Young writers tend to start their stories where they are 'comfortable', for instance:
- at the start of the day. ('I woke up that morning...')
- at the beginning of the school holidays. ('It was the first day of...')
- or on the bus going to the zoo. ('We all piled into the bus and...')
It's called warm up writing and often it becomes a habit they don't know how to break.
Authors always try to start a story with impact. Sometimes, if you catch them in a more lyrical mood, they might put it another way. They might talk about 'The Moment of Change'.
Look at some fairy stories kids know well.
Little Red Riding Hood
We never get a start like this 'Little Red Riding Hood was born...' And we certainly don't know what she did growing up, what marks she got in school or even what sort of child she was. We start when she did something different - and dangerous.
'Carry this basket of food to your Grandmother,' said Little Red Riding Hood's mother. 'And be sure not to go through the forest, there are wolves there.'
Jack and the Beanstalk
Who cares when Jack was born or what he ate for breakfast? The story starts when the family is down to no food, no money and only one thing left to sell.
'Take the cow to the market,' said Jack's mother. 'Make sure you get a good price for her.'
Cinderella
The childhood of Cinderella must have been horrible. Yet the first time we meet her is when she's grown tall and beautiful - and the Prince decides to throw a ball.
'Sweep the floor Cinderella, and hurry up. We've got so much work to do. The prince has invited us all to the ball.'
Top Tip
Look for the Moment of Change in all your kids' work - the place where there's lots of action and excitement. If you show them how to identify this crucial spot, then they can quickly learn to use it for a great story start.
(c) Jen McVeity, National Literacy Champion.
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