The idea is to create a mood, or feeling, as the reader pictures the scene in his mind.
Second, many leads start with a quote. This is a great way to jump right into the action. It brings up questions about who’s speaking, whom they’re speaking to, and what they’re talking about. For example, a story about a young boy’s adventures may start with:
“They say Old Man Jenkins still haunts this old graveyard.”
That phrase opens up all kinds of possibilities. A news story, on the other hand, would begin with a powerful quote from a main news source.
Finally, you can sometimes start stories with a question. Use this technique sparingly; many writers consider it a lazy way out. In a way, it is. It’s usually the easiest method, especially in nonfiction. That’s why you need to avoid it! However, there are times when a question really is the best lead-in to your writing. Also, it’s a great cop-out when you’re beating your head against a wall because you can’t find the right lead for your story.
These are only three of many techniques, but they should help you get started, both in your writing and in stopping your elusive readers in their tracks.
Andrea’s writing background includes features, editorials, reviews, profiles, poetry and fiction. She has published several freelance pieces over the past several years, and was the winner of the MOTA short story contest in 2002. She also received honorable mentions for fiction from Writer’s Journal magazine in 2002 and 2004. She’s currently working on several fiction projects in her spare time. Visit her blog at http://www.creativewithwriting.blogspot.com.