Creative Writing
Openings
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The hook
There are many ways for writers to hook their reader. They might create:
- an interesting dialogue;
- an unusual situation;
- interest in a specific object or location;
- surprise with something unexpected;
- a lyrical description of a place or a person;
- a striking statement that challenges the reader;
- a cliff-hanger situation; or
- a retrospective view of the action that is about to unfold.
Hooking the reader
Analysis
Classroom Activity
Find an effective opening paragraph. Give your pupils a copy and ask them to rewrite the paragraph by paring it down to the bare facts.
Then encourage them to introduce the details they have removed. Ask them to identify how that detail contributes to making the opening effective.
Ask your pupils to select a particularly effective sentence. Use it to model another sentence, describing a different setting or character.
Story openings bingo
Classroom Activity
Use the Story openings bingo resource to further explore story openings.
Treasure hunt
Classroom Activity
Ask pupils to find examples of all of these techniques used effectively in the opening paragraphs of novels or stories in your classroom using the Treasure hunt resource.
Reading activities
Exploring openings
Classroom Activity
Encourage pupils to practise writing different openings using the Exploring openings resource.
The additional openings teacher resource includes all openings used in the Bingo resource. You might find these useful for customising your lesson.
