1. Imagine: Your teacher just assigned a journal, but you have no idea how to start. You stare at the page hoping for inspiration, but it never comes. Your teacher is upset because you are still not writing five minutes later. She gives you “the look.” Then the frustration kicks in, and your brain shuts down completely. You want to scream. The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

2. Could this be you? The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

3.  Do you have a difficult time finding a way to start your stories, journals, or essays?  Would you like a little trick to get you started?  Would you like to know the best way to start a story so that people will want to keep reading? The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

4. 1.TPI:Time, Place, and Incident 2.Imagery:Using your five senses to create a mental image for the readers’ minds 3.Dialogue:Two or more people talking 4.Media Res: Starting in the middle of the action The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

5. 1.TPI: Time, Place, and Incident Example: It had been a dark and stormy night on September 9, 2014 in Vicenza, Italy. When I woke up the next morning and looked in the bathroom mirror, I realized my front tooth was mysteriously missing. How did that happen? I wondered, since had lost my baby tooth many years ago. The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

6. 2. Imagery: Using your five senses to create a mental image for the readers’ minds Example: Boom! The house rattled like a train was running through it, and I heard the smash of glasses falling on the floor when lightning struck the ground near the house. It smelled like burning flesh, and it made my arm hairs bristle. The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

7. 3. Dialogue: Two or more people talking Example: “I think it’s a ghost,” she whispered. “No, it’s just a sheet,” I replied. “Then why does it have eyes?” she asked. “Aggggghhhhhhh!” we both screamed. The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

8. 4. Media Res: Starting in the middle of the action Example: Running from the White House, I could feel the explosion behind me before I could hear it. There were Army tanks and foreign fighting vehicles doing battle in the streets. It looked like World War III had begun. The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

9. Trick Question: Which story starter is the best? Answer: The best story starter is a combination of all four story starters!

10. Weaving: The story starters are also good writing techniques to use throughout your writing. Using a combination of techniques (TPI, imagery, and dialogue) throughout the story is called “weaving.”

11. “Oh noooooooooooo!” It started off as a beautiful, sunny evening in Panama. It was my chore to take the U.S. flag down each night. However, this time, the white brick I was standing on collapsed, and I went flying face-forward into the giant bayonet cactus, still holding the flag pole in my hands. I felt the cactus spine pierce the skin below my lip and sink into my lower gum. Then there was a sharp pain followed by warm, red blood squirting all over my face and in my mouth. I couldn’t get up because I was stuck to the cactus. “We’re going to have to cut her out,” my brother said. “Go get Dad!” The Four Story Starters

12. Ms. Cowles and the Bayonet Cactus The Four Story Starters for creative introductions

13. Significance: The significance is the “so what” of the essay or writing. It is the reason for the story, and it is what gives the writing meaning. Good significance leaves the reader with an emotional feeling, such as: sad, happy, angry, scared, excited, thoughtful, or joyful. In the autobiography, good significance usually elicits that special “awwww” response of warm fuzzies from the reader.

14. Significance: Many stories end with a moral, lesson, or A-ha moment that brings significance to the story However, really good writers know how to weave in significance throughout the story To weave in significance, give little hints and foreshadowing instead of waiting until the end of the story

15. Details: Part of Imagery Details give the reader a more precise picture of the story. Giving exact details (such as size, color, shape, number, age, and texture) help to create more precise images for the reader

16. TPI: Giving frequent hints to time, place, and incident throughout the story lets the reader construct a reference for the story and follow a timeline of events. TPI can be obvious (12:31; Oct. 1, 2014, in Vicenza) or subtle (my stomach was growling; in the hallway)

17. Onomatopoeia: Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate sounds. This adds to the sense of “hearing” that creates good imagery. Examples: Boom, rattle, sizzle, crunch, swish, screech, ka-ching, slither, whistle, snap, crackle, pop

18. Story Starters Use story starters to: Make your writing interesting, fun, and exciting Catch your readers’ attention Win essay contests Get good grades Publish your writing Impress your parents, friends, and teachers Feel proud of your writing skills Become successful and famous