Unlocking the Mystery: Why These 5 First Lines Vanish From Memory Instantly

Word Wise: Practical Writing Tips for Freelancers and Solopreneurs

Walk with me through your reader’s article feed. Scroll, scroll, scroll. Then, a headline captures his eye. He clicks to read more.

Congratulations! Your article has moved past the initial hurdle. But will Robert Reader keep reading your masterpiece?

That’s up to the first lines of your article.

Those opening words have just 10 seconds to convince Robert to stay. Will they be memorable and interesting?

I’ve seen too many writers launch an article with a stumble, grasping at cliches. Don’t let that be you. You’ve put considerable work — rightly so — into your headline, so much that it has passed your reader’s muster. And there’s a good chance you’ve invested quality effort in your main idea … the guts of your article … even your takeaway and close.

But when a first line is forgettable, I don’t keep reading. If you’re honest, you don’t either. Here are the most common forgettable first lines and how to avoid using them in your articles.

5 forgettable first lines

#1: “Let me tell you a story…”

The problem: unnecessary wordiness.

If you’ve opened an article with this line, I understand. You’re simply being friendly by writing in a conversational tone.

But good friends don’t announce a story. They don’t waste a reader’s time or insult their intelligence with needless statements or excessive explanations. Good friends jump right in.

Do that with your first lines. Jump in. Put the reader into the story with you.

A more memorable first line: “Walk with me through your reader’s article feed.”

(Yes, it’s the opening line to this article. And you’re still reading, right? It put you into the story.)

#2: “I’ve been thinking about…”