“So where should I begin?” you might be asking
yourself. Your opening must grab the
heart instantly. If your story has too
much of an introduction and doesn't start in the middle of the action, the
editor will probably never get to “the good part.”
Start where the action is, and work backwards. Sometimes the lead is the first thing you write; sometimes it is the last thing you write. Find your opening and get it out front where the
reader will see it in the first 20-30 seconds, that’s 4-5 average length
sentences. If you are writing for
children you have about half that time to get a child’s attention. Do whatever you can to hook your reader as soon
as possible.
First impressions are inevitably
the strongest. The first two or three
paragraphs act as bait, enticing your audience into reading the entire story. They should guide the reader smoothly into
the rest of the story, conducting them to the finale. You want to stop your story before it
actually ends. Indeed, the story may end before it gets started if you allow
yourself to engage in a lethargic beginning and assume the reader is
automatically interested in what you write.
Make your lead creative and
compelling. Study and practice making
openings attractive, so that your editor, and the rest of your readers, will reach
the end of your story, where the tone leaves the reader listening to a
satisfying symphony tinged with some dissatisfaction. Be conclusive, but not completely. Let your reader hear the echoes of the final
notes fading away.
My NCWA Blog Article is Here
My NCWA Blog Article is Here
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