7 STEPS TO WRITING YEAR 7 SIZZLING STARTS

7 STEPS TO WRITING YEAR 7: SIZZLING STARTS (2)

THIS LESSON… We will: • Be exploring the different types of ways you can begin a story, as we as how they each work to engage and intrigue readers. • Be practicing using these ‘sizzling starts’ in our own writing.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A BOOK TO READ? • You might look at the cover, then read the blurb on the back, and then…read the first page. • If those first few lines of the story don’t immediately ‘hook’ the reader in, then odds are, the reader will put the book down and never read the story. • As writers, we need to be aware that a great story ultimately ‘hooks’ and engages readers within the first 7 seconds.

HOW MANY OF THE STORIES YOU HAVE SEEN/READ THAT BEGIN WITH… You might have heard of the ‘classic cliché starters’: • One day… • On a dark and story night… • Once upon a time, in a land far away… These are what we call ‘clichés’ – story starters that are overused and lack originality. When we read those types of openings, it makes us think “Oh, I’ve heard this one before. ” and put the story down. It doesn’t keep us engaged!

YOU HAVE 7 SECONDS TO GRAB MY ATTENTION! Watch: • Finding Nemo Opening Scene https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=HG 3 L 98 NFyro • Ice Age Opening Scene https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=L 02 XRHbq. SE 4 How does each opening grab your attention?

FINDING NEMO • Starts with two characters talking (dialogue) “Wow!” • Has a sudden moment of change when the mood shifts from pleasant and relaxed to intense. • The story starts off with an intense moment of action with the barracuda attacking Marlin and his wife. VS ICE AGE • Has a sudden moment of change and intense action when the ice shelf cracks and causes an avalanche. • Creates a humorous moment with the tiny squirrel causing a massive avalanche. • Makes us curious what the squirrel is doing with the acorn.

SO WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU THINK CREATES A ‘SIZZLING START’ TO A STORY?

WRITE NOTES: WHAT MAKES A SIZZLING START? 1) Start with a bang/action! 2) Make the reader curious 3) Create a moment of change 4) Use humour 5) Start with dialogue 6) Use an action or sound word e. g. ‘Goal!’ ‘Shhhhh’ ‘Ouch!’

• Start with a bang!/action: The wailing drone of the evacuation alarm bellowed from the speakers in each classroom – this was it. The plan had been set in motion. • Make the reader curious: You try delivering a rat to the presenter of TV’s biggest news program. I took a deep breath, marched across half a mile of carpet, and placed the brightly wrapped box right in the middle of the receptionists desk. (From ‘Shadow Seeker’ by Jen Mc. Veity. ) • Create a moment of change: The low murmur of dinner conversation and cutlery clanging came to a sudden halt as silence filled the restaurant. As I scanned the room to

• Use humour: If it rained for much longer, even the fish would start to drown! • Start with dialogue: “Well, you were the one who forgot the can opener!” “I said I was sorry, didn’t I? How many more times do I have to say it? Sorry!” • Use an action or sound word: ‘Goal!’ ‘Shhhhh’ ‘Ouch!’

ACTIVITY READ THE FOLLOWING OPENING LINES FROM FAMOUS CHILDREN’S BOOKS. WHAT TYPES OF SIZZLING STARTS ARE USED?

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ACTIVITY WRITE YOUR OWN OPENING LINE TO CAPTURE A READER’S ATTENTION.

ACTIVITY: • Write your own opening line to capture a reader’s attention. Choose one of the ‘sizzling start types’. • Topics: - A rough day at work. - A holiday gone wrong 3 -4 - A suspected haunted house MINUTES - An incident at school