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First paragraph holding you back? Delete it. Your strong opening often hides in paragraph two, where you stop circling and land…
Transcript
Want to improve almost anything you write? Delete your first paragraph.
I mean it. Go back to your last piece and read it without the opening. Nine times out of 10, it starts stronger.
The reason is simple. The first paragraph is where we warm up. We clear our throat before we say the real thing. That warm-up helps you, the writer. It does nothing for the reader, who is waiting for you to begin.
Look at your second paragraph. That is usually where your true opening hides, the moment you stop circling and finally land.
So write your throat-clearing. You often need it to reach the good stuff. Then cut it and let the strong line lead.
Not every draft needs this. Some openings earn their spot. But check every time, because the warm-up is a sneaky thing.
Cut it, and your reader stays.
