1. Or . . . . “How to write a ‘cool’ lead
SACRED
Or “How to write a ‘cool’ lead

2. S = setting
“Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of Laburnum Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly.” (“The Monkey’s Paw”)

3. A = action
“Mark and me went down to the bar/pool hall about two or three blocks from where we lived with the sole intention of making some money.”
~That Was Then, This Is Now

4. C = character
“True! – nervous – very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am! But why will you say that I am mad?” ~“The Tell-Tale Heart”

5. R = reflection
“When I was little, my Uncle Peter had a necktie with a porcupine painted on it. I thought that necktie was just about the neatest thing in the world. Uncle Pete would stand patiently before me while I ran my fingers over the silky surface, half expecting to be stuck by one of the quills.” ~Stargirl

6. E = event
“The day after my mother died, the priest and I wrapped her body in a gray shroud and carried her to the village. Our burden was not great. In life she had been a small woman with little strength. Death made her even less.”
~Crispin

7. D = dialogue
“Too many!!” James shouted, and slammed the door behind him.
“What?” said Will.
“Too many kids in this family, that’s what. Just too many.”
~ The Dark is Rising

8. Practice . . .
Now, highlight your lead and

9. Practice . . .
1. Write a new lead using one of the techniques we just discussed . . .

10. Practice . . .
2. Swap papers, read, and “steal.” Write another new lead . . .

11. Practice . . .
3. Cross our the first sentence of your narrative. Is your second sentence an even better lead??