SESSION VIII Studying Published Texts to Write Leads

Today I want to teach you that just when a writer is most fired up to write, most ready to charge into page after page of writing, we force ourselves to pause. We pause, rewind, and then we listen to what we’ve written. And we revise it. We revise our lead because by doing so, we revise our entire story. Sometimes, we do this with help from a pro. Today I want to teach you that just when a writer is most fired up to write, most ready to charge into page after page of writing, we force ourselves to pause. We pause, rewind, and then we listen to what we’ve written. And we revise it. We revise our lead because by doing so, we revise our entire story. Sometimes, we do this with help from a pro.

You already know that the beginning piece of writing, any piece of writing, is called a lead because these sentences are the way an author leads readers into the text. You already know that the beginning piece of writing, any piece of writing, is called a lead because these sentences are the way an author leads readers into the text. I always work hard on my lead because I want it to draw readers along. I always work hard on my lead because I want it to draw readers along.

How can a lead do that? What techniques do writers use? When writers want to learn how to do something, we study texts written by authors we admire. After we look really closely at exactly how other authors pull something off, we try the same techniques in our own writing. When writers want to learn how to do something, we study texts written by authors we admire. After we look really closely at exactly how other authors pull something off, we try the same techniques in our own writing.

Peter’s Chair lead Peter stretched as high as he could. There! His tall building was finished. Peter stretched as high as he could. There! His tall building was finished. This reminds me of what we learned earlier. It often helps with writing the exact words one character is saying or with a small action and to start close to the main event. What was the main tension or problem in this story? Notice that the lead of a story hints at what will come later. This reminds me of what we learned earlier. It often helps with writing the exact words one character is saying or with a small action and to start close to the main event. What was the main tension or problem in this story? Notice that the lead of a story hints at what will come later.

student example p102

What has Brinckloe done that we can learn from? On a summer evening On a summer evening I looked up from dinner, through the open window to the backyard. I looked up from dinner, through the open window to the backyard. It was growing dark. It was growing dark. My tree house was a black shape in the tree and I wouldn’t go up there now. My tree house was a black shape in the tree and I wouldn’t go up there now. But something flickered there, a moment-I looked, and it was gone. But something flickered there, a moment-I looked, and it was gone. It flickered again, over near the fence. It flickered again, over near the fence. Fireflies! Fireflies! “Don’t let your dinner get cold,” said Momma. “Don’t let your dinner get cold,” said Momma. I forked the meat and corn and potatoes into my mouth. “Please may I go out? The fireflies-” Momma smiled and Daddy nodded. “Go ahead.” they said. I forked the meat and corn and potatoes into my mouth. “Please may I go out? The fireflies-” Momma smiled and Daddy nodded. “Go ahead.” they said.

Brinckloe’s used lots of techniques here; the lead is one we could examine and talk about for hours. So let’s read it again. As you listen this time, let a section of the lead stand out for you, and then when I finish reading it, turn and point out that part to your partner. Name what Brinckloe has done that you could do to in your writing. Brinckloe’s used lots of techniques here; the lead is one we could examine and talk about for hours. So let’s read it again. As you listen this time, let a section of the lead stand out for you, and then when I finish reading it, turn and point out that part to your partner. Name what Brinckloe has done that you could do to in your writing. Share Share

Sometimes stories begin not with a big action but with a small action, and this can be an action in the setting, as when the firefly flickers on and off. Sometimes stories begin not with a big action but with a small action, and this can be an action in the setting, as when the firefly flickers on and off. Some stories begin with creating a mood and a place, and only afterward does the sequence of actions begin. Some stories begin with creating a mood and a place, and only afterward does the sequence of actions begin. Sometimes the time and the place are revealed slowly, bit by bit, as the character sees or moves into the setting. Sometimes the time and the place are revealed slowly, bit by bit, as the character sees or moves into the setting.

Listen to student’s lead again, and think whether the techniques we’ve learned from Blinckloe could help student as he gets ready to revise his lead. Listen to student’s lead again, and think whether the techniques we’ve learned from Blinckloe could help student as he gets ready to revise his lead.

Each of you needs to decide what you need to do. Some of you are probably realizing that in order to write with detail, you need to rethink your story plan, figuring out how you can zoom in more on just two Small Moment stories. Some of you may decide that you need to do some revisions that are similar to those student has done. Some of you will want to study published leads for yourself, learning more techniques. All of you will be drafting and revising leads, but you’ll decide how to go about doing that. Each of you needs to decide what you need to do. Some of you are probably realizing that in order to write with detail, you need to rethink your story plan, figuring out how you can zoom in more on just two Small Moment stories. Some of you may decide that you need to do some revisions that are similar to those student has done. Some of you will want to study published leads for yourself, learning more techniques. All of you will be drafting and revising leads, but you’ll decide how to go about doing that.