More short story starters
Over the many years of writing articles on this site, I have written many posts listing what I call Short Story Starters. They have proved to be some of the most popular articles that I have written.
Frustration
One of the frustrating things that sometimes faces writers is coming up with ideas. These story starters aim to prompt your thinking so that a story flows easily from the way I have started it off. Sometimes, that it all we need – just a simple starting point and the creative mind kicks in and the imagination soars like an eagle. I hope one (or more) of these writing prompts help you to soar, too.
How to use these starters
Read through the list of suggestions. Choose one that you think you can use. Start your story using the idea you have chosen, changing anything you want. Start on your story and write, write, write.
Hint: Don’t edit your work at this early stage: JUST WRITE. The editing stage comes later.
Short Story Starters:
- Ali couldn’t decide which book to read next – the page-turning thriller or the murder mystery. She…
- Callum grabbed the letters from his mailbox. He shuffled through them until he came to the envelope he had been expecting now for over a week.
- Eloise couldn’t believe her eyes. What was her best friend carrying?
- After the party, Grant was totally confused by the events which had just taken place.
- It wasn’t like Harry to forget an appointment, but on this occasion, it was quite understandable.
- Josh and Jerry were inseparable friends until the day Kevin entered their lives.
- A sudden crash woke Loretta from her deep sleep. She sat up in bed, grogginess swirling in her head.
- She stopped, looked back and saw Margie following her. ‘Go away!’ she shouted. Margie kept coming closer.
- As the train loomed closer, Paul accelerated frantically.
- Despite searching all over the house, Rowena could not find her cat.
More short story starters and writing prompts:
You can find many more ideas for writing stories here.
Conditions of use:
- Feel free to use any of the story starters listed above.
- Change anything to suit your needs.
- Give it your best shot.
- Edit your work carefully before sending it off to a publisher or posting it on your blog.
- Let me know in the comments section how it went.
- If you publish your story on your web site or on your blog let me know so I can make a link to it for others to read.
Short story starters
Over the last few years I have written many posts similar to this one. Many of them have proved to be very popular with my readers and consistently draw many readers. I have also had good feedback from readers who have used them.
The idea behind these lists is to start your thinking off on a certain track – and then to let your imagination run wild. Use any of these ideas as you like, adapt the ideas to suit your thinking and away you go.
Each one could be used as an opening line, or a finishing line, or a sentence somewhere in your story.
Story starters
- ‘How on earth could you think that about me?’ shouted Nancy.
- Olivia hesitated as she came into the room. Her handbag was not where she had left it.
- ‘Now where have I put my glasses?’ muttered Peter.
- It was strange how Queenie always found a way out of her frequent moments of embarrassment. Like yesterday.
- As Robert closed his front door, he drew his coat tighter against the bitter wind. ‘What a night.’
- Sam raced to the letter box, flung it open and grabbed the only letter. “Yes! This must be it!’
- ‘How can you be so sure it was me?’ demanded Tina. ‘I wasn’t anywhere near you when it happened.’
- ‘If that is how you feel,’ said Ursula, ‘this is the final straw.’
- Vince was completely flummoxed. How was he going to get out of this toxic relationship?
- ‘That will do!’ yelled William. ‘That is the perfect spot for my pride and joy.’
You can access many more short story starters here.
Conditions of use:
- Feel free to use any of the story starters listed above. Change anything to suit your needs.
- Give it your best shot.
- Edit your work carefully before sending it off to a publisher or posting it on your blog.
- Let me know in the comments section how it went.
- If you publish your story on your web site or on your blog let me know so I can make a link to it for others to read.
Short story starters
Here is another set of short story starters.
Just choose one of them and use it as the first sentence in a short story. In fact, you can use more of them if you wish.
