Stuck on an intro? Try this trick before you rewrite your first paragraph again
- Cynthia Odenu-Odenu
- 9 hours ago
- 16 min read
You’ve rewritten your intro five times. You’ve deleted it four. And it still sucks.
You’ve tried a stat, a question, and scrolled through old posts for inspiration. Yet, nothing hits. The real problem? You’re not trying to write. You’re trying to impress. And that kills the flow every time.
Before you spiral into another rewrite, pause.
I asked experienced writers whose intros get read what they do when they feel stuck or start second-guessing their first paragraph.
No fluff. No recycled “open with a stat” advice. Just real tactics that work. By the end, you’ll have seven proven intro styles to steal, ones that hook fast, hold attention, and make your whole draft flow easier.
Why does this one paragraph feel harder than the rest?
Because everything rides on that first impression, and your brain knows it.
The intro isn’t just your opening. It sets the tone. It decides whether the reader scrolls or bounces. And deep down, you know that.
So you overthink it.
You’re trying to do four things at once—grab attention, sound smart, earn trust, and preview what’s coming in a few lines.
No wonder it feels hard.
It’s not the topic or the draft that stalls you. It’s the pressure to hook the reader, to impress the client, and to make it feel just right.
And until it does, everything else feels off.
That’s when most writers freeze. And when they don’t, they fall into one of three traps:
Explaining what the reader already knows (“Content marketing is powerful…”)
Trying to say everything at once (“This blog will cover X, Y, Z and why it matters…”)
Stuffing in fluff to fill space and sound bloggy, but lose all clarity
And when that happens, the intro becomes a wall instead of a door.
It blocks you from getting into the rest of the piece. It slows you down. It makes you second-guess everything else you’ve written, even when the rest of the draft is solid.
So what’s the fix?
Let’s talk about the trick that makes everything easier.
The trick that fixes 80% of your intro problems
The intro isn’t always the best place to start. It just feels like it should be because it comes first.
But when you’re staring at a blank doc (or worse, a finished draft with no intro), it’s because you’re trying to write the final answer before you’ve figured out what you’re trying to say.
That’s why one of the easiest ways to get unstuck is to stop starting at the top.
Begin with the body. Explore the idea. Let the piece take shape. Then come back to the beginning once you have more clarity and direction.
During my interview with Rosanna Campbell, she shared a mindset shift that makes this easier:
“When I get stuck on an intro, I ask myself: ‘What does this topic remind me of?’ It’s often a seam of creative inspiration.”
And she doesn’t just say that. She applies it.
She even shared an example of how she has applied this:
“For example, an article about writing better forms made me think about how we ask people their names when we meet them in person. That led to a fun intro about networking events."
It worked. Not because it was clever, but because it was real.
That kind of thinking makes the intro feel natural, not forced. It’s a reminder that your best opening line isn’t always the most polished. It’s the most personal.
Ask yourself:
What is this piece helping the reader understand?
When did the writing start to flow for me?
Is there a moment, story, or line in the body that could work better up top?
Most of the time, the intro is already there. You just haven’t recognised it yet.
And that’s where a lot of writers trip.
They think the intro needs to summarise the whole thing or sound overly polished. But that only adds pressure and makes the writing feel stiff.
Rosanna shared another perspective during our interview, one that builds on this idea of clarity:
“To grab my reader’s attention? I think about why they’re reading the article in the first place. Do they just want to know how to do something? That’s fine, I’ll write 1 or 2 lines to reassure them that they’ll learn how to do it here and why I know what I’m talking about. Are they reading to learn more about their industry, for instance, or to be entertained? Time to start work on a more imaginative, story-led intro.”
Her point? Knowing your reader’s intent helps you decide the type of intro to write. Once that’s clear, everything else falls into place better.
Want to see what a good hook looks like in real time?
Check out this intro by Adejumoke Gbadebo, one of the contributing writers here at WriteWiser.
