Story starter generator
Five story openings to hook readers from the first line.
Got your opening? Let Makebook help you write what comes next, chapter by chapter.
Continue my story with MakebookThe guide
The start of a story does one job: make people want to read on. The five openings here explore different angles: action, the narrator's voice, an intriguing detail, dialogue, a scene of rupture.
Pick the one whose tone feels like you, then ask what question it raises for the reader. If you answer it too fast, you lose the tension.
Avoid the hero waking up, the weather description and a summary of the past as an opening: they delay the story.
Frequently asked questions
How do you start a story?
Drop into the middle of the action or a disturbance: a character facing a problem, a detail that's off. Avoid explaining everything on the first page.
What makes a good first sentence?
A sentence that raises a question in the reader's mind or paints a strong image. It also sets the tone for the whole book.
Can I rewrite the openings you suggest?
Of course, they're meant as a spark. Keep what you like and rewrite it in your own style.