Will you help me? I don't know how I am supposed formulate my answers.
A story's beginning should interest the reader and draw him or her into action. What would be some effective ways to start the following stories?
2. A third-person narrative about an adopted person going to meet his or her biological mother
3. An omniscient story about experiences in the military
4. A first-person story about an encounter with the police
5. A story from any viewpoint about a person with a serious illness
My answers:
2. "She was excited and anxious all at once. Ivy had wanted to meet her biological mother since the day she discovered she was adopted, but she was now worried that her biological mother would not be as great as she imagined. This woman had abandoned Ivy after all, hadn't she? She couldn't be that wonderful."
3. ?
4. "For as long as I've been alive, my association with the police has been very limited. I have had very few encounters with them. You might think I'm lucky, but my first encounter with the police would make you think differently; it was an absolute nightmare.
5. "They all said the same things. 'We know how difficult this must be for you. We know it hurts. We know, we know, we know.' They pretend to be survivors of leukemia as they try to shed an ounce of encouragement and light on the dark, hopeless situation. The truth is, it makes me sick. Sicker than I already am. They don't understand. They don't understand how much the chemotherapy makes me wish I was dead, or how it really feels to watch all your hair fall in clumps from your skull. They don't understand that I'm going to die and that it is foolish to believe otherwise."
Please, help me!
Those are excellent beginnings.
3?
The artillery shells were raining down around the grunts in the foxhole. Jacob wanted to lie down until it was over. Matthew stuck his head up, determined to strike back at the damned enemy.
Thank you.
You're welcome, Victoria.
Certainly! I can help you with formulating your answers for the effective ways to start the given stories. Here are some suggestions:
2. A third-person narrative about an adopted person going to meet his or her biological mother:
- "As the plane touched down on the runway, Sarah's heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. This was it – the moment she had been waiting for her entire life. Meeting her biological mother was both a dream come true and a daunting leap into the unknown."
- "There she stood, outside the address she had spent countless hours researching. The time had finally come for Emily to meet the woman who had given her life, and the magnitude of the moment was almost overwhelming."
3. An omniscient story about experiences in the military:
- "From the sprawling barracks to the echoing sound of boot steps on the training grounds, the military base was a microcosm of its own. In this world, battles were fought not only on the front lines but also within the minds and hearts of those who served, as each individual struggled to reconcile duty with the fragile nature of their humanity."
- "From the chaos of basic training to the battlefield's cacophony, the military spun stories of triumph and tragedy. It was here that friendships blossomed amidst the sound of gunfire, and where the indomitable spirit of soldiers forged bonds that would last a lifetime."
4. A first-person story about an encounter with the police:
- "The flashing lights reflected off my car's rearview mirror, sending waves of anxiety through my body. My heart raced as the officer approached, his stern gaze piercing right through me. I swallowed hard, knowing that this encounter with the police would forever change the way I viewed authority."
- "It started innocently enough – a minor traffic violation – but as the police officer towered over me, his hands resting on his belt, a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. In that moment, I realized that the power dynamics had shifted, and the uncomfortable reality of my encounter with the police began to sink in."
5. A story from any viewpoint about a person with a serious illness:
- "The diagnosis came like a tidal wave crashing upon the shores of my life, leaving me breathless and disoriented. In the blink of an eye, the world had transformed into a labyrinth of hospitals, doctors, and unknowns. With each passing day, the weight of my illness grew heavier, threatening to consume not only my body but also my spirit."
- "Every morning I wake up, staring at my reflection in the mirror, trying to decipher the invisible cracks that run deeper than any physical manifestation of my illness could convey. Life moves in slow motion now, each breath a precious reminder of the fragility I hold within me. This is the reality of living with a serious illness."
Remember, these are just suggestions to help you get started. You can customize the openings to suit your storytelling style and the specific tone and atmosphere you want to create.