First Words Last--Begin At The End!

When you write the text to a presentation, where do you start? The beginning, right?

To paraphrase an infamous TV news critic...wrong!

The first sentence of your presentation is the most critical. It must "hook" the attention of your audience. It must also be what professors call a "thesis sentence." Thesis is Latin for "here's what I'm going to tell you." It can be challenging to write. Thus, you may find yourself struggling to get going--or to get it just right.

A better tactic: write the first sentence (and the title) AFTER you've written the rest of the show. Write a "placeholder" sentence for starters. Flow from there. By the time you reach the end of your first draft, you're warmed up. Your thoughts flow easily, and are better formed.

Usually, when I edit a first draft--my own or someone else's--I find a great first sentence at the END of the show. It's only natural. A speaker wants to sum up what they've said at the end.

When you complete a draft, revisit it. Pay close attention to that final summation. It will often work wonders--as a great first sentence!

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