ABSTRACT
There are possibly as many ways of beginning books as there are of starting stories. While storytelling can occur spontaneously, the techniques some writers use to draw readers into text parallel the ways many storytellers engage listeners in the oral process. Words are chosen and arranged on the page or presented verbally in an attempt to capture the attention of a particular group of readers or listeners. How effectively writers and story-tellers manage this endeavour is dependent on many factors, one being the ability to translate knowledge, experience and intuition into words and images that appeal to the intended audience. Ideally each significant word, or cluster of words, serves two purposes: first, it contributes to the meaning of what is being conveyed, and second, it moves the text or story forward in ways that engage the audience. Providing adequate contextual information is another useful technique because it helps readers or listeners connect with aspects that are meaningful to them
