1. Grabbing the reader’s attention with an interesting opening
Writing Memoir Leads
Grabbing the reader’s attention with an interesting opening

2. Write from experience
"In order to write memoir, we need to see that literature is made out of the everyday stuff of our lives."
Lucy Calkins The Art of Teaching Writing

3. Where to begin
Chances are that you’ve chosen to write about an event that has meaning to you, maybe even personal in nature. This should be an event you feel comfortable writing about. If it is a deeply personal experience, you may find that the writing flows more easily after you get past the opening.

4. Types of Leads
Action- The reader is immediately drawn into the action of the story
Dialogue-The text begins with one or more people speaking.
Setting- This traditional beginning describes place and time.
One-Sentence Wonders-The opening paragraph is only one sentence long, and it’s provocative.
Reflection-The narrator examines the subject, describing thoughts and feelings.

5. Action Leads
Action- The reader is immediately drawn into the action of the story.
I heard a loud crash, my little brother screamed, and I started running. When I got to the backyard, blood was everywhere and Michael was sitting holding his knee, crying. Pieces of broken bottle lay in blood pooling around him. I began to panic.

6. Dialogue Leads
Dialogue-The text begins with one or more people speaking.
“Jason! Jason, help me!”
I ran out the kitchen door to the backyard, where my brother was playing. When I got there, I knew it was bad.
“Are you…? Are you…”
That was all I could say. Nothing else would come out of my mouth.

7. Setting Leads
Setting- This traditional beginning describes place and time.
One Saturday night during the summer, my parents decided to go a movie. I was in charge of my little brother Michael, and I was in a bad mood. I didn’t want to baby-sit on Saturday night. Michael was much younger than I and really annoying. He always gets into my stuff and asked too many questions which I watched television.

8. One-Sentence Wonder Leads
One-Sentence Wonders-The opening paragraph is only one sentence long, and it’s provocative.
I will never forget myself for what happened to Michael.

9. Reflection Leads
Reflection-The narrator examines the subject, describing thoughts and feelings.
I never appreciated my little brother Michael. I thought he was annoying, a nuisance, a burden. But that horrible night I learned how important he is to me. I realized I would do anything for Michael. Anything.

10. Your lead…
How will you invite the reader into your memoir?