Writing Good LeadsWriting Good Leadsfor Narrativesfor Narratives

Strong LeadsStrong Leads

Good writers work on their Good writers work on their leads. leads.

They try several versions. They try several versions. They redraft and revise!They redraft and revise!Because a bad (or dull) lead Because a bad (or dull) lead

influences the reader. influences the reader.

Why is it important?Why is it important?A good lead…A good lead…

… … sets the tone of the piece.sets the tone of the piece.

……tells the reader something about tells the reader something about what they will be reading.what they will be reading.

……establishes voice and verb tense.establishes voice and verb tense.– II or or theythey– IsIs or or waswas

……grounds the writer. Makes it easier grounds the writer. Makes it easier to write to write

What doesn’t always workWhat doesn’t always work

Your writing starts when Your writing starts when the story starts.the story starts.

A timeline (and then, and A timeline (and then, and then)then)

A list of things the reader A list of things the reader should know.should know.

TypicalTypical

It was a day at the end of June. My mom, It was a day at the end of June. My mom, dad, brother and I were at our camp on dad, brother and I were at our camp on Rangeley Lake. We arrived the night Rangeley Lake. We arrived the night before at 10:00, so it was dark when before at 10:00, so it was dark when we got there and unpacked. We went we got there and unpacked. We went straight to bed. The next morning, straight to bed. The next morning, when I was eating breakfast, my dad when I was eating breakfast, my dad started yelling for me from down at the started yelling for me from down at the dock at the top of his lungs. He said dock at the top of his lungs. He said there was a car in the lake. there was a car in the lake.

Three Ways to Start a Three Ways to Start a NarrativeNarrative

1.1. Action - Action - Jump right into the Jump right into the action of the story and then flash action of the story and then flash back to the exposition. back to the exposition.

2.2. DialogueDialogue

3.3. ReactionReaction

ActionActionA main character doing somethingA main character doing something

I gulped my milk, pushed away from the table, and bolted out of the kitchen slamming the broken screen door behind me. I ran down to our dock as fast as my legs could carry me. My feet pounded on the old wood, hurrying me toward my dad’s voice. “Scott!” he bellowed again.

“Coming, Dad!” I gasped. I couldn’t see him yet – just the sais of boats that had already put out into the lake for the day.

Dialogue Dialogue Characters SpeakingCharacters Speaking

““Scott! Get down here on the Scott! Get down here on the double!” Dad bellowed. His voice double!” Dad bellowed. His voice sounded far away. sounded far away.

““Dad?” I hollered. “Where are Dad?” I hollered. “Where are you?” I squinted through the screen you?” I squinted through the screen door but I couldn’t see him. door but I couldn’t see him.

““I’m down on the dock. MOVE IT. I’m down on the dock. MOVE IT. You’re not going to believe this,” he You’re not going to believe this,” he replied. replied.

ReactionReactionA character thinkingA character thinking

I couldn’t imagine why my father was I couldn’t imagine why my father was hollering for me at 7:00 in the morning. I hollering for me at 7:00 in the morning. I thought fast about what I might have done thought fast about what I might have done to get him so riled. Had he found out to get him so riled. Had he found out about the way I had talked to my mother about the way I had talked to my mother the night before, when we got to camp the night before, when we got to camp and she asked me to help unpack the car? and she asked me to help unpack the car? Did he discover the fishing reel I broke last Did he discover the fishing reel I broke last week? Before I could consider a third week? Before I could consider a third possibility, Dad’s voice shattered my possibility, Dad’s voice shattered my thoughts.thoughts.

““Scott! Move it! You’re not going to Scott! Move it! You’re not going to believe this!”believe this!”

Which was the best?Which was the best?

Why do you like it?Why do you like it?

Assignment Assignment

Choose a piece you are working on or Choose a piece you are working on or have already finished. have already finished.

Write out your original lead on a Write out your original lead on a sheet.sheet.

Next, rewrite your lead using two (or Next, rewrite your lead using two (or three) of the techniques we just three) of the techniques we just learned about. learned about.

Draft due Monday. Be prepared to Draft due Monday. Be prepared to share.share.