Wylie's Writing Tips

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Avoid background leads

Don’t start with the blah blah blah

The background might be an important component of your story. After all, the readers might need some of the following elements to fully understand your story:

Avoid background leads
Background — also known as the blah blah blah — is no way to draw readers into a piece. Instead, leave the definitions, history lessons and broader context for the third paragraph. Image by happystock
  • A definition
  • A short description of a key concept
  • A one-paragraph history of the subject
  • Additional facts or details that give context to the story or “prove” your point

Background comes third

But readers don’t need this material first. That’s why you:

  • Grab your readers’ attention in the lead
  • Make your point in the nut paragraph
  • Then fill in the blanks in the background section

Remember, the background comes third.

Start specific, then broaden your lens

Good story structure starts with the details, then expands to the background.

Don’t start wide, then get granular

Background:

XYZ Company is known around the world for exceptional-quality petroleum-based pet food solutions.

Nut graph:

Many people may not know that XYZ Company is also building a global reputation for energy-efficient operations.

Lead:

In just the last year, XYZ Company has saved 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. That’s the amount of energy used by 9,500 typical homes each year.

Instead, start with the details, then broaden to the background:

Start with the specifics …

… Then expand to the background.

Lead:

XYZ Company saved 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity last year — enough to fuel 9,500 typical homes a year.

Nut graph:

It’s all part of XYZ Company’s new mission to build a global reputation for energy-efficient operations.

Background:

XYZ Company — maker of petroleum-based pet food solutions — is going green by …

So start with the lead, follow up with the nut graph and then deliver the background.

What structure draws more readers?

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If the traditional news structure doesn’t work, how should we organize our messages?

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There, you’ll learn an organizing scheme that grabs readers’ attention, keeps it for the long haul and leaves a lasting impression.

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