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Writing Ideas: That First Paragraph

Posted on November 1st, 2010 in Writing by Guy Hogan
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In writing the beginning of a flash fiction story, if you don’t get the first paragraph right the reader may stop reading right then and there.

You only get one chance to make a good first impression.  When a reader begins a flash fiction story, that reader wants to be drawn further into the story.  How do you draw the reader further into the story?  The simple answer is, good writing will draw the reader into the story.  But this answer is too simple.

A more complex answer would be, the reader wants to feel the writer is in control of his or her material.

A writer can draw inspiration from a lot of things.  Well, I draw inspiration from music among other things.  I always liked Bobby Darin.  I like Bobby Darin’s choice of material.  I like his smooth delivery.  I like his cool mannerisms.  I like his voice.  He was in control.

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And just like Bobby Darin, a writer has to be in control.

But control for a writer is a funny thing.  Some writers feel control means spoon feeding the reader information.  This is always a mistake.  Never tell the reader everything.  Just tell the reader, oh, maybe 80% of what the reader needs to know.  The reader will figure out the other 20%.  To do this well, the writer has to be serious about writing.  It may take time to know what to leave in and what to leave out.  Just keep writing knowing you don’t have to tell the reader everything.  The writer has to realize that writing is an agreement between the reader and the writer.  The reader agrees to keep reading as long as the writer keeps informing or entertaining or both.

Read more in Writing
« A Tribute to My Favourite Triond Contributor
Appreciation for Your Writings »

Bobby had to keep hitting the right notes.

Well, a writer has to keep hitting the right words, starting with the first paragraph.  The best writing tip I can give to a writer of flash fiction is to make sure that each sentence contains a new, connecting piece of useful information.  The operative words here are “new,” “connecting” and “useful.”  If the writer can do this for the reader starting with that all important first paragraph, there is a good chance that the reader with go on to the next paragraph.  That’s all a writer can ask for.  And you’ll be cool just like Bobby Darin.

Sex Videos is a flash fiction story.

Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is my blog.

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