Catch and Release: Writing Powerful Introductions

 

By Candyce Carden

I used to teach college composition. Don’t shudder. The thought of writing academic papers probably won’t get your creative juices flowing, but nonfiction writers can employ creative nonfiction techniques to engage and entertain readers.

No literary genre has grown as rapidly as creative nonfiction in recent years. When writing creative nonfiction, we weave in literary elements to compose our articles and books. Michael Pollen and Max Lucado are two of the best at this; their persuasive writing instructs, enlightens, and delights.

Many of my students struggled writing introductions and conclusions. They focused on arguing and supporting their thesis and overlooked these two powerful components of nonfiction writing.

Introductions

Introductions are short, but they carry a heavy load. Only one or two paragraphs long, introductions include a hook, set the scene, and clarify your central theme.

The Hook 

We want to reel in our readers from the beginning. A hook is an attention-grabber designed to entice readers to keep reading. We don’t have long to capture them, so it’s important to choose the best technique available. Here are five to consider:

A. Personal Experience. Sharing a related anecdote about something that happened to you establishes common ground with your audience. It might be something that makes them laugh, surprises them, or tugs at their emotions.

B. Thought-Provoking Question. Posing an open-ended question invites readers to engage with your topic on a deeper level. What would your life look like if you prioritized relationships as much as your career? Have you ever considered the impact of _____ on our lives?

C. Paint a Memorable Scene. Draw your audience in by describing a vivid scene. The picture you paint prompts your audience to consider what life would look like if the problem you are addressing was solved. “Imagine a world where…” is one example. Another is to describe a picturesque farm of free-roaming livestock to introduce an article about today’s food industry.

D. A Startling Statement or Statistic. Choose a fact that is shocking, attention-grabbing, and credible.

·       “Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States.”

·       “Divorcees die earlier than married people.”

·       “The link between cyberbullying and adolescent suicide is steadily climbing in the United States.”

E. Incorporate a Powerful Quote. A quote by an expert or famous source intrigues an audience and adds context to your topic. “As Maya Angelou said, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’” 

Set the Scene

Your introduction should provide a brief overview of your topic. It will set the context for your writing by including general information about the main idea.

Thesis Statement

What is the central theme of your topic? Think of your thesis as stating a problem and proposing a solution. Imagine a skewer of vegetables sizzling on the grill. The skewer represents your thesis, and the various veggies represent the paragraphs which connect to your thesis.

A creative introduction blends together the elements necessary to explain your position, suggest a solution, and entice your audience to keep reading. Don’t overlook its power.

 

For more on creative nonfiction, read “What is Creative Nonfiction?”

 

What literary techniques do you call on to create compelling nonfiction?

 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and JESHOOTS.COM

Candyce Carden is a writer, educator, and nature lover whose teaching experience ranges from preschool to college. She’s written for a variety of magazines, devotionals, and compilations. Currently fine-tuning a devotional with a beach setting, Candyce and her husband divide time between north Georgia and Destin, Florida. The answer may not be at the beach, but should we not at least check?