If you wanted to write a fictional story how would you start it off?

[Gibbs-UK]

I have got some time in my hands and wanted to make it worth something, any tips anyone?

Got a very good idea about it so your help would be greatful, thanks.

 

[Pestilence]

THE END.

 

[Castiel]

Once upon a time.....

 

[Cosimo]

With someone posting on a forum, sipping a large whiskey asking people how to start a story.

 

[TheCenturion]

someone trolling on ocuk

 

[Gibbs-UK]

Wow you are very helpful, didn't realise you helped.

Well what a waste if thread then I suppose

 

[TheCenturion]

Wow you are very helpful, didn't realise you helped.

Well what a waste if thread then I suppose

sorry, read the thread title, but didn't read the op

Okay, so what do you want to write about it, what interests you personally?

 

[Bengaboy]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

 

[The_Police!]

I was once on a computer forum and ....

 

[Castiel]

Wow you are very helpful, didn't realise you helped.

Well what a waste if thread then I suppose

What else did you expect.

You need to have a hook, that hook needs to start the story in some way preferably within the first chapter of a novella/novel or sooner if a short story.

Open with info about the protagonist, not too much, you can build his/her persona as the plot progresses and along with the hook you should be sorted.

Much depends on the genre with regard to progression and don't forget it is the characters that create the readers attachment so sketch out each character beforehand.

 

[semi-pro waster]

I have got some time in my hands and wanted to make it worth something, any tips anyone?

Got a very good idea about it so your help would be greatful, thanks.

If you give a clue what the story is about then you might get some more useful responses. It's all very well starting with "Call me Ishmael" (apologies to Mr Melville) but if it's a story about a robot set in the year 3174 then it might not be the most suitable of openings, equally "A cold dawn brightened from the three parallel suns of Gnarhhspism" doesn't work so well perhaps if you're writing about a watervole on Earth.

 

[ChrisJSY]

Yeah, the question is a little vague.
We understand it but have nothing to start with.

 

[Moogman]

Waking up was never easy but today was far far harder to wake up because....

 

[Lakeland]

Yan neet a wheel agoh ah mahn hurd a noyse ower yonder soh a whenta ava luck

 

[233]

a woman once told me............

 

[Makhaira]

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,"

 

[markweatherill]

I always like, 'I am writing this under an appreciable mental strain, since by tonight I shall be no more. Penniless, and at the end of my supply of the drug which alone, makes life endurable, I can bear the torture no longer; and shall cast myself from this garret window into the squalid street below.'
(H P Lovecraft)

 

[Castiel]

It was strange when I was woken up. I mean really weird.

The instructors at that crappy training school gave us these lectures, explaining how the doctors put you to sleep so you don't experience it too much. It was supposed to be reassuring and all that but to be honest it scared the bejesus out of me so I never listened much.

I wish I had.....

 

[sbweightman]

Welcome to "insert settlement name here".

Allows you to set the scene, the mood, the people, and general theme of the story.

 

[Cosimo]

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,"

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

We've had Genesis before.