For many students, getting started is the hardest part of writing a story. Here are some story starter ideas to get them out of the blocks fast.
Foreshadowing (a hint of something to come)
It was the time of year Farmer Bailey liked best, when summer turned to fall. He whistled as he drove along. A cool breeze blew across his face through the truck’s open window. Then it happened. There was a loud thump. (The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg, p. 274)
Action
A storm was approaching, but Peter crawled through the strange little hole in the fence anyway. (Time Traveler by Dan Simmons, p. 189)
Dialogue
“Bet you can’t jump over that rille, Runt,” Vern challenged. Gary Kandel hated it when his brother called him Runt. “Watch me, Runt,” Vern taunted. “I’ll show you how to do it.” (Moonwalk by Ben Bova, p. 614)
“Ready ?”
“Ready.”
“Now ?”
“Soon.”
“Do the scientists really know? Will it
happen today, will it ?”
(All Summer in a Day, Ray Bradbury)
Character Description
“Gandalf was shorter in stature than the other two; but his long white hair, his sweeping beard, and his broad shoulders, made him look like some wise king of ancient legend. In his aged face under great snowy brows his eyes were set like coals that could suddenly burst into fire.” (Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien)
Setting Description
As they entered the camp, the longest shadows Marven had ever seen stretched across the snow, and he realized with a start that the shadows were the lumberjacks walking in the moonlight. He could smell hay and manure and saw silhouettes of horses stomping in a snowy corral. (Marven of the Great North Woods by Kathryn Lasky, p. 218)
