stories begin with a proverbial “deal with the devil,” in which the character is tempted to do something they think is relatively harmless but might give them great reward.

Main Event: Judgement Day. Facing the consequences of their actions, the main character must either embrace their consequences and change or continue to attempt to escape them and face damnation.

Examples: Wall Street , A Christmas Carol

Bonus Type: Combine Them!

While all great stories are driven by values and the conflict between them, many stories combine plot types and/or value scales in unique ways, creating new plot types of their own.

Often this approach works best with either longer works, epics that combine many arcs into one story, or shorter works, like short stories, which may not contain all the elements of longer, more established plot types.

However, combining or rearranging plot types is considered advanced. Consider before you attempt to come up with your own completely unique plot type, especially if you are a new writer, as you risk the story not working or getting lost in the plot and failing to finish.

Remember: working with an established plot type requires just as much creativity and flair for coming up with dramatic situations as invention your own.

While most popular stories will fit within the ten plot types above, you could also get more specific by exploring subtypes.

Subtypes are more specific plots with unique conventions, tropes, and characters. Examples of subtypes include revenge plots, a subtype of action plots; heist plots, a subplot of adventure stories; or obsession love stories.

Most stories that work will fall somewhere into the above plot types, and all stories that work will fall into the six value scales.

Want to learn more about plot types and story structure? My #1 Amazon best-selling book The Write Structure explores the hidden structures behind bestselling and award-winning stories. If you want to learn more about how to write a great story, by mastering storytelling musts like the exposition literary definition, you can get the book for a limited time low price. Click here to get The Write Structure ($5.99).

These 9 Types of Stories Work for Any Story Arc

Great novels, films, memoirs, and plays come in many shapes, but researchers from the University of Vermont have identified six primary shapes, all of which we talk about in detail in our story arcs guide . Here are the six:

Rags to Riches. Happy ending story moving from negative to positive value.
Riches to Rags. Tragic story moving from positive to negative value.
Man in a hole. Happy ending story moving from positive to negative and back to positive.
Icarus. Tragic story moving from negative to positive and back to negative value.
Cinderella. Happy ending story starting negative, moving to positive, back to negative, and finally to positive again.
Oedipus. Tragic story starting positive, moving to negative, back to positive, and finally to negative at the end.

Again, we have a full guide on the six story arcs, complete with plot diagrams, here .

These arcs are independent of plot type.

You can have a tragic Icarus mystery story where the villain gets away. You can have a Cinderella horror story where the monster starts out bad, then seems to be nearly defeated, only to come back stronger and then finally get destroyed in the end.

Even though certain genres and plot types have tendencies toward specific plotlines, the types work independently of arc. Choose any combination of the arcs and plot types, and it will still work.

2 Tips About How to Use These Plot Types

How do you actually write a book with these plot types in mind? Follow these two tips:

1. First, Know Your Values

Bad books, stories that don't work, don’t know what their values are.

Or they’re trying to have every single value possible.

You can’t do that if you want to tell a great story. You have to choose! If you want to master the type of story you're trying to tell, start with finding the story's value.

Here's a video that shows how one author figured out their plot type by diving into the value at the center of their story.

There Are 10 Types of Stories And This Writer Just Discovered Theirs

2. Focus on Conflict Between Values

You've heard your stories need conflict, but that doesn't mean more arguments and car chases.

The kind of conflict your stories need more of is between values , and the way to master any type of story is to put the story's main value in conflict with its opposite.

If you're writing an adventure story, that means you need to have life and death moments.

If you're writing a thriller , you need to have moments of life vs. fate worse than death.

If you're writing a love story, you need to have as many moments of negative love, of anger, disillusion, and even hatred, as you do love.

If you're writing a sports story, there have to be as many moments of near failure, or actual failure, as there are of success.

If you're writing a coming-of-age story, then you need to include moments where the growing maturity of the character is put into conflict with its opposite, immaturity.