She opens with the Kendrick vs. Drake Super Bowl moment, pulls in Duolingo’s viral post, and ties it back to her topic on audience targeting and timing.
It works because it taps into something people care about. A cultural moment people saw, talked about, and had an opinion on. She mixes storytelling with relevance and plays off what Rosanna Campbell shared: using what the topic reminds you of.
In this case, it reminded her of music, timing, and public attention, and she used that as the doorway into her piece.
No overexplaining. No warm-up paragraph. Just a strong opening that earns the scroll.
That’s the goal.
Stop trying to write the perfect intro at the beginning.
Write to figure out what you mean. Then go back and lead with the part that says it best.
That’s how solid intros come together. Not from pressure. But from clarity.
How to write intros that don’t suck: 7 approaches worth stealing
So now you know why intros feel harder than they should.
The real question is: what makes a good one?
A good intro doesn’t just exist to “start the article.” It earns attention. It sets the tone. It makes the reader feel like, “Okay, I want to see where this is going.”
That doesn’t happen by accident.
The best intros are intentional. They’re specific, not generic. Focused, not fluffy. And above all, they meet the reader where they are, then pull them in.
Over time, I’ve found that most great intros follow one of seven patterns. Not formulas, but proven entry points that work (and don’t sound like everyone else).
Let’s walk through each of them, with examples you can swipe or adapt.
1. The pain-first intro
Start by poking the pain.
That gut-punch line that says, “I know what you’re struggling with and I’m not going to waste your time.”
This works best when the reader already knows they have a problem. They’re not looking for a warm-up. They want a fix.
And when the intro mirrors their struggle, it builds instant trust. It makes them think, “If you’ve felt this too, maybe you’ve figured it out.”
A great example of this intro is the one from this article:
That’s pain, and it pulls people in because it speaks to what they’re experiencing.
You can also do this with:
A blunt statement
A shared struggle
A line that mirrors what readers are thinking
Quick tip: Be specific, not dramatic.
2. The story-led intro
Forget stats. Forget definitions. Sometimes, all you need is a moment that makes people stop scrolling.
That moment could be something random you overheard at a coffee shop, a reel you saw on TikTok, or a memory that popped up while writing. It doesn’t need to be deep or dramatic. It just needs to pull the reader in and make them feel something.
And the thing is, it works. People connect with stories more quickly than they do with facts.
This is the exact move Adejumoke Gbadebo made in her WriteWiser post, opening with a cultural moment that grabbed attention and flowed into the message.
Rosanna Campbell mentioned this in our interview, too, and from both our interview and her posts, it’s clear the story-led intro is one of her go-tos.
Another clear example of this intro style is on a post by Nadine Heir:
A friend of mine, a content writer, recently got a new job. After pulling out of the interview process for other jobs, signing the job offer, electing benefits, getting equipment shipped to them... A social media contract landed in their inbox. One clause said this content writer must "clear any posts about marketing or content marketing before posting. We don't want you sharing best practices that competitors could copy!" This person is a thought leader on the topic of content, which was part of their desirability as a new hire: "Your ability to grow and entertain an audience is why we’re hiring you." Nonetheless, the hiring company wanted the last word on anything posted by this thought leader, especially in their area of thought leadership [insert massive eye roll]. I'll tell you how my friend handled this situation shortly, but first—while assuming you can own your employees' social media is problematic on many levels, is it legal?
With a story-led intro, you get to set the tone—weird, fun, minimal.
Use this when:
You’re writing about a common topic
You want a fresh angle
You need to set the tone
Quick tip: Keep it short. One paragraph is enough to build tension.
3. The unexpected comparison
This intro style works by linking your topic to something surprising or unrelated, something your reader wouldn’t expect.
It could be comparing SEO to baking or email deliverability to airport security. The goal? Make your point stick by saying it in a different way.
This works best when you want to simplify something complex or add a new twist to an overdone topic. It catches attention because it breaks the usual pattern.
