I'm not claiming to be an expert on beginings. I have two difficulties in writing: starting and finishing. I never feel like I can draw people in to liking my characters and story, and once I feel I have, I can't bring myself to stop.
That said, the way I go about getting as good a begining as I'm likely to nail... I ask myself what's the most important detail in the story that I may never get to tell otherwise? Some early event I just have to
show and not just loosely refer to. Your opener has to do several important things - set pacing, set tone, set mood, set characterization. Even if you go on to write the next scene as a lighthearted talk between two friends, if you open with one person sitting in a tree in the dark stalking the man they intend to get their revenge on, you've colored the whole story.
Starting, though, depends on the person. Some people tout outlines, some people say they're worthless, some people sing praises for detailed character biographies, even going to the point of writing volumes of scenes for side characters just to make sure they "feel" real, while others just go with the flow and use a random name generator when they need someone to fill a gap.
Try suggestions. Find what works for you