And finally, if you're writing a temptation or morality story, then you need moments of temptation—where the character genuinely considers if they should take actions they know are wrong because of how it could benefit them or solve a greater problem.

So how about you? What type of story are you trying to tell? Let us know in the comments .

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Put the types of story to use now with the following creative writing exercise .

First, choose one of the story scales above.

Then, outline the inciting incident scene or another scene in which your protagonist is faced with the negative value in that scale.

Finally, set a timer for fifteen minutes . Write as much of your scene as you can.

When your time is up, post your scene in the Pro Practice Workshop . And when you're done, check out others who have shared their scenes. Let them know what you think!

Not a member yet? Come join us . We're a group of writers committed to practicing together.

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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WSJ Bestselling author, founder of The Write Practice, and book coach with 14+ years experience. Joe Bunting specializes in working with Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, How To, Literary Fiction, Memoir, Mystery, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, and Self Help books. Sound like a good fit for you?

While the vast majority of mystery stems from crime, I must nitpick that a “crime” is not necessary for a mystery, only a very puzzling question. I remember a few years ago a children’s book about a classroom box where every day a different student had to come up with something to put in it starting with a given letter of the alphabet (the book covered the student who had to put an “n” in the box) won a major mystery award. Historical mysteries (What happened to the ____ people? Where is Amelia Earhart?) also do not require a crime to incite the sleuth.

Such a great point. Thanks for sharing this clarifying point.

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Inciting Incident: Definition, Examples, Types, and How to Start a Story Right - […] Want to learn more about story types? Check out our guide and find your story’s type here. […]
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How to Write a Query Letter: 3 Paragraphs That Hook a Literary Agent - […] giving away the ending!) is to consider the value shift for your story. Joe Bunting identifies six types of…

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Creative Writing in the Early Elementary Grades

A project that incorporates both standard and creative elements of storytelling can help young learners strengthen their literacy skills.

What can creative writing look, feel, and sound like in a first grade classroom? How can creative writing become a joyful and meaningful learning experience, and how can we educators facilitate the creative process and allow young writers to use their imagination when writing?

Graphic organizers, mind maps, and storyboards are certainly great tools for narrative building and planning, but they do not necessarily scaffold the creative process that story writing requires. In reality, they might even restrict students’ creativity while they “box” ideas in predetermined templates. This year, in my class, going play-based and hands-on has turned out to be a tremendous success.

Examining Elements of Creative Writing in First Grade

For this particular unit, my first grade students were examining literature and storytelling. After they had enjoyed several read-alouds, explored story elements, and studied the story mountain (beginning, rising action, conflict, resolution, and ending) as a team, it was time for them to write their very own stories.

They kicked off by creating their main character and decided on the character’s appearance, personality, likes, and dislikes. They also had the choice to play the main character role in the story. In both cases, while still brainstorming, it was time for action: They drew and decorated their characters with markers and pencils, cut them out, and used a Popsicle stick to make a puppet.

They became even more motivated to continue as they saw their characters come to life. My students spontaneously started interacting with each other and their puppets—creating stories and being imaginative—they went right into storytelling mode. This created the perfect opportunity for me to step back and observe my students’ initiative, creativity, and social and communication skills, not to mention their sense of accomplishment and joy.

Adding Artful Components to the Story

After they had engaged with their characters and interacted with others, it was time for the young writers to further develop their stories and think of a scenario leading to the rising action and resolution. This was the point when loose parts played a crucial role in the storytelling process. Counters, pipe cleaners, bits of paper, pebbles, dice, and buttons became houses, trees, magic wands, you name it. These bits and bobs from around the classroom became a valuable, zero-cost resource.

While students actively arranged and rearranged their chosen loose parts, they wondered about what would happen next in their stories. Unexpectedly, some students chose to collaborate and co-created stories by joining their imagination and characters in one story. In this step of the creative process, the use of loose parts was truly empowering: Before jotting anything down in their notebooks, my students physically, mentally, and verbally constructed their narratives and shared them with their partners.