An example of this intro style is by Lily Ugbaja in her post on “10 Key Operational Metrics to Track for Better Business Results:
Ever used a fitness tracking app before? There’s this unconscious desire to beat the numbers from yesterday; eat fewer calories, walk more steps, run more laps… you get fit faster. That same unconscious desire to beat your numbers manifests when you track business operational metrics, too. No wonder famous management thinker Peter F. Drucker, is recorded as saying “You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. Imagine how powerful it is then when you track not just any operational metrics, but the ones that can reduce costs, turnover, or increase profits when improved. We asked 48 experts what operational metrics they track and how those have affected business growth. Our respondents include Marketing agencies (25%), Professional Service Providers (37.5%), SaaS Businesses (16.67%), eCommerce (16.67%), and professionals from the Manufacturing industry (4.17%). The majority consider Marketing (CPC, CPA) and Sales (Lead-to-Opportunity Ratio, Lead Conversion Ratio) to be key operational metrics businesses should track.
You can use this style when:
You want to simplify a complex idea
The topic feels overdone
You’re trying to get people to see something in a new light
Quick tip: Once you’ve written your piece, ask: “What’s this kind of like?” The first answer that comes to mind might be your hook.
4. The stat-that-matters intro
I know I said there’d be no “open with a stat” advice, but hold up.
The difference between this and opening with a stat is “using the one that matters”.
Not every stat belongs in your intro. But the right one? It grabs attention fast.
This intro style kicks off with a number that’s either shocking, relatable, or just plain hard to ignore, and then quickly connects it to the reader’s world.
But here’s the catch: the stat can’t just be filler. It has to do one of two things:
Highlight a problem the reader cares about
Prove that what you’re about to say matters
Used well, it adds weight to your point before you’ve even made it.
An example of this kind of intro is from a post I made on “How to Optimize SaaS Pricing Models for Long-Term Growth”:
98% of SaaS companies saw immediate revenue growth after optimizing their pricing. Yet over half rarely review their pricing strategy. That gap? It’s not just a missed opportunity. It’s a slow leak in your revenue engine. Your pricing model isn’t just a line on your website. It’s one of the most powerful levers for long-term growth — and one of the most ignored. McKinsey found that a 1% improvement in pricing drives an 11% boost in operating profit. That’s more than you’d get from cutting costs or ramping up sales.
I didn’t just drop a number. With the stat highlighted, I tied it to a real, costly mistake most companies make: not reviewing their pricing strategy, which creates tension and urgency in the minds of my target audience.
Use this intro style when:
You want to ground your post in proof
You’re tackling a data-heavy topic
You need to show urgency or scale
Quick tip: Don’t drop the stat and move on. Tie it to your message in the very next sentence so the reader knows why it matters.
5. The what-you’re-risking intro
This one doesn’t ease the reader in. It raises the stakes.
Instead of starting with what they’ll gain, it shows them what they could lose—time, money, trust, or real results—if they ignore the problem.
It works because it taps into fear. Not in a dramatic way, but in a realistic “you might want to pay attention to this” kind of way. Fear is personal. It hits the “what if I mess this up?” voice in your head.
An example of this style of intro is by Tamara Omerovic in her post on “10 Client Reporting Tools I Ditched in 2025 (and the ONE I Kept)”:
“What am I paying you for, again?” — It’s the question no marketer wants to hear. Consistent, insightful reporting is crucial for client satisfaction, but let’s face it: juggling spreadsheets and Google Slides isn’t cutting it anymore. In 2025, clients expect professional, data-driven presentations. But with countless expensive reporting tools flooding the market, where should you invest your hard-earned money? This year, I put several popular options to the test. In this guide, I’ll share a breakdown of their pros and cons, the frustrations I encountered, and reveal how Databox changed my client reporting game.
Harsh? Maybe. But it’s honest. And it makes the reader want to know how to fix it.
Use this when:
The reader doesn’t realise how costly the problem is
You need to make them care quickly
The post is BOFU or action-driven
Quick tip: Make the risk specific. Vague threats like “you’ll fall behind” don’t hit as hard as real consequences.
