1. 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??