11+ Creative writing · Topic explained
Strong story openings
How do you make a reader need to know what happens next?
The big idea
A strong opening hooks the reader with action, speech, a question or a mystery.
Picture it
Like the first bite of a pizza: if it's good, you want the whole thing.
Key words
- Hook
- Something that grabs the reader's attention.
- In the action
- Starting in the middle of something happening.
- Mystery
- Something strange the reader wants explained.
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
Action: "The dog snatched my homework and bolted for the river."
- Straight into the action: we want to know if he catches it.
- 211+ standard
Speech: "'Don't open that box,' whispered Gran. Naturally, I opened it."
- Dialogue plus a twist of humour.
- Now we have to know what's inside.
- 311+ standard
Question: "Have you ever heard a statue sneeze?"
- A strange question pulls the reader in.
- 411+ standard
Mystery in the setting: "Every clock on Hollow Lane had stopped at exactly 3.17, and nobody could remember why."
- A precise, strange detail builds mystery from line one.
The common mistake
The mistake
Starting with waking up, breakfast or "One day…"
Instead
Start close to the exciting moment; skip the alarm clock.
Why: Slow starts waste your best minutes and the marker's first impression.
Where it comes up in the 11+
Independent-school papers set a story task: your first line is the marker's first impression.
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains strong story openings step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Strong story openings worksheet
Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.
Download the worksheet (PDF)Free account needed: it takes a minute.
Quick quiz
Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.
1. Which is the strongest opening?
- One day I went to the park.
- My name is Sam and I am ten.
- The swing was still moving, but the park was empty.
- I woke up and got dressed.
Show the answerHide the answer
The swing was still moving, but the park was empty.
It creates a mystery: who was just there?
2. "Run!" yelled Zak. This opening starts with…
- Speech
- A question
- A description of the weather
- A list
Show the answerHide the answer
Speech
It opens with words spoken by a character.
3. Why avoid starting with waking up?
- It's slow and nothing happens
- It's against the rules
- It's too exciting
- It's too short
Show the answerHide the answer
It's slow and nothing happens
The reader wants something interesting straight away.