Good Writers Start Their Stories With Interesting Leads

Writers improve leads by studying the work of authors and then applying their techniques. A great lead sets us up to write a good story. Writers improve leads by studying the work of authors and then applying their techniques. A great lead sets us up to write a good story.

Good leads can include: the main character or another character doing a specific action the main character saying or thinking something (dialogue) a description of the main character showing setting in a way that creates a mood foreshadowing of events to come Good leads can include: the main character or another character doing a specific action the main character saying or thinking something (dialogue) a description of the main character showing setting in a way that creates a mood foreshadowing of events to come

Let look at some examples of interesting leads.

One early spring day, when the leaves of the white oaks were about as big as a mouse’s ear, Davy Crockett set out alone through the forest to do some bear hunting. Suddenly it started raining real hard, and he felt obliged to stop for shelter under a tree. As he shook the rain out of his coonskin cap, he got sleepy, so he laid back into the crotch of the tree, and pretty soon he was snoring. Davy Crockett by Mary Pope Osborne One early spring day, when the leaves of the white oaks were about as big as a mouse’s ear, Davy Crockett set out alone through the forest to do some bear hunting. Suddenly it started raining real hard, and he felt obliged to stop for shelter under a tree. As he shook the rain out of his coonskin cap, he got sleepy, so he laid back into the crotch of the tree, and pretty soon he was snoring. Davy Crockett by Mary Pope Osborne

One day in the early 1800s a tidal wave crashed down on the shores of Cape Cod in New England. After the wave had washed back out to sea, the villagers heard deep, bellowing sounds coming from the beach. When they rushed to find out what was going on, they couldn’t believe their eyes. A giant baby three fathoms tall -or eighteen feet- was crawling across the sand, crying in a voice as loud as a foghorn. Stormalong by Mary Pope Osborne One day in the early 1800s a tidal wave crashed down on the shores of Cape Cod in New England. After the wave had washed back out to sea, the villagers heard deep, bellowing sounds coming from the beach. When they rushed to find out what was going on, they couldn’t believe their eyes. A giant baby three fathoms tall -or eighteen feet- was crawling across the sand, crying in a voice as loud as a foghorn. Stormalong by Mary Pope Osborne

“Afternoon, Mac” Mose Humphreys tipped his stovepipe hat, revealing his flaming red hair. Puffing a huge cigar, he swaggered toward his special table at Paradise Soup House on the Bowery. Mose was eight feet tall and had hands as large as Virginia hams. His arms were so long that he could scratch his kneecaps without bending his back. Mose by Mary Pope Osborne “Afternoon, Mac” Mose Humphreys tipped his stovepipe hat, revealing his flaming red hair. Puffing a huge cigar, he swaggered toward his special table at Paradise Soup House on the Bowery. Mose was eight feet tall and had hands as large as Virginia hams. His arms were so long that he could scratch his kneecaps without bending his back. Mose by Mary Pope Osborne

“I’ve never seen anything like it!” “Now, Johnny it’s not that bad.” “Of course it is! How are we ever going to get a crib big enough for him?” The baby boy’s parents gazed up at him with a mixture of amazement and fear. They knew that their child was extraordinary. This baby boy’s name was Hank Quickfire and his parents would soon find out just how extraordinary he really was. Hank Quickfire by Mrs. Hatt “I’ve never seen anything like it!” “Now, Johnny it’s not that bad.” “Of course it is! How are we ever going to get a crib big enough for him?” The baby boy’s parents gazed up at him with a mixture of amazement and fear. They knew that their child was extraordinary. This baby boy’s name was Hank Quickfire and his parents would soon find out just how extraordinary he really was. Hank Quickfire by Mrs. Hatt

Go back and revise your lead. Make sure you capture your readers attention by using a lead that is interesting. Remember good leads can include: the main character or another character doing a specific action the main character or another character saying or thinking something (dialogue) a description of the main character Showing setting in a way that creates a mood foreshadowing events that are to come Go back and revise your lead. Make sure you capture your readers attention by using a lead that is interesting. Remember good leads can include: the main character or another character doing a specific action the main character or another character saying or thinking something (dialogue) a description of the main character Showing setting in a way that creates a mood foreshadowing events that are to come