Turning Ideas Into Words

With the mental representation of their narratives ready, it was all a matter of scribing their ideas. For that, we followed our usual class routines and resources such as word banks, sentence starters, and buddy support. All my students were engaged and confident, and when struggling with ideas, they resorted to loose parts again. As my first grade is a multicultural classroom, some of my students needed language support . However, with all of them hooked on their stories, supporting those who needed help with vocabulary, sentence construction, and spelling was simplified.

I conferred with students individually and in small groups to understand their thinking and offered feedback on paragraphing and some word choice. Instead of using notebooks for their first drafts, they chose to use mini-boards, which motivated them even more and supported them to make quick adjustments to their narratives. Finally, after receiving feedback, they moved on to writing their final drafts and designing their covers in order to turn their stories into books. Each student took their book home to share it with their family after reading it with the class.

Sharing Stories and Making Memorable Learning Experiences

What good is a book if it isn’t read and enjoyed? Buddy reading was the last step of the process but certainly not the least exciting. My students read aloud to each other, commenting on their favorite bits of the story and appreciating the illustrations. The whole project, from getting their characters ready to publishing and reading their books, took around five hours divided into five days.

When reflecting on the writing process, my students said that what they appreciated the most was the making of their puppets and illustrating their stories, highlighting the importance of integrating arts and writing. When asked about what was challenging, they replied that it was creating all the parts of the story mountain. However, they all said that using loose parts was a helpful strategy that they would use again—which they spontaneously have done in subsequent writing engagements. Lastly, when asked how they felt, some of the words they used were “proud,” “good,” and “joyful!”

A recent UNESCO report on the importance of happiness in learning refers to neuroscience research that proves our affective and cognitive domains are interconnected and interdependent. Therefore, emotions do affect learning! Joy is not a trade-off for academic achievement. Creating positive learning experiences makes learning stick.

Very often, students fear and avoid writing as a consequence of previous negative writing experiences. Combining art and a play-based approach to creative writing in first grade can set students on a path to success by building on their confidence, creativity, imagination, and sense of accomplishment. I have witnessed that the integration of art and writing has helped my students discover how writing can be a joyful and memorable experience where they can all be amazing storytellers and writers.

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33 Interesting Writing Prompts for Language Learners (of All Levels)

When your language teachers and tutors advise you to get more writing practice , it can be hard to follow their guidance.

If your daily life isn’t action-packed, keeping a diary in your target language can get boring and repetitive, but what other topics can you discuss?

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, there are plenty of great things to write about. Here are 33 writing prompts for language learners to get you started.

Beginner Writing Prompts

1. who are you, 2. what are your favorite hobbies, 3. what’s your family like, 4. what’s your best friend like, 5. where do you live, 6. what’s your favorite food, 7. what’s your favorite season, 8. what’s your favorite movie or tv show, 9. describe your daily routine., 10. what are you going to do this weekend, 11. what’s your favorite animal, intermediate writing prompts, 12. what’s the funniest thing that has ever happened to you, 13. where would you like to go on vacation, 14. what’s the best vacation, trip or outing you’ve ever had, 15. where do you see yourself in five years, 16. what are your goals for the future, 17. what were you like as a child, 18. write a poem (rhyming or not) about something that inspires you., 19. pretend you’re instructing someone on how to do your favorite activity., 20. what’s your favorite (or your family’s favorite) tradition.

