How to Start a Story: Tips from Bestselling Authors

Starting a story is one of the most critical moments in writing. The opening lines determine whether readers will continue turning pages or set your book aside. Bestselling authors understand that the first paragraph must hook readers emotionally, establish voice, and promise an engaging narrative ahead. Whether you’re writing fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction, the techniques used by published authors can transform your storytelling from ordinary to unforgettable.

The difference between a story that captures attention and one that falls flat often comes down to execution. Professional writers have spent years perfecting their craft, studying what works and what doesn’t. By learning their strategies, you can accelerate your own writing journey and develop stories that resonate with audiences. This guide explores proven methods from bestselling authors that will help you master the art of story openings.

Hook Your Reader Immediately

The opening hook is your first opportunity to grab a reader’s attention. Bestselling authors know they have approximately 30 seconds to convince someone to keep reading. This hook should be unexpected, provocative, or emotionally resonant. Stephen King often begins with unusual situations or immediate tension. Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” opens with “Marriage can be a comfortable place even if it’s not a happy one,” immediately establishing complexity and intrigue.

An effective hook doesn’t require action sequences or dramatic events. It can be a striking observation, a surprising revelation, or a question that makes readers curious. The key is making readers feel something—whether that’s curiosity, concern, excitement, or recognition. When crafting your opening, ask yourself: would I continue reading this sentence if I saw it in a bookstore? If the answer isn’t an immediate yes, revise until it is.

Consider how your hook relates to your overall story premise. If you’re writing about personal transformation, your opening might highlight what needs to change. If your story involves a mystery, the hook should hint at the puzzle without revealing the solution. The hook acts as a promise to your reader about the kind of story they’re about to experience.

Establish Your Story’s Voice and Tone

Voice is the unique perspective and personality that comes through in your writing. Readers connect with stories that have a distinctive voice—whether that’s witty, serious, nostalgic, or irreverent. Bestselling authors establish their voice immediately so readers know exactly what kind of experience they’re getting. Toni Morrison’s lyrical, poetic voice is evident from her opening sentences. David Foster Wallace’s complex, digressive style appears right away.

Your tone sets the emotional temperature of your story. Is it humorous, dark, romantic, or suspenseful? The opening should signal this clearly. If your story is comedic, readers should laugh early. If it’s a thriller, they should feel tension. If it’s literary fiction exploring human relationships, they should feel the emotional weight. This consistency between voice and tone helps readers settle into your narrative world.

To develop a strong voice, write naturally in your authentic style. Don’t try to sound like another author—instead, let your personality shine through your word choices, sentence structure, and perspective. Read your opening aloud to hear how it sounds. Does it feel like you? Does it feel true to the story you’re telling? Revise until both answers are yes.

Create Compelling Character Introduction

How you introduce your main character shapes how readers perceive them. Rather than listing physical characteristics or biographical details, bestselling authors reveal character through action, dialogue, and internal thoughts. In Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner,” the narrator immediately establishes his relationship with his best friend, revealing character dynamics without exposition.

When introducing your protagonist, show readers who they are through what they do and think. What does your character want in this moment? What’s their emotional state? What problem are they facing? These elements reveal character far more effectively than description. If your character is anxious, show them worrying or avoiding something. If they’re confident, show them taking decisive action.

The opening also establishes whether readers will care about your character. This doesn’t mean your character needs to be likeable—many bestselling protagonists are flawed or morally ambiguous. What matters is that readers find them interesting and want to know what happens to them. Make your character specific. Specific details make characters memorable and real.

Set the Scene with Sensory Details

Strong openings immerse readers in a specific world through sensory details. Rather than stating where and when the story takes place, bestselling authors show the setting through what characters see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. This approach draws readers into the narrative world immediately. Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism relies on vivid sensory description from the opening line.

Sensory details make settings memorable and emotionally resonant. Instead of writing “The room was old,” describe what makes it feel old: the musty smell, the creaking floorboards, the faded wallpaper. These specific details create atmosphere and help readers visualize your world. Choose details strategically—you don’t need to describe everything, just the elements that matter to your story.

The setting itself can be a character in your story. Whether you’re writing about a bustling city, a quiet small town, or a fantastical realm, the opening should establish the unique qualities of your world. This helps readers understand the rules and atmosphere they’ll inhabit throughout the narrative. Sensory details make this establishment feel natural rather than like exposition.

Ask an Intriguing Question

Many bestselling authors open with a question—either explicit or implicit—that compels readers to keep reading for the answer. This question might be literal, as in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”: “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.” The implicit question is: how did this happen and what will he do about it?

