What are some good starting sentences for short stories and how can they be developed into complete stories?

One good first sentence could be 'The old man sat alone on the porch, staring into the distance.' This can be developed by exploring why he's alone. Maybe his family has all left for the city. As the story unfolds, we could introduce a young neighbor who befriends him and changes his view of life. They might start sharing stories, and through this relationship, the old man rediscovers his purpose.

A starting line such as 'The small, dusty bookstore seemed to hold a thousand secrets.' To develop this, first describe the bookstore in more detail, the smell of old books, the creaky floorboards. Then introduce a character, perhaps a book lover, who comes across an old, locked diary in the store. The character tries to find out who the diary belongs to and what secrets it holds. This could involve meeting the owner of the bookstore, who has his own secrets related to the diary, and as the story unfolds, the secrets are slowly revealed.

One opening sentence could be 'In the dead of night, a strange scratching sound came from the attic.' A possible complete story: In the dead of night, a strange scratching sound came from the attic. I lived alone in that old house. Ignoring it at first, I tried to go back to sleep. But the scratching grew louder. I slowly made my way up the creaky stairs. When I opened the attic door, a pair of glowing eyes stared at me from the darkness. I quickly turned on the light, but there was nothing there. As I turned to leave, a cold hand grabbed my shoulder. I screamed but no one could hear me in that isolated place.

Sentences like 'The old man sat on the porch, his memories swirling around him like autumn leaves.' are great for short stories. Also, 'The wind whispered secrets through the trees, making the forest seem alive with mystery.' are good examples. These types of sentences set the mood, whether it's a sense of mystery, loneliness or anticipation which are important elements in short stories.

Sure. One good starting sentence could be 'In a small, forgotten village on the edge of a dark forest, there lived a curious girl named Lily.' Another is 'The day the sky turned purple was the day everything changed for young Tom.' And 'On a stormy night, when the wind howled like a wild beast, a mysterious figure emerged from the old mansion.'

An adventure - starting sentence could be 'With a map in his hand and a glint of determination in his eyes, Jack set off into the uncharted jungle.' Another one is 'The moment the old treasure map was unfurled, the group of friends knew they were about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.' And 'When the ship set sail towards the unknown islands, every sailor on board felt a mix of excitement and fear.'

Good sentences can enhance short stories by creating vivid imagery. For example, a sentence like 'The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple' makes the reader visualise the scene clearly.

One way is to expand on the characters introduced or hinted at in the opening sentence. Say the opening is 'She stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping in the wind'. You can start by giving her a name, like Emily. Then, think about why she's there. Is she thinking about jumping? Or is she waiting for someone? As you build the story, keep the tone consistent with the opening. If it's a somber opening, don't suddenly make it a comedy. Add details about her past, her dreams, and how the situation at the cliff is going to change her life.

A great opening is 'In the middle of the night, a strange noise woke her up, a noise she had never heard before.' This creates mystery and makes the reader wonder what the noise is and what will happen next. It gives a sense of unease and anticipation right from the start.

If your starting sentence is 'The clock stopped ticking at exactly midnight.' You can immediately create a sense of mystery. The reader will wonder why the clock stopped. Was it a sign of something supernatural? Or perhaps there was a mechanical failure with a deeper meaning? By posing this unanswered question right at the start, you hook the reader.