21. What do you think the world will be like in 50 years?

22. Why is education important?

Advanced writing prompts, 23. if you were given three wishes, what would you wish for, 24. what do you think the most significant world problem is, 25. if you could change one thing about society, what would you change, 26. how has the internet affected communication how do you see it affecting communication in the future, 27. what do you think would be an ideal political system does an ideal system exist, 28. who’s responsible for poverty why does it exist, and how could it be resolved, 29. what’s your favorite literary work, and what has it taught you, 30. if you could teach your future children or other children of the future one lesson, what would it be, 31. what medical issues have you or your loved ones faced how did you handle them or how do you continue to handle them, 32. what topics are not adequately addressed in schools today why should these topics be addressed more, 33. describe a recent world event. what are the potential consequences of this event, why use foreign language writing prompts, how to get the most out of writing prompts for language learners, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Beginning level students usually know basic vocabulary related to describing people, weather, food, animals, routines and related topics.

Writing as a beginning student can be a bit tricky because you don’t yet have a vast vocabulary. Additionally, your verb conjugation abilities are probably limited, so you may need to stick to the present tense.

These writing prompts can be answered with simple, general vocabulary and present tense verbs , so they’re ideal for beginning students.

You can take this question in a wide variety of directions. Based on what vocabulary you want to practice, you might describe your appearance, your job and/or your interests. If you want to try using more advanced-level vocabulary, you could try getting more philosophical with your response.

Everyone has something they like to do. What are your favorite hobbies? If your vocabulary is limited, you might try simple responses, like “I like sports.” However, as your vocabulary gets more advanced, you can add more detail into your response. For instance, “I like sports, especially soccer. My favorite thing about soccer is hitting the ball with my head.”

What do they look like? What are their personalities like? How is each person related to you? What are their interests? This prompt can be used for quick, easy writing practice or for a book-length extended project.

You can describe your friend physically, describe their personality and/or explain what you like to do together. If you already know some past tense verbs, you might even tell a story about something that happened with your friend in the past to illustrate what your friend is like.

You could even break this one down into a series of prompts. Describe your neighborhood. Describe your city. Describe your state. Describe your country. You might discuss the layout, culture, businesses, natural environment or how you feel about your location.

Not only can you name the dish and list the ingredients, you can also describe how it tastes. As your language skills progress, you might even try explaining how the dish is made.

With this prompt, you can address a variety of subtopics. What is the weather like? What does the season look like? How does it feel? What events or holidays happen during the season?

You can describe what happens in the movie or TV show in either past or present tense. You might also note the genre and/or describe the characters.

Major bonus points if you can describe a Netflix movie or TV show that you also watch in your target language!

Beginning students commonly learn words related to daily routines, so go through your day and explain what you do. When do you wake up? How do you get ready for work or school? What do you eat for breakfast? When do you leave for work or school? How do you get there? What do you do once you’re there? What do you eat for lunch? When do you leave? What do you eat for dinner? How do you relax in the evening?

This question can be a little more advanced in that you could use future tense verbs. However, if you don’t yet know future tense, depending on what your target language is, you may be able to simply use “I am going to…” constructions. Writing about your plans can help you practice words for common activities and prepare you for real conversations you may have with native speakers.

You might describe the animal, what it looks like, what it eats, where it lives, etc. This can give you practice with animal words, physical descriptions, food words and location-related vocabulary.

As an intermediate writer, it’s time to up your game. Now, you can use a broader range of vocabulary words and verb tenses. These prompts will help you make good use of your advancing skills.

Whip out your past tense verbs for this one! Consider writing the story of the funniest thing you’ve experienced. Maybe it’s something that happened to you or maybe it’s just something you witnessed. Regardless, this will give you practice with more diverse vocabulary and past tense verbs.

This prompt invites you to give your conditional verb tenses a workout. Where would you like to go? Why would you like to visit this location? What would you like to do there? Who would you go with?

Describing the best out-of-the-ordinary experience you’ve had, whether a vacation or any other break from daily routine, gives you an opportunity to use plenty of past tense verbs. You might even work in some less common verbs to describe specific activities you participated in, like snorkeling or skiing. You can describe the experience, who you were with, what you did and what made it so enjoyable. Feeling nostalgic? Look at old photos if you have them and describe them in your target language.

