Great Leads in Writing

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Great Leadsin Writing
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What is a lead?

• A lead is the first few words or sentences of a
  piece of writing.

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Why is a lead important?

• You have three seconds at the beginning of a
  composition to make your first impression.

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Why is a lead important?

• It has the power to make a reader sit up and take
  notice.

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Why is a lead important?

• It helps writers introduce content and style to
  their audience.

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Questions to ask about a lead

• Does this lead make you want to read on?
• Do you hear voice in the lead?

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How can my leads improve?

• Look at different types of leads.
• Write two to four leads and ask yourself or a
  friend, Which lead pulls you into the writing
  the most?

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Types of Leads 1. Setting

• Setting leads develop the story through
  description of where the story takes place.

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Setting Lead Example

• It was a dark and stormy night.
• In her bedroom Margaret Murry, wrapped in an old
  patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of her bed and
  watched the trees tossing in the frenzied lashing
  of the wind. Behind the trees, clouds scudded
  frantically

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Setting Lead Example

• (cont.) across the sky. Every few moments the
  moon ripped through them, creating wraithlike
  shadows that raced along the ground.
• from A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle

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2. Dramatic or Action

• Dramatic or action leads use specific, alive
  verbs to engage readers immediately.

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Dramatic or ActionLead Example

• Ethan died of a burst appendix.
• Thats what we were told and we had no reason
  to doubt it. Everyone on the street had heard the
  way he screamed. The pain must have been
  unbearable. Even after his parents

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Dramatic or ActionLead Example

• (cont.)had rushed him off to the hospital, his
  screams haunted me for days.
• from The Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Shusterman

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3. Character

• Character leads introduce and give insight to the
  storys characters.

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Character Lead Example

• Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of
  murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I
  was just such a girl, and my story is worth
  relating even if it did happen years ago.
• from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by
  Avi

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4. Dialogue

• Dialogue leads develop characters and problems
  with spoken words.

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Dialogue Lead Example

• Olivia felt tears welling inside her eyes. She
  silently vowed not to show her fear, not in front
  of these girls.
• Are you scared? asked Margaret, as if she
  already knew the answer.

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Dialogue Lead Example

• (cont.) Not at all, answered Olivia, too
  quickly.
• Then prove it, said Jeni.
• from an unknown source

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5. Reflection or Thought

• Reflection or thought leads develop plot and
  characters through what the characters are
  thinking.

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Reflection or Thought Lead Example

• Alex Ryan took the last seat in the back row of
  the West Creek Middle School multipurpose room.
  It was the perfect seat. He would be able to make
  all the funny comments he wanted to

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Reflection or Thought Lead Example

• (cont.) the other seventh graders, well out of
  hearing of any parents or teachers. And he would
  be as far as possible from his dad.
• from Alex Ryan, Stop That! by Claudia Mills

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Are these the only types of leads?

• No, there are other types as well, but most
  include some element of one of the ones we listed.

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Now lets go write some great leads!