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Writing the beginning of a story by describing where and when it happens.
Have you ever closed your eyes and felt like you were suddenly in a spooky forest or a sunny beach? That is the magic of 'Setting the Scene'—you have the power to teleport your readers anywhere!
The setting is the 'where' and the 'when' of your story. It tells the reader if the story happens in a frozen castle at midnight or a busy playground during recess. To make a setting feel real, we use adjectives. Adjectives are describing words that tell us about size, color, or feeling. For example, instead of saying 'the woods,' you could say 'the dark, whispering, ancient woods.' Using at least adjectives helps your reader see a picture in their mind.
Quick Check
What two things does a setting tell the reader?
Answer
The setting tells the reader WHERE and WHEN the story happens.
Let's turn a boring sentence into a great setting: 1. Start with: 'The house was on a hill.' 2. Add adjectives: 'The creaky, old, wooden house was on a hill.' 3. Add the 'when': 'The creaky, old, wooden house sat on a hill during a thunderstorm.'
Every story needs a character. When you start your story, give your character a name and a trait. A trait is something that describes who they are on the inside. Are they brave? Are they clumsy? Are they curious? By telling the reader their name and one trait right away, the reader starts to care about them. For example: 'Barnaby was a clumsy rabbit who lived in the garden.'
Quick Check
If we say 'Sally is a brave explorer,' which word is the character's trait?
Answer
Brave
Let's combine a character and a setting: 1. Pick a name: 'Luna.' 2. Pick a trait: 'Adventurous.' 3. Pick a setting: 'A dusty attic.' 4. Combine: 'Adventurous Luna climbed into the dusty, dark, silent attic.'
The very first sentence of your story is called the hook. Its job is to catch the reader like a fish! You can start with an action, a sound, or a question. Instead of saying 'It was a nice day,' try starting with something exciting. A good hook makes the reader ask, 'What happens next?'
Let's write a full opening using all our tools: 1. Start with a sound: 'CRUNCH!' 2. Introduce the character: 'Brave Leo stepped onto the planet.' 3. Describe the setting: 'The ground was purple, crunchy, and glowing.' 4. Final Result: 'CRUNCH! Brave Leo stepped onto the purple, crunchy, glowing planet of Zog.'
Which of these is a setting?
Which sentence uses adjectives to describe a forest?
A character trait describes what a character is like on the inside, such as 'kind' or 'smart.'
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the three things you need for a great story start: a setting, a character with a trait, and a hook!
Practice Activity
Look around the room you are in right now. Write one sentence describing it using adjectives and introduce yourself as a character with one trait!