Oh, the age-old interview question! In your native language, it’s probably an uncomfortable opportunity to reflect on your goals, but in your target language, it can be a valuable way to practice using future, conditional and/or subjunctive verb tenses while also employing industry-specific vocabulary.

Plus, if you ever need to do a job interview in your target language, you’ll be happy you have the practice. If you like this prompt, you might even consider using some of The Muse’s list of common interview questions for additional writing prompts.

What do you hope to achieve in your life? You might use future tense here, but if you prefer present tense, you can use an “I want to…” or related construction. From there, you can use all sorts of vocabulary words related to your career, family, housing, etc.

Use past tense to describe yourself as a child. You might describe your appearance or personality. To work in more advanced vocabulary, you might also note in what ways you challenged your parents and what you wanted to be when you grew up.

Writing poetry can be a fun way to use your language skills. To make it a little trickier, write in rhyme. You can write about whatever you like, but you can’t go wrong with a love poem. After all, you can always re-purpose it down the road if need be.

Whether it’s cooking, painting or playing Fortnite, this will require the use of commands and a strong vocabulary related to whatever activity you write about.

Whether they’re monthly or yearly, passed down through generations or made up on the spot, traditions shared by people can be a lot of fun. But they also afford a lot of opportunities to use whatever verb conjugations you need to practice. You can talk about your favorite tradition from the past, how you practice it today or how you hope to practice it in the future. You could even instruct readers on how to adopt your favorite tradition.

21. What do you think the world will be like in 50 years?

Think about society, culture and major world issues. How do you think everything will change and evolve? Not only can you use future tense verbs, but this prompt will give you the opportunity to use more advanced vocabulary related to science, technology, culture and/or politics. Depending on your vision, you could even expand your work into a sci-fi or dystopian novel.

This prompt could work with either present tense or conditional verbs. However, more importantly, it invites you to use plenty of more advanced vocabulary relating to learning, careers and society. Responding to this prompt could even serve as extra motivation by reminding you why education or learning of any kind (including your language learning) is so important to you.

As an advanced student, you should be aiming to write without having to think too much. You should be able to navigate seamlessly between any verb tenses and use your large and diverse vocabulary effectively. These prompts aim to help you exercise a broad array of skills.

Okay, you might not have a genie in a bottle, but what would you ask for if you did? This question invites the use of conditional tense verbs. Plus, the vocabulary you use is likely to be as diverse and varied as your dreams.

Writing about current world problems can help you use vocabulary words that are relevant today but might not be terribly common. While you could use present tense, you might also use future and/or conditional tense to examine how this issue could cause long-term consequences.

Take this world’s problems and turn them around! Considering what you would change about society will give you an opportunity to use conditional tense and/or commands to explain what needs to change and how.

Past and future tense in one prompt? How can you resist? Not only that, this prompt invites you to use the latest technology-related words, which are super useful for advanced learners.

This prompt invites you to use advanced vocabulary related to politics and society. Plus, you can use it to practice the conditional tense, future tense and/or subjunctive tense verbs.

This question may feel nearly impossible to answer in your native language, so it will be even more challenging in your target language. However, if you give it a try, you’ll be able to practice words related to society and politics. While you’ll probably use mostly present tense verbs, you might also work in some conditional, subjunctive, future and/or past tense.

Using key literary terms is often reserved for academia, so writing about your favorite literary work will certainly give your vocabulary a workout. While this will be largely in present tense, you might throw in a few other verb tenses for good measure.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned? Why do you want others to learn it? This question is complex enough that you might incorporate a huge array of verb tenses.

Medical terminology can be a little tricky, but practicing using it is useful , particularly if it relates to a medical condition you or loved ones have. Writing about medical issues and their treatments will reinforce medical vocabulary and past tense verbs. Plus, if you ever experience a medical emergency abroad, you might be relieved to have practiced relevant vocabulary.

