In nonfiction, especially personal essays and memoirs, it’s tempting to set the stage perfectly before getting to the real story, but often the most engaging pieces dive straight into the heart of the action.
For instance, instead of starting with “It was a sunny day when I decided to hike the mountain,” we should try: “I was halfway up the mountain when I realized I’d forgotten water.”
The first sentence should make readers curious, and starting with action, a question, or even a vivid detail pulls your readers in immediately.
When you're editing, look at your first paragraph and ask yourself: Am I setting the stage, or am I telling the story? If it’s the former, consider chopping it and jumping to where it really gets interesting.
