*Hooks

*Start with a question

*Have you ever wondered what a breaking bone sounds like?

*Have you ever fallen out of a tree?

*Use flashback

*Two years ago today, it all started.

*Fourth grade seems like so long ago, but it really wasn’t. I remember my teacher, Mrs. Phillips. She was so sweet.

*Start with dialogue

“What’s wrong with you?” exclaimed Braden.

“Me???? What’s wrong with you?” retorted Nicole.

*Set the scene: describe where/when/background

*The rain was coming down in sheets. The loose screen door howled as the wind tore around the house.

*It was a dark and stormy night.

*Hot sand, cool water, soft breezes. That’s how I remember Cozumel.

*Start at the end

*Although I didn’t realize it then, I learned a lot by the end of the ordeal.

*Introduce the characters

*Sally’s hair covered her face like a sheet of rain.

*Jump right into the action

*I jumped off the plane and reached for the ripcord. Nothing was there!

*Onomatopoeia

*Bam!

*Crack!