Writers’ Corner: Seven Ways To Write A Compelling Introduction
The introduction of any piece is the most important part of a write-up. It’s like the package with which you present your thought to your readers. Because readers are not that patient to look into what you have written. Research shows that 55 percent of readers leave a page after reading the introductory part of a piece.
It is for this reason that it is important to learn how to use your introduction as bait for your write-up. Apart from the basic rules to writing with includes the deployment of short sentences as much as possible, and clarity in your introduction, you must be able to ensure that you hold your readers down with introduction that would make them want more.
Although you don’t want to seem too desperate by overselling the idea you are writing about, you want to be able to give them the assurance that they will get what they want. You must learn to keep short and concise.
The following are ways to craft a compelling Introduction
- Tell a Story
- Brew Curiosity
- Ask Questions
- Give Reason they should or should not continue to read
- Simplicity and Relatable Introduction
- Use Scenario
- Use witty Quotes from a luminary of the topic you are writing about:
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Tell a Story:
The use of anecdote for your introduction is very precious. it does not just win your readers attention, it makes your write-up unique. Nobody can experience what you have experienced. Your anecdote ensures that your readers see a form of reality in what you saying to them.
It’s not just the story about yourself that you tell your readers in the introductory part. Also story of people you know or have heard of. Give your reader a sense of what they are about to read about. Remember, the story must be relating to the topic you are talking about.
I started my article “Seven Lies People Tell You About Introverts” with this anecdote
“I remember my stay in the university, and how I was misconstrued for an unhappy person because of my love for quiet, and my frequent avoidance of social events. Not that I did not attend social events, but I didn’t attend as often as my roommate loved to. In fact, my roommate called me suicidal once, all because he met me at home when he went out to socialise.”
Brew Curiosity:
Curiosity is potent in winning the reader over. Your introduction must be thought-provoking and captivating. You can do this by bringing up a controversy on the topic you are talking about.
I started my Piece “Being an Introvert In the World of Extroverts” with the sentence “My childhood years were not enjoyable.”
My readers continued to read because they wanted to know why my childhood wasn’t enjoyable.
According to freelance writer, Nicole Bianchi you can invoke curiosity “By directly addressing the reader, it’s as if you’ve crawled right into their brain and know the problems and concerns they’re facing. You stir up their curiosity because they now want to know how you will help them solve their problem.”
Ask Questions
You might decide to start your article with a question. Some of your readers might know the answer to your question, while others might not. Those who know the answer or think they know will follow through in reading your piece because they want to see whether you will answer the question wrong so that they can give the right answer. Those who don’t know will read to see the answer to the question.
Asking question gives your reader the sense of why they should read your piece. It like you giving them the objective of reading the piece.
Give Reason They Should or Should Not Continue to Read.
You will likely win the attention of your readers if you give them the reason why they should read your piece or not. For instance, “If you think you are a professor in Child-upbringing, please don’t read this. This piece is for imperfect parents”
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Simplicity and Relatable Introduction
Readers get bored easily. It is for this reason that you go straight to the point. You definitely want an introduction that will ease the mind of your readers. You want to assure them that they are not reading for exams. You will want to give them the assurance that they will be learning something fun, and fun must be relatable and simple.
“I remember, recently, looking at my photo album right from the moment I was born to how far I have come. I couldn’t get enough of the laughter and Goosebumps I got looking at mere looking at the picture.”
That is an example for my write-up “5 Ways Photography Has Helped Humanity”
Use Scenario
You definitely don’t want passive readers, you want readers that will follow you mentally, and contribute to the discussion. Scenarios are good in getting your readers involved in the communication process. Think of scenario as a puzzle that your reader should solve while reading your piece.
This idea helps you keep your reader’s interest.
Use Witty Quotes
For my piece “Why Nigeria failed Africa and entire black race.” I started with a quote from Nelson Mandela; “Yes, Nigeria stood by us more than any nation, by you let yourselves down and Africa and the Black Race very Badly”
Quotes are important in staring up interest. Readers are usually drawn to the opinions of popular people. And they want to see how this opinion relates to what you are writing about.
For more article of the “Writers’ Corner” click here.
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