Course: This I Believe: Writing a Creative Personal Essay

8. Great Beginnings

Getting started is one of the hardest things about writing.
- How do authors get going on what they choose to write about?
- And how do they hook the reader into wanting to read more?
- How do storytellers get listeners to keep listening?

In this section, we are going to look at great beginnings and learn some strategies to hook your audience into reading or listening to your "This I Believe" essay.

What do you need to do?
1. Read through the First Lines linked below.
2. Choose one first line that you think would capture your interest.
3. On your blog, post the line and briefly explain why you want to keep reading (minimum 30 words).

What do you need to do?
1. Click on the "Creating First Lines" link below.
2. Read the instructions on each page and answer the questions asked.