Writing Made Easy: How to Start Strong
- Janeth
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
Every writer has faced that daunting blank sheet of paper or computer screen at least once in their lifetime, wondering how to kick off their writing. But don't worry! Today, we're here to help you cut down on that worrying time with some easy, go-to tips for getting started.
Writing comes in many forms: formal or informal, personal or general, entertaining or informative—the list goes on. For each type, there are foolproof ways to grab your reader's attention right from the first paragraph.
Essay
Essays aim to inform and keep the reader engaged. By the end of the first paragraph, you should establish your topic and leave a little nugget for the reader to follow. You can start with a question related to your topic, an interesting fact, or a popular quote. If your essay is more personal or informal, you could kick things off with a funny anecdote or directly address your reader using second-person pronouns.
Blog
Blogs are essentially essays but tend to be more personal and informal. They aim to inform and entertain, with a bit more emphasis on the latter. Think of writing a blog as having a conversation with someone. Feel free to use personal or second-person pronouns. You can also start with a question that you'll answer throughout your piece.
Story
When drafting your opening scene, try to avoid clichés like waking up from a dream or a long-winded history. These can quickly lose your reader's interest. Instead, think about your story on a macro scale: does it focus on a character, plot, setting, or event? Your opening scene should center on that. Plus, you should introduce the main character and the conflict within the opening scene. A relatable figure and a compelling conflict will motivate your reader to keep reading.
Journalistic Article
Most journalistic articles start with paragraphs called "leads." For general news pieces, the lead paragraph contains all the necessary details of the story, answering the questions who, what, where, and when. For op-eds, you should state the status quo regarding the issue and your stance as soon as possible. Feature article leads can take various forms: quotations, shocking statements, rhetorical questions, and more.
Research Paper
Research papers are the most formal type of writing on this list. They may follow a certain format, but there are ways to stand out. Some may lay out their thesis statement immediately, but this can be ineffective unless the reader is familiar with the issue. Start by stating the status quo within a couple of sentences before the thesis statement, then follow up with why your study is valuable in changing the status quo for the better.
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