by Karen Clymer

Created on: December 24, 2009

Grab me.  Snare me.  Hook me.  Get me involved in that first sentence, or  I’ll keep moving to the next link from the search engine.  You won’t see me again.

Your opening sentence is like the advertising on a display box in a crowded store.  It has to stop the shopper and say “Look here!  Check this out!” 

Nothing will turn off your reader faster than a ho-hum, weak introduction.  If you want to  bore your readers, start with phrases like these:

“I never thought I’d see the day….”

“I guess I should tell you about the time….”

“Here are the steps to building a widget.  First ….”

“Hercules Unlimited is the best art gallery in the world, and ….”

“Upon my arrival at….”

Honestly, why would you want to read more?  I’d keep searching.. 

If you want readers to get involved with your idea, you have to reach out and tap them on their mental shoulder.  Fortunately, it’s not difficult.  Here are a couple of suggestions for starting out:

1.  Start writing without worrying about your lead.  Getting something down on paper will unblock your creativity and get you started into your piece.  Don’t let the lack of a powerful lead stop you from getting underway.  Consider whatever you write first as your working beginning, not your final lead

2.  Go back and revise your opening later.  As you read back through your writing, your lead will probably pop up out of the middle of the text  If you’re still having trouble finding the right words, check the following list of categories to help you brainstorm the right lead for your article:.

QUOTATION:  It can’t be just any quotation.  A weak quotation won’t gain your readers attention.  This is a weak quotation:  “I think that we should all eat sensibly,” said Mary Jones, author of Choosing Sensible Foods. 

A quotation has to be unusual.  This one is stronger:  “If you don’t choose sensible foods, your nose will fall off and your fingers will shrivel,” said Mary Jones, author of Choosing Sensible Foods.

A quotation can also be a short bit of dialogue.  See how this little scenario engages you  and makes you want to know more:

“Don’t put the trash out just yet,” she called

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>