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Myriora English › 11+ English › Chapter 3: Writing

Strong openings

11+Chapter 3 · Lesson 2

In this lesson

Your turn

Which opening starts with speech?

Show the answer

It's the first card! It starts with the words that someone says.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Explaining everything first. My name is Tom, I am ten, and I live by the sea. Save those details, and start with something happening.

Try it at home

Take a dull first line, and rewrite it three ways: with action, with speech, and with the setting. Which do you like best?

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! The first line of a story is your chance to grab the reader. Let's compare a plain opening with three stronger ones.

Here's a plain opening. One day, Tom went to the beach. It's correct, but it doesn't make us want to read on.

Try starting with action. Tom sprinted down the beach, with his sandals in one hand. Try starting with speech. "Don't touch that!" shouted Tom. Or try starting with the setting. The beach was empty, and the sky had turned black.

Let's try one together. It was a rainy day. How could you start with action instead? Here's a tip: have someone do something. Say it out loud!

You could say: Mia splashed through the puddles, with her bag over her head. Now we can see something happening.

Here's a common mistake. Explaining everything first. My name is Tom, I am ten, and I live by the sea. Save those details, and start with something happening.

Your turn! Which opening starts with speech? Pick the right card. You've got ten seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! It's the first card! It starts with the words that someone says.

Quick review. A plain opening is correct, but easy to forget. Start with action. Start with speech. Or start with the setting. See you next time!