Beyond Once Upon a Time: Classic Fairytale Writing Prompts

So you want to write your own traditional fairy tale.  Here are some suggested opening lines to inspire you:

1.  Before the world grew small but the distance between people grew large, there lived a girl who wanted a sister more than anything in the world.

2.  When the queen died, the princess vowed never to speak again.

3. Back when the sun rose in the west and set in the east, an evil witch ruled the land.

4.  If he had known what had awaited him in the forest that day, the woodcutter never would have left his cottage.

5.  Only one child remained in the village, but because she was lame, she did not count.


What are some of your favourite fairy tales?  Have you ever written one before?