June 2011

Story Starts - Summer Feast

FIRST SENTENCE of a story:

• Myron was afraid no one would recognize him.
• At the top of the stairs, Bob found the missing sock.
• I always thought that left-handed people had all the luck.
• Few people in our little town had ever heard of vengeance.
• My dad never knew much about small talk.

CRUCIAL SENTENCE (Remove this and you ruin the story.):

• Rita closed the book and smiled.
• Abbie winced.
• The map was exactly where I said it wouldn't be.
• Gone. The old letter was gone.
• Grandma reached over and patted my arm.

HEADLINES (Make up stories for these one-sentence wonders):

• Actress Learns to be Honest
• Santa Claus Arrested
• Love Letters Stolen
• Spy Learns a Bitter Lesson
• Surprise Guest at Castle

THREE THINGS for a children's story:

• watch, wizard, wisdom
• sour milk, stranded mouse, sudden misery
• teachers, tattlers, truth
• nurses, nerds, negligence
• gold coin, monkey's eyebrow, magic