Questions work as hooks because they create curiosity. Readers naturally want answers. When you pose a question in your opening, you create narrative momentum. However, the question should be compelling enough to make readers care about the answer. Generic questions like “What will happen next?” don’t work—the question needs to be specific to your story and emotionally significant.

You can also pose questions that reflect your story’s themes. If your story explores identity, you might ask implicitly: who am I really? If it’s about love, you might ask: how do we connect with others? These thematic questions give your opening depth and resonance beyond simple plot curiosity.

Start with Action or Conflict

Action and conflict create immediate engagement. Many bestselling novels open with something happening—a decision being made, a conflict emerging, or a moment of change. This approach immediately establishes stakes and momentum. James Patterson’s thrillers often open with action that immediately puts characters in danger or pursuit.

Action doesn’t necessarily mean physical movement. Internal conflict—a character struggling with a decision or realization—can be equally compelling. What matters is that something is happening that matters to your character and will matter to your story. Starting with a static scene where nothing happens makes it harder to engage readers.

When you open with action or conflict, you immediately establish that your story is about something important. Readers understand that events matter and consequences exist. This creates narrative tension that propels readers forward. The key is ensuring the opening action or conflict connects to your overall story rather than feeling arbitrary.

Use Dialogue to Engage Readers

Dialogue is an excellent tool for opening stories. Conversations reveal character, establish relationships, and create immediacy. Readers feel present in conversations in a way they don’t always feel in narration. Many bestselling authors use dialogue to open because it feels alive and engaging. Elmore Leonard was famous for opening novels with dynamic dialogue.

Opening dialogue should reveal something important about your characters or situation. Avoid small talk or generic greetings. Instead, start with dialogue that matters—a confession, an argument, a revelation, or a question that establishes conflict. The dialogue should sound natural while also being more interesting than real conversation.

Dialogue also establishes voice. How your characters speak reveals who they are. Different characters should have distinct speech patterns and vocabularies. When you open with dialogue, you’re immediately showing rather than telling readers about your world and characters.

Establish Stakes Early

Readers need to understand why your story matters. What’s at risk? What does your character want or fear? Bestselling authors establish stakes in their openings so readers understand what they’re reading about. In Suzanne Collins’s “The Hunger Games,” readers immediately understand that characters are in mortal danger. The stakes are clear and high.

Stakes don’t have to be life-or-death. They can be emotional, psychological, or relational. A character might be risking their reputation, their relationships, their identity, or their dreams. What matters is that readers understand something important hangs in the balance. This makes them care about outcomes.

When establishing stakes, be specific. Rather than saying “everything changed,” show what specifically changed and why it matters. This specificity makes stakes feel real and immediate. Readers will invest in your story when they understand what characters stand to gain or lose.

FAQ

What’s the ideal length for a story opening?

There’s no fixed length for an opening. Some bestselling novels open with a single sentence, while others take several paragraphs. What matters is that you hook readers and establish your story’s world before they lose interest. Most readers will give you at least a page or two before deciding whether to continue. Use that space wisely to establish voice, character, and intrigue.

Should I start my story with backstory or exposition?

Generally, avoid starting with backstory or heavy exposition. Readers want to jump into your story, not learn history lessons. Weave necessary background information naturally as your story progresses. If readers are engaged by your opening, they’ll be patient while you reveal relevant details. Starting with exposition risks losing readers before they’re invested enough to care.

How do I know if my opening is strong enough?

Test your opening by reading it to trusted readers or getting feedback from a writing group. Does it hook them? Do they want to keep reading? Are they confused about what your story is about? Strong openings make readers curious and emotionally engaged. If readers aren’t responding positively, revise. Sometimes a small change—a different word choice or a reordered sentence—can transform an opening.

Can I revise my opening after I’ve finished writing?

Absolutely. Many writers find that their best openings emerge after they’ve written the entire story. You might discover that what you thought was your opening actually belongs later in the narrative. Or you might realize that a scene from the middle of your story works better as an opening. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different openings once you understand your story fully.

What if I’m writing a series or sequel?

Each book in a series should have a strong opening that works independently. Readers shouldn’t need to have read the previous book to understand your opening. However, you can include callbacks or references that reward longtime readers. The key is balancing accessibility for new readers with satisfaction for existing fans. Visit the FixWiseHub Blog for more writing resources and tips.

How does opening style differ across genres?

Different genres have different conventions. Thrillers often open with action or danger. Literary fiction might open with a striking observation or complex character moment. Romance typically establishes the romantic tension early. Mystery opens with an intriguing question or puzzle. Understanding your genre’s conventions helps you write an opening that meets reader expectations while still being fresh and original.