1. Fiona straightened her dress, gently brushed a hand over her hair and knocked confidently on the door.
2. Her life was never the same after that first encounter with Harry on the train.
3. It was the start of a series of exciting events, but Geoff didn’t know it at first.
4. It took Joan a few seconds to realise that she was in terrible danger.
5. On his fourth attempt Ken finally made it up the steep bank of the river.
6. “I had no idea that Peter felt that way,” said Lauren.
7. It was not until Monday that Maureen realised that she had made a terrible mistake.
8. Nancy knew at once that she should have reacted differently.
9. How could Peter have foreseen the immediate consequences of his simple words.
10. Rowena saw her changed situation as a wonderful opportunity to get back at her “friend.”
You can access many more short story starters here.
Conditions of use:
- Feel free to use any of the story starters listed above. Change anything to suit your needs.
- Give it your best shot.
- Edit your work carefully before sending it off to a publisher or posting it on your blog.
- Let me know in the comments section how it went.
- If you publish your story on your web site or on your blog let me know so I can make a link to it for others to read.
Short story starters
My series of short story starters and writing prompts on this site continue to be very popular with readers, so here is another set of ideas.
Just copy one (or more) of these sentences as the opening to your story.
The rest is up to your imagination.
Warm up exercise: consider using one of these ideas as a short, 15 minute warm up writing exercise before you start on your work-in-progress.
Writing prompts:
- James hesitated when he reached the basement, wondering if it was safe to enter.
- Katrina knew she shouldn’t be walking through this unfamiliar part of the city.
- Leanne picked up the book with the strangest of titles.
- Malcolm couldn’t resist; he just had to phone his brother and find out the result.
- Five hours had elapsed since Nanette had called.
- Paris had always intrigued Olga, but not for the usual reasons.
- If I had asked Peter a week ago that this was going to happen, he would have laughed in my face.
- She had dreaded this day coming for many weeks, but Ronya was pleasantly surprised by the actual outcome.
- Setting off at midnight was not Sam’s idea, but it was the least of his troubles that day.
- “How can we go on,” said Tony, “when this has just happened?”
- “Unless you let me have the gun,” whispered Vanessa, “we are never getting out of this place.”
- As soon as Wendy opened the rusty gate, she knew that this visit was going to be different.
Conditions of use:
- Feel free to use any of the story starters listed above. Change anything to suit your needs.
- Give it your best shot.
- Edit your work carefully before sending it off to a publisher or posting it on your blog.
- Let me know in the comments section how it went.
- If you publish your story on your web site or on your blog let me know so I can make a link to it for others to read.
Good writing.
Trevor
Short story starters
It has been a long time since I last listed here a set of story openers. So I thought it was an opportune time to add another in this popular series.
1. Jacinta knew it would be the last time they would meet. Sadly, she turned away and walked…
2. Kelly froze. The shattered glass had crackled under her shoe. She took another step, hardly daring to…
3. Lauren strolled to the door and opened it enough to see who was there. “Peter! You’re the last person I would have expected to…
4. It took all of twenty seconds for Morris to realise what the strange sound meant. By then it was almost too late. He…
5. In the distance Nat could see dust billowing skywards. “At last,” he said to anyone within hearing range. “About time too…
6. Penny slowly dressed in her favourite colours, including her favourite blue top, picked up her phone and purse and firmly locked the door as she left the house. This was to be the last time she…
7. Quentin hated his name. In fact, he hated most things about himself, his job, his home and even his so-called friends. He decided to…
8. At last Ros reached the decrepit building on Seventh Avenue. It was just as she remembered it the night she had…
9. With a delighted grin, Steve climbed into the cockpit and…
10. Terry never knew what hit him. Observers say he never had a chance. His fate was sealed the moment he…
Conditions of use:
- Feel free to use any of the story starters listed above. Change anything to suit your needs.
- Give it your best shot.
- Edit your work carefully before sending it off to a publisher or posting it on your blog.
- Let me know in the comments section how it went.
- If you publish your story on your web site or on your blog let me know so I can make a link to it for others to read.