6. The say-it-bluntly intro
The best way to get your reader’s attention is to stop sugarcoating.
This intro style skips the warm-up and jumps straight to the truth. No metaphors, no fluff. Just a bold, clear statement that makes the reader pause and go, “Okay. They’re not wrong.”
It works because it feels honest and direct. When every intro is trying to sound clever or poetic, this one feels like a wake-up call.
An example of this intro is by Eilis Olson for one of her posts here on WriteWiser:
If you own a business, you’ve probably heard “speak to your ideal client” more times than you can count. Nailing your voice and your ideal client’s voice is a crucial step toward building a comprehensive and effective content strategy. Specifically, one that will help you grow. But just like all the other marketing and copywriting cliches you hear, this advice probably leads to one of the following reactions: 1. Screaming into the void (this one will help you lose your voice, not find it). 2. Winging it and taking way too long to figure out what your ideal client wants and needs to hear. 3. Giving up and deciding you’ll become a goat herder instead (this is the coolest option in my opinion. Plus, goats don’t speak human, so you won’t have to figure out your voice). Let’s say you don’t want to choose one of these options. I have a fourth one for you; read this article and skip the screaming, experimental goat herding phase.
It starts with a punchy line that calls out common clichés and frames it as overused advice.
This intro sets the tone that the post doesn’t just inform, it challenges popular advice and forces the reader to reflect on what they’ve heard.
Use this when:
You’re writing a post that debunks a myth
You want to stand out in a saturated topic
You’re ready to say the thing others tiptoe around
Quick tip: Make sure your blunt statement is rooted in truth, not just sass. It should hit because it’s honest, not because it’s edgy for the sake of it.
7. The call-yourself-out intro
One of the fastest ways to earn trust? Admit you’ve made the same mistake your reader is probably making.
It feels less like a lecture and more like a big-sis moment: “Here’s how I got burned, and how you can avoid it.”
This style works because it’s disarming. Instead of sounding like a know-it-all, you lead with honesty: “I used to do this too.” It builds a connection. It says, I get it. I’ve been there.
And once you’ve got that connection, your advice hits harder. The reader feels they aren’t being talked down to. They feel like they’re learning alongside someone who’s done the work.
An example of this intro style is from a piece by Elna Cain on “How to Deal With Difficult Clients as a Freelance Writer".
I’m currently dealing with a difficult client. And this is a high-paying freelance writing project too. It’s not fun since I’ve been freelance writing since 2014, and you would think I wouldn’t be dealing with difficult clients! But here I am, trying NOT to pull my hair out since I want to work with this client, and they are a popular SaaS company too. So, how do I deal with demanding clients since they would look good on my writer portfolio and could lead to more high-paying jobs?
You’re not just dropping a tip. You’re showing the messy part that came before it. That’s what makes the lesson stick.
Use this when:
You’ve made the same mistake your reader is probably making
You want to build credibility without sounding preachy
You’re sharing a lesson you learned the hard way
Quick tip: Don’t overshare. This isn’t a confession, it’s a setup. Keep it short and make sure the “lesson” earns its spot.
A gut check before you hit publish
You’ve written your intro. Maybe even a few different versions. Now what?
Before you hit publish, pause.
Here’s a quick gut check to make sure your intro does its job:
Will your reader see themselves in the first line?
Did you get to the point fast enough?
Does it feel real or like every other intro on the internet?
Would you keep reading if you didn’t write it?
Are you leading with the best line or hiding it in paragraph three?
Strong intros don’t just sound good. They pull weight. They make people scroll, nod, and think, “I’m in the right place.”
If yours does that? Hit publish.
If not? Don’t rewrite it from scratch yet.
Go back to your draft. Find the line that made everything click and start from there.
Bonus tips: Real-world intro habits from working writers
I didn’t plan this section. But after finishing the draft, I thought: why stop here?
