You could also start with a strange discovery. 'He found a key in his grandfather's old chest, a key with no lock in sight.' It plants the seeds of mystery and gives the reader a question to ponder from the very beginning. Mystery stories thrive on unanswered questions at the start.
One of the best ways to start off a story is with a captivating hook. It could be an interesting dialogue, like 'I'll never forget the day he said, "You won't believe what I found."' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to know more.
One of the best ways to start a mystery story is with an intriguing event. For example, a strange disappearance. You can begin by describing the scene where a character vanishes without a trace. The suddenness and mystery of it will immediately hook the reader. It makes them wonder what happened and why, creating an instant sense of curiosity that will drive them to keep reading.
Set the scene in a spooky place like an old, abandoned house at midnight. Just describe the creaking floorboards, the cold drafts, and the peeling wallpaper. It immediately gives a sense of unease.
A good way to start a mystery story is to introduce a strange event. For example, 'The old clock in the attic started chiming at midnight, even though it hadn't worked in years.' This immediately creates a sense of mystery and makes the reader wonder what's going on.
Start with a spooky animal that is out of place. Like a big black cat with glowing eyes that follows a child everywhere they go. You can write something like 'Lucy was walking home from school when she noticed a cat she had never seen before. It was all black and its eyes seemed to follow her every step. She tried to run, but it kept getting closer.' This kind of situation can be both scary and engaging for kids.
A great way to start a love story is with a chance encounter. For example, in a crowded coffee shop where two people reach for the last blueberry muffin at the same time. Their eyes meet, and there's an instant spark of interest. It's a simple yet effective start as it creates an immediate connection between the two characters.
One of the best ways is to start with an interesting character in an unusual situation. For example, you could introduce a detective standing over a mysterious dead body in a locked room. It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder how the character got there and what will happen next.
Open with a mysterious object. For instance, 'The small, ornate box sat on the dusty shelf, pulsating with an unseen energy. No one knew where it came from or what it held, but I could feel its malevolence from across the room.'
You could begin by introducing a compelling character with a unique problem or goal. That makes the readers curious to know what happens next. Another option is to set the scene in an interesting or unusual place.
Start with a character who has an unusual memory lapse. For example, a character wakes up in a strange place and can't remember how they got there. They have no idea what they were doing before or who they might have been with. This is different from the typical mystery openings and makes the reader curious about what caused this memory loss and what secrets might be hidden in those lost memories.