When we write stories for practice, sometimes it's fun to start a story with a first line from a published book.
Of course, in a story we plan to publish, we can't steal lines from another writer. (That's called plagiarism.) But when we write stories in our notebooks, and don't plan to publish them, it's okay to use a line from another writer as a starting point.
Here are some great first lines to get a story started.
- It was raining bullfrogs. (The Midnight Horse by Sid Fleischman)
- A small vagrant breeze came from nowhere and barely flicked the feather tips as the arrow sped on its way. (The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley)
- Move over, Dr. Dolittle. (Seaglass Summer by Anjali Banerjee)
- It was quite untrue that the Minnipins, or Small Ones, were a lost people, for they knew exactly where they were. (The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall)
- One of my best dreams ever. (Listening for Crickets by David Gifaldi)
- Most boys his age had never touched paper. (First Light by Rebecca Stead)
Take one of these first lines, or another one you found in a published book, and write a story using it as your story opener. When you're done, you may want to read the published book to see what it was about. How was your story different? How was it the same?
