I really wasn't going to cover basics, this book was going to be more of a what additional things you can do to make your story better but when my good friend DujariArpita left this comment on one of the chapters I thought I should help out.
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Now usually a lot of people begin their stories with a new day beginning in their character's life because we often associate mornings with beginnings. Mornings are the foundations of our day so much so that if something bad happens in the morning it may end up affecting our entire day and productivity.
But this does not have to translate into your stories.
Your story does not have to begin at the beginning of the day; unless it's relevant to the story. If your main story concerns with the events of lunchtime at a cafeteria you do not have to describe what toothpaste your character used to brush their teeth and what color underwear they put on. You can directly begin at lunchtime. And if you're one of those people who walk readers through their character's morning routine in a way to make them either relatable or to give time for us to get to know them, let me tell you:
Neither of this works.
A character is not going to feel relatable or "just your average girl/boy" just because their morning routine is so much simple because guess what?At least 99.9% of people have the same morning routine. And if you're using it to describe their appearance and taste in clothes, and this should really be a whole another chapter but in short,
it's boring.
It's a boring way to make your readers know your character and a boring way to begin the story. The reader does not need a pokedex entry of your character. You need to describe their features in a way that is interesting and this should be spread across the story not crammed up in the very first paragraph. So unless you can think up an interesting way to begin your story, don't start writing it.
Some alternate ways you can begin your stories(I will be using examples from my own fics.)
A different time of the day: The afternoon sun shone brightly in the sky with all its fury but the young prince was unaffected by it.
Mid-action: The next moment, the still air was stirred like a jet ski making way through the ocean as someone dashed through the narrow streets taking swift and precise turns. The panting of breath could be heard clearly due to the stillness of the atmosphere as a brunette made her way through the empty sidewalks, her black blazer flowing behind her like a superhero's cape.
(Now this isn't the very first line but it is part of the opening para and the first glimpse of the character.)
With a dialogue: "So, I came to take the throne. So, you know, move." "..."
The description of the surroundings/setting for your story: The sunbeams pierced through the stained glass windows, spreading a warm hue in the enormous room. Summer breeze filtered through the elegant garden and brought with it, a unique amalgamated scent of flowers through the sole open window.
Something intense, like mid-argument: "How could you this? I don't know how to trust you after this."
"I-I didn't know it was such a big deal." Gouenji followed closely behind Kira who had just stormed out off the dining room.
Basically, the options are endless. You do not have to follow a set of rules when it comes to story openings. As long as it has a valid reason to be that way and is compelling it is going to make up for a great opening.
