How to Avoid a Bad Introduction
by Kathleen M.
“It was a Dark and Stormy Night…”
Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote a novel that started with this phrase in 1830; now there is an annual contest to write an equally atrocious opening sentence each year. You are more likely to remember the phrase from Peanuts cartoons, as it was often the opening of a novel that Snoopy worked on.
Writing a memorable opening for an essay is not easy. But there are a variety of options for how to avoid a bad introduction and create an excellent introductory paragraph.
In an earlier blog post, it focuses on the hook and how important that is for a personal essay. What is the scene you are trying to set? What is an anecdote you could share to show readers what you were thinking/feeling?
Another previous blog post highlights that the key to an introduction is to create a “Wow!” moment.
You can wow people in so many ways – think about what makes you you – and move from there. You may have an unusual talent; or maybe you have a talent that many have, then the trick is to find an unusual way to talk about it. Drawing the reader in by telling them about yourself and really showing them who you are through the examples and words you choose should work hand in hand.
With that being said, as an exercise, can you imagine ways to rewrite the boring introductions below into more original introductions?
1.Ever since I was young, I’ve always liked (math/history/English/science)…
2.As president of a club, I’ve learned a lot of leadership qualities over the years…
3. In this challenging experience of a summer job, I found out how to work hard and collaborate with others.
It is easy to write horrible examples and really hard to create a truly original opening. Give yourself a break and write the intro later if you are struggling. Or write four or five options for an opening and decide which you like best.
But keep working at it until you have a paragraph that communicates you!
