I started keeping a journal of opening lines I loved—from books, articles, even other students' essays. Some favorites: 'The summer I turned fourteen, I stopped believing in ghosts.' 'What if everything you know about success is wrong?' 'In 1923, a paleontologist made a discovery that would haunt him for the rest of his life.' Each one makes me want to know what comes next.
Studying these taught me more about how to start essays than any guide ever did. I noticed patterns: they start in the middle of action, they pose intriguing questions, they use specific details. Now when I'm stuck, I flip through my journal and ask: what kind of opening fits my topic? A story? A question? A surprising fact? Having examples makes the abstract concrete.
If you're struggling, start collecting openings you love. You'll start seeing the moves writers make, and you can adapt them for your own work.
Studying these taught me more about how to start essays than any guide ever did. I noticed patterns: they start in the middle of action, they pose intriguing questions, they use specific details. Now when I'm stuck, I flip through my journal and ask: what kind of opening fits my topic? A story? A question? A surprising fact? Having examples makes the abstract concrete.
If you're struggling, start collecting openings you love. You'll start seeing the moves writers make, and you can adapt them for your own work.
I'm a creative writing minor and we talk about "craft moves" all the time, but I never thought to apply it to academic essays. The examples you shared are perfect—especially the ghost one. It's personal but universal, specific but mysterious. I'm absolutely starting a "first lines" note in my phone today. Do you have any favorites from academic journals or essays specifically? I feel like those might hit different than creative openings. Also, your point about asking "what kind of opening fits my topic" is so smart—matching the tone to the content instead of forcing one style on everything. Thanks for this gold!