You’re educated. You know what’s up. What do you think should be covered more in schools? Addressing this issue gives you an opportunity to use education terms, present tense verbs and conditional verbs.

Not only can you use vocabulary that’s currently relevant, you can also use an array of verb tenses. Start with past tense and then transition to future, conditional and/or subjunctive tenses. Using this writing prompt can help you practice transitioning smoothly between tenses.

Using foreign language writing prompts can help reduce anxiety when writing in your target language . Staring at a blank page can be stressful and can make you want to procrastinate trying to write, but writing prompts can make writing seem less like hard work.
You can also use foreign language writing prompts to determine what vocabulary and/or grammar you need to work on . Writing can help you detect what grammar rules you’re struggling with and what holes in your vocabulary you need to fill.
Writing prompts can help you keep your target language in shape . Skills can slip over time, so continuing to practice your writing can help prevent backsliding.
Using writing prompts can help make it so that writing in your target language feels easy and requires less conscious effort . Writing in a foreign language is a skill like any other. The more you practice it, the easier it will become.
Don’t just write. Read. To write well in your target language, you’ll need to also read in your target language. Luckily, there are plenty of places to read content in your target language . Project Gutenberg offers many classic works in several languages, and BBC News gives you news stories in a variety of languages.
Write as often as possible. Writing as often as possible not only gives you the practice you need to improve your skills, it also keeps you in the habit. If you set aside a few minutes each day for your writing practice, you’re less likely to forget to do it.
Try to use specific rules or vocabulary you’ve recently learned. Trying to use specific grammar rules and vocabulary you’ve recently learned is a terrific way to practice using your new skills. It reinforces them and makes them easier to use the next time.
As you write, note what you’re struggling with. While you’re writing, you’ll probably notice a few hiccups. For instance, you may want a word but realize you don’t know it. Whenever you encounter one of these problems, jot it down. Then, after you write, you can go over your notes to work to resolve whatever issues you struggled with.
Read what you’ve written and correct your own work. Once you’ve responded to a writing prompt, read over your work with a critical eye. What errors do you notice? How could you improve your writing? Going over your work gives you an opportunity to spot some errors you didn’t notice as you wrote.
Consider having a native speaker correct your work. You might ask a friend or a tutor to read over your writing and tell you what they think. You could also consider finding a tutor through italki. Even finding someone to do a one-time check of your writing on occasion can be a huge help.

With these writing prompts for all levels, you’ll never be at a loss for words.

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Creative Writing Story Starters for Students
Spring Creative Writing Story Starter Prompts
Creative Writing Prompts: Finish the Story (teacher made)
⭐ Short creative writing examples. Top 170 Creative Short Story Ideas
150+ Story Starters: Creative Opening Lines (+Free Generator)
Creative Writing Plot

VIDEO

How to BRAINSTORM your STORY IDEAS
Asked to be creative #shorts #creativewriting #storywriting
How to generate more ideas? #40plus
Creative Writing Story Structure- advanced Part 4/12
How To Come Up With Great Story Ideas
Tips for story writing! Full marks Guaranteed!

