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In the CSSE exam, the examiner will read dozens — possibly hundreds — of stories. Your opening is your chance to stand out from the very first line. A powerful opening grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to keep reading. In this lesson, you will learn six types of opening and practise turning ordinary beginnings into extraordinary ones.
The opening of your story sets the tone for everything that follows. It tells the examiner:
In the CSSE English paper, the extended writing task is one of the most important sections. A weak opening — "One day, a boy went for a walk" — immediately signals a weaker writer. A strong opening says: this student knows what they are doing.
Drop the reader straight into the middle of something happening.
The branch snapped beneath her foot and she fell, tumbling through the darkness until the ground slammed into her back.
Why it works: The reader is immediately curious — where is she? What happened? They have to keep reading to find out.
Start with a character speaking.
"Don't open that door," whispered Grandma, her eyes wide with something that looked like fear.
Why it works: Dialogue is immediate and dramatic. It pulls the reader into the scene as if they are standing right there.
Paint a vivid picture of the setting using the five senses.
The forest was thick with the scent of pine and wet earth. Somewhere above, a woodpecker hammered out a rhythm against the bark, and the light that filtered through the canopy was green and watery, as though they were walking beneath the sea.
Why it works: It creates atmosphere and mood before anything has happened, making the reader feel like they are inside the story.
Pose a question that makes the reader think.
Have you ever found something you wished you had never discovered?
Why it works: Rhetorical questions create curiosity. The reader wants to know what was discovered.
Start at an exciting moment, then go back in time to explain how the character got there.
Looking back, Maya wished she had never picked up that letter. But standing in the rain outside the old post office, she could not have known what it would set in motion.
Why it works: It creates a sense of mystery — the reader knows something dramatic has happened and wants to understand the story behind it.
Use a very short sentence or fragment for dramatic impact.
Silence. Then, the scream.
Why it works: Short sentences are powerful. They create tension and force the reader to pay attention.
Let us look at some weak openings and improve them using the techniques above.
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