Writing a good opening line is right up there with finding the perfect headline for a story – it can make or break an article.
But coming up with an intro that determines whether or not the reader decides the story you have dedicated so much time to is worth their attention can be tricky.
Check out these tips on NPR Training from Hannah Bloch, digital editor for international news at NPR, who gives examples of the different types of ledes your story can have, both good and bad.
For example a story can have a first-person introduction, one that is observational, or one that shocks the reader, and Bloch advises steering clear of clichés, puns or mentions of the weather in your opening line.
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