Flash Fiction Openings: Hook, Line, and Sinker

Grab the reader’s attention, create intrigue, and set up your story.

C. L. Nichols, Author
StoryAngles
Published in
8 min readOct 8, 2024

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Flash fiction is a challenging form of storytelling. In just a few hundred words, you must create a complete narrative that grabs readers’ attention, pulls them in, and leaves a lasting impression.

The opening of a flash fiction piece is your one shot to hook the reader and engage them until the very last word.

Start with a bang. The first sentence should hit hard. This doesn’t mean you need explosions or dramatic declarations (though those can work too). Focus on creating intrigue, tension, or a sense of the unexpected.

“The day I died was the best day of my life.” This opener raises immediate questions. How can someone’s death be the best day of their life? What happened?

“Sarah always knew her cat could talk, but she never expected it to ask for a divorce.” This opening is unexpected and humorous. It sets up a bizarre situation that makes the reader wonder what’s going on and how the story will unfold.

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