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Eight Short Story Starters
The short story starters I have included on this site from time to time have proved to be very popular. If you are looking for ideas to start you off with writing short stories, look no further. I have already written a number of lists of these short story starters – just click on the links at the bottom of this post.
Here is the latest list of ideas, all with an animal or bird theme:
- The moment I heard the old raven’s mournful cry, I knew my day was going to be a challenge.
- I looked around the room. It had been thoroughly trashed. A piercing screech from behind me made me jump. There was a large parrot sitting on the curtain rail.
- Barney bounded off after the rabbit, barking wildly. A sudden yelp came from behind the bush. Barney came slinking back to me, blood dripping from his nose.
- The first thing I noticed about the room was the dead goldfish.
- The beautiful eagle swooped quickly towards me. I could see its outstretched talons.
- I peered past the tent flap. The red fox was not aware of my stealthy stare.
- It was obvious at once that the pelican’s wings were entangled in fishing line.
- “Don’t sit there,” she commanded. “That’s the cat’s chair.”
Conditions of use:
- Feel free to use any of the story starters listed above. Change anything to suit your needs.
- Give it your best shot.
- Edit your work carefully before sending it off to a publisher or posting it on your blog.
- Let me know in the comments section how it went.
- If you publish your story on your web site or on your blog let me know so I can make a link to it for others to read.
Related articles:
So there you go.
Good writing.
[...] Eight Short Story Starters [...]
Hi i just wanted to thank you for these story starters.
I was asked to write a Sstory for my GCSEs and these came in very helpful thank you
Hi there Jess,
Thanks for the feedback.
It is good to hear of people getting useful things from the ideas on my blog. All the best with your writing.
I want to thank you for these story starters. I was able to write my fiction story for one of my classes alot easier. Thank you for puting them up!!!!
That’s great Rebecca. I love hearing reports like this – it makes this blog all worthwhile. All the best with your writing. Go for it.
Ok, uhmm, these kinda suck, a few of the ideas are in books I’ve read… I mean no offense, but these are kinda lacking, they also seem like things I’ve seen on state test prompts. I, once again, say no offense.
Hi there “Anonymous”
Thanks for stopping by, for leaving a comment and for expressing your opinion.
Despite your criticism, these story starters (and other posts like this on my blog) are the most popular articles on this site. Combined they receive over three thousand hits every month – month after month and that figure is growing. Many writers must therefore find them interesting and useful. I also get many comments and emails thanking me for the suggestions which have proved to be helpful to many people. The comments above are just a few – most come via my contact email link so they are sent privately and don’t appear here.
I am also curious as to why you hide behind a pseudonym.
actualy i agree with “Anonymous” there kind of old and over dunn
Thanks for your comment lexis.
These story starters are designed to help people who are struggling to come up with ideas for their stories. I do not post them here for people like yourself who seem to be struggling with the basics of the English language. Your 10 word sentence contains 10 errors. Before using any of my ideas, please make the effort to learn how to write a basic sentence.
Your sentence should read:
Actually, I agree with “Anonymous”. They’re kind of old and overdone.
If you are looking at getting your writing published then you need to edit your work very carefully. Publishers and editors do not have the time, resources and patience to help writers learn the basic skills of sentence construction and punctuation.
Please take this as friendly advice – not harsh criticism.
Hi! I am trying to start a story with “The first thing I noticed about the room was the dead goldfish” but instead of the goldfish I want to replace it with “my wallet”.
Is there any way you can help edit my short story after I am done?
Thanks, these are very helpful!
Hi there Shang,
I am sorry but I do not offer editing services. Please contact your nearest writers’ centre for details of organisations who could help with this, or look in your phone book.
Professional editing services are not cheap. Expect to pay at least $250 for a 5000 word story, probably more.
A much cheaper option would be to join a writers’ critique group who could do it for free, but such groups are usually not made up of professional editors.
These were very helpful! I have been writing stories since I was three, but for the past few years, I haven’t been writing, because I couldn’t think of any ideas. This helped me very much! I am using the first idea! Thanks again!!
Hi there Madysyn,
Thanks for visiting my site about writing. It pleases me when people find my ideas useful for their own writing endeavours. It is also pleasing to hear that you appreciate my suggestions. All the best with your writing.
Hi, thank you very much for posting these story starters. I’m only a teenager, but unlike many of my music- and fashion-crazed friends, I turn to writing. I particularly like numbers 4. and 8. and I think that they provide an attention-grabbing start to a story.
Thanks again, I am loving your blog!
I used number three and although I am only 12, I have a few books that other writers I chat to have actually persuaded me to try to get them published! I’m not sure about it yet but anyone that doesn’t find this website useful is being spiteful, unfair and mean.
Rachael,
Although I’m an amateur (perhaps like you are) at writing, perhaps I could take a look at your work? I could give feedback etc? If you are interested email me at emily.mead3@live.com.au
Although I have actually not chosen to use any of these particular starters, I find that they are indeed helpful. Also, a comment for “Anonymous”, why would you bother writing that out here? And “lexis”, the word you’re looking for is “overused”. Overdone is a term in cooking. Thank you. Oh, and Trevor, thank you for these. I drew several ideas from them to put content into an otherwise bleak story.
Thanks Tristan.
All the best with your writing – I am pleased that these suggestions helped you.
These starters are just simply amazing! I’ve been having the dreaded writers block for a while now and well, it hasn’t gotten me very far with my writing. But these starters have giving me so many ideas! Thank you very much!!