1. Writing Leads
By: Celeste Gledhill

2. What is a lead?
A lead is the
beginning
of your story.

3. A good lead catches the reader’s attention, making them want to read on. It is the 1st impression the reader gets from the story. It also makes the writer want to write more.

4. Different Types of Leads
Question Lead
Set-up Lead
Talking Lead
Snapshot Lead

5. Draw your reader in with a question.
Question Lead
Draw your reader in with a question.

10. Set up the action for the entire story in a few sentences.
Set-Up Lead
Set up the action for the entire story in a few sentences.

13. Start with a line or two of dialogue.
Talking
Lead
Start with a line or two of dialogue.

16. Snapshot Lead Create a picture of the setting or a character
in the reader’s mind.

19. Strategies for good leads….
Lead with Action
Lead with dialogue
Lead with onomatopoeia
Lead with a question
Lead with a hope or feeling
Lead with an exclamation
Include background information
Introduce main character
Describe the setting
Introduce the main conflict

20. Example of Action Lead:
Ex: One rainy day I went to the mall. Revision: I splashed across the parking lot, yanked open the tall glass door and dripping wet, stepped into the mall.

21. It’s your turn!
Hi my name is Kate. This is a story about the time I went to the zoo.
Put Kate (main character) at the zoo (setting) doing something (action).
Revision:

22. This story is about the time I built a robot in my basement.
Put yourself (main character) in the basement (setting) doing something (action.
Revision:

23. I will tell you about my adventure swimming at the lake.
Put yourself (main character) at the lake (setting) doing something (action).
Revision: