Best way to start a medieval fantasy story?

Start with an action scene. Maybe a young knight is in the middle of a battle, his sword flashing in the sunlight as he fends off a horde of orcs. 'Sir Gareth swung his blade with all his might, sweat pouring down his face as the snarling orcs closed in. The clash of steel on steel rang out across the blood - soaked field.' It grabs the reader's attention right away.

Starting with a sense of foreboding works well. You can write something like, 'The wind carried a chill that had nothing to do with the season. In the distance, the mountains seemed to brood, as if they held a dark secret waiting to be unleashed.' This sets a mood of mystery and danger, which is often appealing in a fantasy story.

Begin with a vivid description of an otherworldly setting. For example, 'In a land where the sky was a perpetual swirl of purple and gold, and the trees were as tall as mountains, there lived a young adventurer.' This immediately draws the reader into the fantastical world.

Begin with an interesting character in a difficult situation. Say, a young wizard who wakes up one day to find his magic has vanished and he's in a land full of dark forces that he can no longer defend himself against. This hooks the reader as they want to know how the character will get out of the situation.

One great way to start a story is with an interesting character in an unusual situation. For example, 'There was a man who woke up one morning to find his house had disappeared overnight.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what will happen next.

Begin with a dialogue. For example, '“You can't be serious,” she said, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It makes the story feel immediate and alive. The reader is plunged right into the action and wants to know what the conversation is about.

One great way to start a story is with a captivating hook. It could be an interesting question, like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world without colors?' or a shocking statement such as 'The day the world ended, no one saw it coming.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read more.

A sudden and unexpected event can be a great start. For instance, a huge explosion rocks a peaceful village in a magical realm, and the main character is right in the middle of it. This shocks the reader and makes them curious about what led to this and what will happen next.

Out of nowhere.

Once upon a time.