So, I picked my figurative pen back up and asked a few brilliant writers to share how they tackle intros. With this, you could get into their heads and see their thought process when writing intros.
First up: Adejumoke Gbadebo, freelance writer and WriteWiser contributor.
Q: What’s one small habit that helps you write stronger intros?
“For me, writing a strong intro starts with my topic. I try to think like my readers, and one question I ask myself is:
What is this person hoping to get when they click on this topic?
And that's exactly what I deliver in my intro. I make sure to keep it short and straight to the point, too.”
Q: What’s one underrated trick you use to make your intros more engaging?
“Storytelling. It helps me share emotions that my readers can relate to. This makes their pain point feel seen. I pair that with a strong, relevant example to make my hook more powerful.”
Q: Is there a mistake you often see in blog intros that you try to avoid?
“Stuffing the intro with too much information or giving too little to hook the reader. I usually find a middle ground where the reader is intrigued but not overwhelmed.”
Q: Have you ever written an intro that felt risky, like you were calling the reader out? What happened?
“No, but I’ve seen intros like that work well when done with the right tone. I may consider doing that when the context fits.”
Q: When you read a blog intro and think “this works,” what usually stands out?
“Getting my answer right from the intro.
I love intros that get straight to the point. If I can instantly tell what I’ll gain from the article, I keep reading. If I can't get that, I find it hard to keep reading cause it feels like a waste of my time.”
Just like I’ve been yapping all through this article, sometimes writing a great intro isn’t about being clever. It’s about being clear.
Adejumoke’s approach proves that when you think like your reader, the rest of the piece gets a lot easier.
Next up: Oluwaseun Akinlembola.
I got a sneak peek of one of his recent drafts’ intro, and let’s just say, I’m waiting for the whole piece to drop.
Q: What’s one small habit that helps you write stronger intros?
“I talk about the pain point upfront and ask myself, would you read an article with an intro like this?”
Q: What’s one underrated trick you use to make your intros more engaging?
“I wouldn't call it a trick because it takes a lot of time; I interview SMEs. Their insights help me write better intros that hit pain points.”
Q: Is there a mistake you often see in blog intros that you try to avoid?
“Unnecessarily long and neglecting the audience level, especially for the BoFU pieces.”
Q: Have you ever written an intro that felt risky, like you were calling the reader out? What happened?
“Not yet, maybe soon!”
Q: When you read a blog intro and think “this works,” what usually stands out?
“They speak to a relatable pain point, and I go like, 'yeah, this writer gets me.'”
Last but not least: Stephanie Trovato, founder of Big H Content.
I got a chance to ask her two questions that I’m pretty sure would help you.
Q: When you’re unsure how to start or feel stuck, what helps you move forward instead of rewriting the first paragraph repeatedly?
“I write bullet points for the intro, draft the rest of the article, and then come back to it. I often know what I want it to say just not how I want to say it exactly. Once I write the rest of the piece then I can be sure the intro sets it up in the best way possible.”
Q: What’s one approach you rely on the most to write intros that grab your reader’s attention?
“I try to always include a hook. You gotta grab someone's attention immediately if you want them to stick around. And depending on the topic of the piece, a little stat or piece of research never hurts.”
Stephanie’s habit of outlining first, then revisiting the intro, is a smart workaround when you’re stuck. Instead of obsessing over the perfect first line, just start somewhere, then come back with clarity.
And if audience research is slowing you down, check out this piece to help you speed things up.
Before I bid you goodbye for now, let’s end this with a little note from Joy Ogide on how she writes a good intro. And yes, you can snag this too when writing your intros.
“For a good blog intro, I have this formula: Preview, proof, transition. Preview- let the reader know what to expect Proof- why should they read this blog? Transition- let them know that there’s more in the main body of the blog, and we’re delving into it next.”
I’m hoping that, at this point, you’ve gained clarity that will help you ease off the pressure whenever you’re writing your intros.
Save this post, reference it often, and steal shamelessly. Your intros are about to get way easier!
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