Talking (dialogue) between the characters is an interesting and

sometimes intriguing way to begin your narrative.

Example:“Hurry or you’ll be late!” called my mother from the bottom of the

stairs. If only I had known what the

day would bring, I would have stayed

in bed.

Vivid description is writing which makes you feel as if you are standing right where the

author has just described something. Vivid description appeals to the senses — eyes,

nose, ears, skin, etc.Example:

The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward the waiting

school bus. The worn leather seat greeted me. Friendly voices hummed all around and with a jerk, the bus rumbled

down the road.

An interesting fact can capture the reader’s

attention and hook them in to reading more of your narrative. Shocking facts

can be particularly effective.

Example:Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It

can cause their brains to explode and their heart to stop dead still. These facts came to mind as I stood dumbfounded in front of my classmates.

Onomatopoeia (a sound effect) is a great way to

start your narrative. Onomatopoeic words mimic the sound of the object or action to which they refer.

Examples:The buzzing bee flew away.The sack fell into the river with a splash.He looked at the roaring sky.The rustling leaves kept me awake.

Asking a question is an interesting way to hook your reader. This type of starter

should leave the reader wondering and should invite the reader to keep reading.

Example:Have you ever been late for school? I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a

particularly disastrous, catastrophic and

humiliating way to start your first day of school.

Especially when you forget your lunch and....

your uniform!

Begin with the action. Starting with an Action Lead (exciting

verbs), is a great way to engage your reader quickly.

Use exciting verbs so that the reader feels like they are part

of the action.Example:

I jumped out of bed, raced to the wardrobe

and threw it open. It was time to face the creature in the wardrobe once and

for all. With my heart thudding loudly, I reached into the darkness shaking

uncontrollably.

A snapshot creates a picture in the reader’s mind. It’s a small moment shared at the start of

the narrative, that can be extended later in the story.

This is a great way to hook the reader and have them wanting

to read on.Example:My eyelids slowly

opened and I wondered what the noise was. I

gasped and lunged for my glasses in

the dark.

A flashback takes the reader back to describe

a past event. There must be clues to tell the

reader that you have now gone back to the

past.Example:

Gary stared out his kitchen window. Cold rain beat on the brown grass and bare trees. It took him back to that other rainy day thirty

years ago, the day that had changed Gary’s life

forever.

Narrative StartersDialogue Conversation

Talking (dialogue) between the characters is an interesting and sometimes

intriguing way to begin your narrative. Example: “Hurry or you’ll be late!”

called my mother from the bottom of the stairs. If I had only known what the day

would bring, I would have stayed in bed.

Vivid Description

Vivid description is writing which makes you feel as if you are standing

right where the author has just described something. Vivid description

appeals to the senses — eyes, nose, ears, skin, etc.

Example: The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward the waiting school bus.

The worn leather seat greeted me. Friendly voices hummed all around and with a

jerk, the bus rumbled down the road.

An Interesting Fact

An interesting fact can capture the reader’s attention and hook them in to

reading more of your narrative. Shocking facts can be particularly

effective. Example: Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It can cause their

brains to explode and their heart to stop dead still. These facts came to mind as I

stood dumfounded in front of my classmates. I wish I had stayed in bed!

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia (a sound effect) is a great way to start your narrative.

Onomatopoeia is word that mimics the sound of the object or action it

refers to. Examples: The buzzing bee flew away.

The sack fell into the river with a splash. He looked at the roaring sky.

Narrative StartersAsk A Question

Asking a question is an interesting way to hook your reader. This type of

starter should leave the reader wondering and should invite the reader to

keep reading. Example: Have you ever been late for school? I wouldn’t recommend

it. It’s a particularly disastrous, catastrophic and humiliating way to start your first

day of school. Especially when you forget your lunch and.... your uniform!

Action Lead

Starting with an Action Lead (exciting verbs), is a great way to engage

your reader quickly. Use exciting verbs so that the reader feels like they

are part of the action. Example: I jumped out of bed, raced to the wardrobe and

threw it open. It was time to face the creature in the wardrobe once and for all. With

my heart thudding loudly, I reached into the darkness shaking uncontrollably.

Snapshot

A snapshot creates a picture in the reader’s mind. It’s a small moment

shared at the start of the narrative, that can be extended on later in the

story. This is a great way to hook the reader and have them wanting to

read on. Example: My eyelids slowly opened and I wondered why it was so bright.

I gasped and lunged for my glasses in the dark.

Flashback

A flashback takes the reader back to describe a past event. There must be

clues to tell the reader that you have now gone back to the past.

Example: Gary stared out his kitchen window. Cold rain beat on the brown grass

and bare trees. It took him back to that other rainy day thirty years ago, the day

that had changed Gary’s life forever.