Don’t Worry About the Perfect Intro; Start Where the Energy Is

Writers waste too much time trying to craft the perfect intro before they know what they’re really saying. Here’s how to start faster and finish stronger.

How many writing sessions have you wasted staring at the blinking cursor — typing and erasing, typing and erasing — trying to craft the perfect first sentence?

Don’t let yourself get hung up on those first few sentences. Your intro doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to get you moving.

This is true whether you’re writing a blog post or article, a whitepaper or essay, or even a full-length novel.

Some of the strongest hooks I’ve written came after the rest of the piece was drafted. Why? Because by then, I actually knew what I wanted to say. I had clarity, examples, and the tone down. I knew exactly what value the piece was bringing the reader. I wasn’t guessing anymore.

Trying to write a brilliant intro before you know where the piece is going is like trying to deliver a punchline before you know the joke.

Here’s What to Do Instead:

• Jot down a placeholder intro. One messy paragraph with the gist of what you think you're writing about.

• Jump into the body. Explore the idea. Write fast and loose.

• Let the writing show you what it’s really about.

• Once you’ve got a full draft, come back and write the hook your content deserves.

Recommended reading: Connecting the Dots: Keep Your Writing Flowing with Smooth Transitions (Exercise)

When you let yourself write through the piece before perfecting the start, your intro ends up sharper, more aligned, and way more compelling.

🔒 Full subscribers: Keep reading for a step-by-step process to write intros that actually match the power of your ideas. Learn how to identify your true hook, align it with your content, and open with clarity and confidence.