COMMENTS

15 Awesome Ideas To Get Your Story Started (With Examples)
Idea #4: Write Something Unexpected. 'I never knew the impact of the purple pen until it exploded in my face.'. Starting your novel with an unexpected statement takes your reader off guard and makes them wonder how your character got to this point. The unexpected can create a sense of mystery and suspense.
150+ Story Starters: Creative Sentences To Start A Story
In this post, we have listed over 150 story starters to get your story started with a bang! A great way to use these story starters is at the start of the Finish The Story game. Click the 'Random' button to get a random story starter. Random. If you want more story starters, check out this video on some creative story starter sentences to use ...
199+ Creative Writing Prompts To Help You Write Your Next Story
A long list of creative writing prompts and writing ideas. 1. Symphony of the Skies. Imagine a world where music can literally change the weather. Write a story about a character who uses this power to communicate emotions, transforming the skies to reflect their inner turmoil or joy. 2.
How to Start a Story: 10 Steps to a Compelling Opening
Here are the steps for how to start a story: Write a strong opening sentence. Connect the readers and character. Produce intrigue. Elicit an emotion in your story. Start your story with a strong visual snapshot. Write a compelling first paragraph. Leave a hint.
Top 150 Short Story Ideas
10 Short Story Ideas by Joe Bunting - The world of writing - […] writers have too many short story ideas, not too few. However, therein lies the problem, because the more ideas you…. The Lure of A New Story - Comma Grounds - […] But before you go, check out this list of Top 100 Short Story Ideas!
How to Start a Story: 10 Ways to Get Your Story Off to a Great Start
The beginning lines of a story should establish a character, in a setting, with a problem. Tweet this. Tweet. Beyond that, there are so many ways to go. Here are ten ways to start a story you might consider: 1. Strong Voice.
121 Short Story Prompts to help You Write Unforgettable Stories
Fantasy short story prompts. 1. A thief attempts to steal a magical object from a powerful wizard's tower but is caught and forced to make a deal to avoid imprisonment. 2. A young woman inherits a cursed ring from her grandmother and must decide whether to keep it and its power or destroy it and break the curse. 3.
5 Ways to Start a Story: Choosing a Bold Beginning
These five types of story beginnings work: Introduce readers to a memorable narrator-protagonist. Begin with crucial memories. Start with ambiguous action. Lead with a purposeful prologue. Open with the unexpected. Watch the summary video on ways to begin stories now, then read discussion of the story beginnings below:
Creative Writing: 8 Fun Ways to Get Started
2. Start journaling your days. Another easy way to get started with creative writing is to keep a journal. We're not talking about an hour-by-hour account of your day, but journaling as a way to express yourself without filters and find your 'voice in writing'. If you're unsure what to journal about, think of any daily experiences that ...
8 Tips for Getting Started With Creative Writing
Action: In creative writing, action should occur for a reason—characters' actions should be based on their motivations, their points of view, and their previous choices. A protagonist's actions should always propel them toward their main goal in a way that is related to the plot events at hand. A character's goals affect their character ...
How to Start a Story: 6 Creative Ways to Get Up and Writing
1. Dialogue. Nothing draws readers in like introducing them to your characters in the middle of an ongoing conversation. If you want to use dialogue to open up your story, you can choose to start with a heated conversation that leads to action, or even casual talk that introduces to the characters and their relationships.
10 Great Examples Of How To Begin A Short Story
The opening line describes the war situation in vivid, journalistic terms, after which we are plunged into the tale of these two innocents. In a few telling phrases, it provides context and general background for the very particular tragedy which is about to ensue. 4. The Anecdotal Approach.
101 Unique Story Starters You've Never Seen Before
Story starters. 1. The young girl's phone rang in the middle of the night, a voice from the other end whispered a prophecy. 2. In a small town where everyone knows everyone, a strange character moves in, wearing clothes from another era. 3.
How to Write a Story In 6 Steps: A Complete Step-By-Step Guide to
It's certainly exciting to think about all the different options that could be explored in a story. But where to begin? Every writer works in a different way. Some writers work straight through from beginning to end. Others work in pieces they arrange later, while others work from sentence to sentence. Whether you're writing a novel, novella, short story, or flash fiction, don't be ...
How To Begin Your Story (With Examples!)
Right now, I'm struggling with starting a new project. I have a few ideas kicking around in my head, but getting the right tone is difficult. For example: there's a fairy tale I want to write, but writing in the traditional fairy tale style isn't working for it at all. It's too removed.
