Sure. 'The door creaked open, and a cold wind swept in, carrying with it a sense of foreboding.' This opening creates an immediate sense of unease and makes the reader wonder what's behind the door.
An opening like 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' is a classic example. It sets up a contrast right from the start and gives a broad view of the situation. Another good opening could be 'She woke up in a place she didn't recognize, surrounded by people she didn't know.' This is a simple yet effective way to start a story as it creates confusion and mystery, making the reader want to find out more about how the character got there and what will happen next.
You could also start with a simple, relatable situation. For instance, 'Tommy was so excited to go to the park. He had his favorite ball in his hand and was ready for a day of fun.' This makes children feel like they can understand the character's feelings and gets them engaged in the story. Another good opening for kids is a rhyming one. Such as 'Once upon a time in a far - off rhyme, there was a bunny that liked to climb.' Rhymes are catchy for children and can hold their attention better.
'Two friends sat on the park bench, the sun shining down on them, but little did they know that their lives were about to change forever.' This opening sets the scene of a normal friendship moment but then hints at upcoming change.
A foreboding dream. 'He had the same dream every night for a week. In it, he was in a dark, endless corridor with doors on either side. Each door had a strange symbol, and a cold wind blew from behind him, urging him forward, but he knew that whatever lay beyond those doors was something terrifying.'
Here's a more complex opening. 'In the middle of the bustling city square, a woman suddenly collapsed. As she hit the ground, a small, leather - bound book slipped from her purse. No one noticed it at first, but when they did, they saw strange markings on the cover. Those who looked closer seemed to be overcome with a sense of dread.' This opening combines a sudden event, an unexpected object, and a reaction from those who encounter it, all of which are great for setting up a mystery.
A long, lonely road in the middle of nowhere. The headlights of the car are the only source of light as the driver hears a strange thumping on the roof of the vehicle.
Sure. 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov opens with 'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul.' It's a very distinctive and controversial opening. Another is 'The Catcher in the Rye' which begins 'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like.'
Starting with a mysterious statement works well. For instance, 'The old house on the corner had a secret that no one knew, until now.' This piques the reader's interest as they want to uncover what that secret is. It can lead to a story full of mystery and discovery.
Beginning with an interesting dialogue can also be great. For example, '"You can't be serious," she hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It throws the reader right into the middle of a situation and makes them wonder what's going on. Another option is to start with a statement that challenges the reader's thinking, such as 'The world as we know it is a lie, and I was about to discover the truth.' This kind of opening sets up a sense of intrigue and encourages the reader to keep reading to find out more.
Another one could be 'Strangers. Friends. Best friends. Lovers.' It's a very concise way to show the development of a relationship in just six words. This kind of short - form storytelling forces the writer to be extremely creative and convey a lot of meaning in very few words.
Sure. 'A long time ago in a far - off land, there was a king with a great secret.' This immediately transports the reader to a different place and time and piques their curiosity about the king's secret.