Three StoryStarters

I’ve used each of these story starters with lots and lots of kids and seen them do wonderfully imaginative things with each one.

1.) Your story begins with a boy or girl about your age just coming home from school.

Maybe she or he is just getting off the school bus. Maybe the character is walking or riding a bike. He or she might be alone or with other kids. It’s up to you.

As this character gets closer to home, he or she sees that there is somebody at home that he or she DOES NOT WANT TO SEE!!

Could be the police. The school principal. The cousin who always breaks things and starts fights. You name it.

But your character has to go home. Your character has to interact with this visitor.

2) Your story begins just as your character’s family is arriving at their new house.

New house? Actually, it’s a different house. This place is not new. It’s at least 100 years old—and it’s huge.

Your character is seeing it for the first time and definitely does not want to live there. As he or she explores this new place, your character dislikes it even more.

3) Your story begins as your character is exploring in the woods on a camping trip. Maybe the character is alone, maybe with a friend or a brother or sister.

Suddenly, though, nothing looks familiar. Your character is lost! Now the real adventures begin.

An added fun element is to have the character discover something unusual or mysterious. A brightly painted play house deep in the forest. A fairy ring of mushrooms after a rain. A talking animal or a colony of the wee folk.