Category Archives: Writing Good Leads

How to write a good lede.*

Writing a good lede* is one of the most formidable challenges any journalist faces.  You’ve got an instant to catch readers’ attention or lose them forever.  You’ve got to find an organizing idea in a notebook full of information, ideas … Continue reading

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Here's the drill: Read, Report, Write, Review, Repeat.

Here’s an easy-to-use formula for writing at CUNY:  Read + Report + Write + Review + Repeat = Better Writing.  Let’s put the microscope on each element to give you a sense of how it works: READ – In the … Continue reading

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The magic of mystery in your writing.

Here at the Write Stuff, we see a lot of leads that try to do too much. But as the weeks go by, we’re noticing more students who’ve discovered the magic of mystery. Rather than cramming every theme and angle … Continue reading

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How to write good leads.

The lead’s the thing. Editing sessions with new students last week suggested many of you struggle to come up with leads that hook readers.  A common flaw:  Too much information crammed into the first paragraph.  When you stuff most of … Continue reading

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How to write better leads

    What makes a good lead?  Hint:  It’s usually not a question. But it’s an answer we think a lot about here, particularly with a fresh cast of students. There’s no one right answer.  Jack Hart  talks about as many … Continue reading

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