Today we talked about story leads that are dull, cliched and all-too-common. This is only the tip of the cliched iceberg, so please add your own terrible leads in the comments section!
LEADS TO AVOID
DULL VERBS
A person spoke (to, about)
A person discussed
A group gathered
A group met (will meet, is set to meet)
An event got underway (will get underway)
An event will happen
PASSIVE VOICE
A budget was approved …
Issues were discussed …
HYPOTHETICAL
Many people…
All students know…
Every American has experienced…
QUESTIONS
What would you do if …?
Have you ever wondered …?
QUOTES
“All men are created equal,” Abraham Lincoln once said.
An old Irish proverb states …
PSYCH!
Jane Doe went topless on Tuesday. The weather was so warm, she rolled down the top on her convertible VW bug.
CLICHÉS
’Tis the season …
Webster’s dictionary defines [fill in the blank] as …
The good news is… The bad news is…
Imagine if …
The times they are a-changin’ … (Song lyrics in general)
P.R. HYPE
Homecoming will be an event to remember …
No one knows more about pleasing customers than …
ISU’s beloved basketball team won again …
