WRITING AN INTERESTING LEAD

IN A NARRATIVE

BEGIN WITH A QUOTE

“Jeremy, tie your shoes before you get

hurt!” was all I ever heard from my parents,

grandparents, and teachers, but I never really

paid much attention to all their nagging

because I had heard it all so often. I just

tuned them out. How bad could I possibly get

hurt from not tying my shoes?

BEGIN WITH DIALOGUE

“Jeremy, tie your shoes before you

get hurt!” exclaimed my mom as I was

going out the front door.

Without giving it much thought, I

said, “I’ll tie them when I get on the bus.”

“Don’t forget…” Her voice became

fainter as I bolted for the bus that had

stopped down the street.

SETTING DESCRIPTION

It was just a typical Tuesday morning. It was rather warm for the middle of September. I got off the bus; shoes untied. I walked upstairs; shoes untied. I went to class; shoes untied; I went through my entire morning routine with my shoestrings trailing behind.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

I’ve never been the neatest or most organized

kid in town. I NEVER tuck my shirt in, and you can

forget about brushing my teeth without being told.

So, it’s not hard to believe that since I was 5 years

old, my mom had been hounding me to learn to tie

my shoes. Everyone really began bugging me once

I entered fourth grade.