You reach for something and miss, a man reaches for a gun, your train pulls into a station -- physical actions are a great way to command the attention of your audience, and keep them eager to read whatever comes next. However, any old action won't do. Choose an action that has great dramatic tension. Beginning with dramatic action can also help set a tone that the story will be entertaining to read, or suggest a pace for the method of storytelling being used.
When we think of our favorite stories, many of us can summon clear images of our favorite scenes, and so it's no surprise that using imagery is a highly effective way in which to captivate a reader at the opening of an autobiographical narrative. One trick to using imagery is to remember that descriptive language is used for describing both physical details and essential details. Use concrete observations to describe objects, but choose those details that best convey the essence of the image.
Countless great scenes in the history of storytelling have begun with an exchange of dialogue, and the method holds true with autobiographical narrative. An opening line of dialogue can also convey a large amount of information to the reader; it can allude to the conflict, and provide a clear look at the relationship between the characters who are speaking.
One alternative method of grabbing the attention of a reader is to preface the scene or story with a statement that provides insight into a subject and also hints at the struggles to come. This subject should either be one which is introduced in the opening and then illustrated by the scene as it unfolds, or it should be an already present subject that is explored further by the scene to come. Regardless of subject, a philosophical insight sets readers up with a viewpoint that they can expect to be investigated by the story that follows. This type of hook is also called direct address because the readers feel as though they are being spoken to directly.