Five Ways to Begin a Children's Magazine Article
How to Write an Introduction for a Nonfiction Piece for Kids
Sep 30, 2009
Most magazine writers know that the beginning of an article can determine its fate. If a writer doesn't successfully draw a reader in early on, the reader may choose to abandon the piece altogether. That's especially true when it comes to a children's magazine article, which can lose kids quickly if the topic isn't interesting enough. But even the most uninteresting topics in children's nonfiction can be engaging right from the start. Here are some suggestions on how to write an introduction for a children's magazine article that'll make kids eager for more.
Start With an Anecdote
Anecdotes are a good way to grab a kid’s attention because they can make dull topics come to life immediately, especially if they're interesting. When an anecdote reads like good fiction, the article is hard to put down. The important things to remember about beginning with an anecdote, however, are to keep it short and make sure it relates to the topic and message of the article.
Pose an Intriguing Question
Questions are fun to read but even more fun to try and answer. The writer can reveal the answer in the introduction too, as long as he doesn’t divulge everything the reader might want to know — until later. Vague answers, like maybe or sometimes, often work well in question introductions because they motivate kids to keep reading for further explanation.
Share a Famous Quote
Find a quote by a famous person and use it as bait, just make sure that the quote relates to the article and that the person behind the quote is someone the reader cares about. The celebrities who interest an eight-year-old often differ from those who matter to a 14-year-old. Researching school curriculum can help pin down appropriate historical figures to quote.
State a Fact or Figure
If the fact or figure doesn’t surprise the reader, though, or at least spark his or her curiosity, this type of introduction will fall flat. A good way to lure a child with a fact or figure is to assert a phenomenal, unknown detail about the topic. Statements that shed new light on any subject are bound to prod the reader on.
Make Them Laugh
Not only do kids like humor, so do editors. Even if a writer isn’t naturally funny, there are a number of ways to pull off comedy. Start the article by telling a joke related to the topic. Offer a silly or illogical scenario, like a “what if.” Try sarcasm. Exaggerate. If these ideas fail, watch comedians on TV to see what tactics they use to reel in their audience.
Any of the above suggestions can make writing introductions for children’s magazine articles both fun and rewarding, especially when the introduction succeeds in drawing the reader in. A good beginning does, after all, make all the difference in children's nonfiction writing.
To learn about writing conclusions for children's magazine articles, see Five Ways to End a Children's Magazine Article.
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