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Hook Readers With ChatGPT
Win Over Your Audience
“What’s so hard about the first sentence is that you’re stuck with it. Everything else is going to flow out of that sentence. And by the time you’ve laid down the first two sentences, your options are all gone.”
Welcome to The Pen Pivot!
In today’s email:
AI Write Byte 🖋️ - How to use ChatGPT to come up with killer opening sentences
AI Teaches Writing 📚 - Watch ChatGPT break down a beautiful paragraph from To Kill A Mockingbird
AI Meme Of The Day 😂 - I apologize
AI Write Byte 🖋️
Hook Readers Instantly: Let ChatGPT Craft Your Opening Sentence
Whether you're a blogger, a journalist, or a disheveled newsletter operator (*cough*), the opening sentence of your writing is the fishing lure you use to hook readers in. With ChatGPT you can reel them in with your very first words.
Here's the prompt I use. You can copy and paste it into ChatGPT (or a similar AI language model) after filling in the blanks. Feel free to pick and choose the most relevant bits.
"Let's work together to create an attention-grabbing opening sentence for my article on [insert topic or theme]. The opening sentence should [insert desired effect on the reader, e.g. such as grab their attention, make them curious, or convey a sense of urgency]. Please use the following information to help you come up with suggestions:
Target audience: [insert target audience for this article]
Tone or style I want to convey in the opening sentence: [insert the tone or style of your article - eg. serious, humorous, informative, persuasive]
Keywords or phrases that I want to include for SEO purposes: [insert any specific keywords or phrases if you want to]
Main message I want readers to take away from the article: [insert answer here]
Desired length: [insert maximum word count, if you want to]
Call to action: [insert any specific call to action you want to include in the opening sentence, if applicable]
Examples of successful opening sentences: [insert any examples of successful opening sentences you would like to emulate or that have worked well for you in the past]"
*End Prompt*
There are classic styles of opening sentences that are often effective:
Asking a rhetorical question
Making a bold statement
Using a quote
Telling a story
Stating a fact
Using a metaphor
Telling a personal anecdote
Making a comparison/analogy
Using humor
However, I've found that specifying the type of opening sentence I want in the initial prompt is a little too restrictive and often leads to poor responses. It generally sounds forced and artificial.
I've come to terms with the fact that it may be because I don't always know what style of opening sentence will work best.
So, simply let ChatGPT use its own reasoning to come up with suggestions.
It'll take the information you provide in the prompt template and generate its own suggestions, often specifying what style of opening sentences it's going for.
For example, when I asked ChatGPT for help coming up with the opening sentence of this newsletter, it gave me a metaphor, an anecdote, an analogy, and a joke.
It even helpfully labeled them all for me.
"Try a metaphor: The opening sentence of your article is like the first impression you make on a blind date - it's crucial to make it count."
As you can see, it isn't perfect. But it's a great way to get the ideas flowing.
By giving ChatGPT the freedom to generate its own suggestions, the responses are often more creative and effective. It's great to watch.
If, however, you aren't happy with the initial responses, try drilling down by asking for examples of specific types of opening sentences.
Simply add the style(s) you want to the bottom of the prompt template I gave you.
Remember, it's usually best to use ChatGPT's suggestions as inspiration as opposed to simply copying them verbatim.
A writer's tone is similar to an instrument.
Just like a skilled musician, a writer has their own unique sound and rhythm - it's what sets them apart and allows readers to recognize their work without even seeing the author's name.
Your opening sentence sets the tone for your writing, just like a first note sets the tone for the rest of the song.
I use musical analogies quite a lot…
The point is that it's crucial for writers to make it clear that the opening sentence is their own voice and not someone/something else's.
Take ChatGPT's suggestions and instill your own flavor.
AI Teaches Writing 📚
I regularly ask ChatGPT to break down writing I find especially powerful. The writing could be from a classic novel, a journalist's article, or a blog post - it doesn't matter. I find inspiration everywhere.
“Atticus said to Jem one day, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
AI Meme Of The Day 😂
That's all for today folks!
Happy writing.
Best, Misya from The Pen Pivot