A lot of the time, getting started with your story can be the most challenging part of the writing process. Finding that winning opening line to hook your reader in can be a challenge, but have no fear; we’ve got a list of smash-hit story starters guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing!
Perfect for use at home, with your children, or in English lessons, our story starters cover a range of themes. So, whatever story you want, you’ll find excellent sentences to start a story in the list below!
- Jack hadn’t meant for it to happen.
- The wind swirled around me, and the world went black.
- At first, I couldn’t understand why I had woken up – then I felt the icy fingers close around my wrist.
- Walking through the graveyard, Katie couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.
- “Surprise!” They cried, leaping out from behind the door.
- It had been the happiest day of his life.
- With a sudden rush of panic, I realized I had no idea where I was.
- She was here, standing in front of my house again.
- Jenny could feel her heart racing as she stared at herself in the mirror.
- My hair stood on end, a shiver raced down my spine, and a lump came to my throat.
- As he walked down the street, Adam felt the spider in his pocket stir.
- Not again, Jess thought.
- It’s a strange and scary sensation to forget your name suddenly.
- James couldn’t believe he was finally here.
- Louisa dreaded this time of year – today was the day she would have to.
- It was a sunny July afternoon when I discovered I could fly.
- With a sense of unease, Rachel realized she had been here before.
- Matt slammed the car into reverse, but it was already too late.
- I have always hated chocolate, so I was more surprised than anybody to find myself standing outside of the quaint chocolate shop on the outskirts of town.
- Frantically, I pounded on the door.
- Whatever that object in the sky was, it was becoming increasingly clear that only I could see it.
- As the plane touched down, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
- Have you ever had a feeling that something wasn’t right? That’s how I felt the day.
- As our eyes met across the busy cafe tables, I was struck with the feeling that I already knew her.
- People say that dragons aren’t real, but I know better.
- The last time he had seen the man, Harrison had been asleep.
- She held out her arms to hug me, but I knew this wasn’t my house – and she wasn’t my Mum.
- It’s funny how you can be in the middle of something, and a random memory will strike.
- As much as Tim had tried to ignore it, he couldn’t deny it any longer – someone was knocking on his bedroom door.
- “Oh, what lovely music!” Catherine cried. Her friend looked puzzled. “What music?”…
- Whoever looked back at me in the mirror certainly wasn’t me.
- None of this would have happened if I’d never learned to time travel.
- The house on the hill stood lonely and derelict.
- The day I got my pet cat was also when the trouble began.
- Frowning, I held my hand towards the remote, willing it to move towards me. Then, almost imperceptibly – it twitched.
- It was sometime in August when I completely disappeared.
- Leanne had been my best friend for years – that’s how I knew something was wrong.
- It was 2 am, and the phone was ringing.
- The teacher looked across at my Mum and me. “What do you think I’m going to say?” She asked.
- I woke with a jolt and glanced at the clock. Then, with a groan, I realized I’d overslept again.
- It always happened at dusk, just as the sun began to set.
- Before the disaster, George had been a pharmacist.
- As the bus pulled away, Lauren realized her bag was still under the seat.
- Unafraid, Sophie ran and leaped off the diving board.
- “What happened?” Dad asked, his mouth hanging open as he took in the state of the kitchen
- It was supposed to be a fun hike through the woods, but nobody could have imagined what it would become
- It was the best present he had ever received
- As he sank further into the water, he began to panic
- It had been the worst day
- With tears in his eyes, he turned around and began to walk away
- I’d never seen a ghost before. That is, until that night
- She picked up the phone. “Hello,” an unfamiliar voice said
- It was the first day of school. Elise didn’t know anybody
- I arrived home, but the house looked strange
- The cat slipped through a hole in the fence. I followed, and what I saw was
- The sky had never turned that color before
- Deep in the ocean, where no light reaches
- In the scorching heat of the desert, we’d run out of water
- Today was the day – he was going into space
- What was my name again? I was in my room, but
- It was the worst birthday ever
- I’d forgotten how much I loved
- She’d missed the train, but while she was waiting for the next one, she spotted
- “A tiger has escaped the zoo!” a news reporter said on the TV
- A mysterious letter arrived with the post that morning
- I put on the hat, and suddenly I felt different
- Alarm bells rang in my head
- There was no way that this was real
- She stepped off the airplane and.
- There was a voice from behind me. Did that dog talk?
- The storm was raging – the boat was about to capsize
- The plan was decided. We were going to
- The streets were empty. Where was everyone?
- “I was only joking,” he said
- The snow came down thickly. There was only one problem – it was August
- My stomach hurt from laughing. I can’t believe her.
- Sick with nerves, he made his way onto the stage
- I looked under the pillow. Instead of a coin, the tooth fairy had given me
- She gave him the present, eagerly watching for his reaction
- A twig snapped beneath my feet. There was a growl