How To Start a Story in 10 Ways (With Examples) ️
Learn how to start a story that will hook your readers from the very first sentence and create memorable openings that leave them eager for more. From starti...
How to Start a Story: 11+ Simple & Proven Strategies for Authors
The steps for starting a story are to: Write Unforgettable Characters: Develop and write relatable, memorable protagonists. Have Great Hooks and/or Openings: Begin with an intriguing question or statement. Include Tension & Conflict: Introduce suspense and drama early. Start With Action and Dialogue: Start with dynamic events or conversations.
How to Start a Story
Pantsers: For now, write the scenes that are in your head. Write what you know — even if it's the very end of the story. You can rearrange those scenes AFTER the book is finished. Plotters: Write the first scenes in your outline. You can decide AFTER the book is finished if that's where you really ought to start.
25 Ways to Start a Story
Click to continue. *****. 25 Ways to Start a Story. Man is running from someone or something in the moonlight. Woman is searching for someone or something in a thick fog. A loud noise startles a person awake. Narrator confesses something outrageous. An unmarked package is left on someone's porch. Two lovers explore an abandoned island.
10 Creative Writing Prompts for Story Ideas
Whether you're trying to start a new story, or struggling with writer's block in the middle of one, ideas may seem difficult to come by. To discover your next novel or short story idea, exercise your creative writing muscle with this list of creative writing prompts and story starters that will mine your life experiences, passions, and ...
70 Opening Paragraph Examples to Kickstart Your Story
Starting a fiction story is no small task. It's often said that the beginning is the most important part of any tale. Yet crafting that perfect opening paragraph or sentence can sometimes feel elusive, even to the most seasoned writers. It's a delicate balance, introducing a new world and its inhabitants in a way that is both engaging for readers and true to the narrative that follows. To ...
How To Start a Short Story [8 EXAMPLES & STRATEGIES]
The Ending Writing Prompts. Start a story with a character sitting under a tree, then end it with the character seeing that tree many years later. Title your story with a question, then make the last line of the story work as both a logical last line, plus the answer to the question. Make the last line of your story the same as the first, but ...
Creative Ways to Start a Story: 5 Starting Points
Here Are Some Quick Pointers: • Introduce Your Primary Character Quickly. For a lot of stories, readers care about the plot of the story just as they care about the primary character. So try to introduce your main character as soon as you start your story, as readers tend to build an emotional relationship with him or her.
How to Write a Book With No Experience in 10 Steps
5. Just start writing. The biggest obstacle for many aspiring authors is to just simply start writing. Don't worry about everything being perfect on the first try. Just focus on getting your ideas down on paper. To combat writer's block, set small, daily content writing goals and put them somewhere you'll see everyday. Remember that all ...
10 Best Creative Writing Courses for 2024: Craft Authentic Stories
Besides being an awesome writer, Sanderson is an instructor with a very unique talent for keeping us engaged. He has also made available a full course in creative writing on YouTube, originally presented at Brigham Young University, which includes the most crucial tools for any beginner or even experienced writers.The course is comprehensive and rich in content, with great sound and video quality.
How to Describe Clothing in a Story (with Examples)
5: Change characters' clothing to highlight character development. Changes in characters' clothing can help reveal character development. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a character's arc.. In Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovna's husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart.
The 9 Types of Stories and How to Master Them
7. Performance/Sports Story Type. Performance Plot type definition: Performance/sports stories revolve around some kind of competition, and deal with the main character(s) working to achieve success and esteem within the eyes of their community as well as dealing with the potential and consequences of failure. Value: Accomplishment vs. Failure. Conflict source: External
Creative Writing in First Grade
Very often, students fear and avoid writing as a consequence of previous negative writing experiences. Combining art and a play-based approach to creative writing in first grade can set students on a path to success by building on their confidence, creativity, imagination, and sense of accomplishment.
33 Interesting Writing Prompts for Language Learners (of All Levels)
Writing prompts can help you keep your target language in shape. Skills can slip over time, so continuing to practice your writing can help prevent backsliding. Using writing prompts can help make it so that writing in your target language feels easy and requires less conscious effort. Writing in a foreign language is a skill like any other ...