Once upon a time – or not? How to write an effective start to a scicomm article

Once upon a time – or not? How to write an effective start to a scicomm article

Applying creative writing to scicomm series we look for ways to explain what effective science communication looks like and how to improve your writing with a dive into the world of creative writing. Each article discusses a different element of writing and storytelling.

written by heini, kavya, mimmu, Saara, sophie and vinaya. illustrated by kenia, sophie, and vicky. Should you have any comments, please let us know!

We all want to write that perfect first sentence that instantly captures the reader’s attention, but this is easier said than done. Similar to how the first few minutes determine whether you continue watching a TV show, the beginning of your article is arguably the most important part, which makes it all the more daunting to write.

You can think of the first paragraph as a sales pitch for the article – it lets the readers know what to expect if they keep reading and sets the tone for the whole article. Are you naturally hilarious? Then you can start with a snappy one-liner. If comedy is not your strong suit, maybe you catch your audience with vivid descriptions, or find a way to bring complex concepts of science to the reader’s everyday life. While we can’t give you an exact formula for nailing the first paragraph every time, we can give you advice from the world of creative writing.

Where to start: get in late and set the scene

As experts in our own fields, it can be difficult to put ourselves in the shoes of those who aren’t. We know what makes the topic exciting, but we often forget to include basic information that could help the reader understand, too. Alternatively, we get so carried away by the excitement of finally having the chance to talk about what we love, and we end up droning on, disorienting the poor reader. So, how do you set the scene just enough?

There is no one answer, but as a simple rule of thumb, less is more. What does the reader need to know to understand your title, the importance of your topic, or even just the first sentence? That’s all you need to explain – for now. Remember, you have the rest of your article to delve into details and provide the reader with more context. There’s no rule that says you need to start with a comprehensive introduction on the topic. In fact, it may be better to leave the reader a bit puzzled.

The strongest opening scenes often follow the simple rule of “in late, out early”, which means that you start as close to the action as possible, and leave as close to the action as possible. For example, if a story begins with a couple in the middle of an argument, you’ll instantly be thinking, “Why are they arguing? Where did they start? Where is this going?” On the other hand, if a story starts with the slow buildup to an argument, you likely won’t be as engaged.

Similarly, when writing about a scientific concept, you should get to the point as quickly as possible. This does not mean you need to give away your conclusions in the first sentence. Rather, you should clearly let the reader know what the problem is and why it’s worth caring about.

What is the point? Create suspense, conflict, or a need for change

A hero moving from battle to battle, a person rediscovering themselves, or a surprise visitor disrupting holiday plans – a good story starts off with something moving. If nothing changes, there’s no story to be told. That’s why it’s essential to establish conflict, suspense or a need for change right from the very beginning.

In science communication, perhaps the most common way to establish a need for change is by promising the reader they will learn something new or change their way of thinking. Rhetorical questions such as “Did you know that…?” are a fine way to frame an article, but their overuse often makes them ineffective.

As an example, if you’re writing an article about the concept of colours and how they are perceived, instead of starting with “In this article, I will talk about how everyone sees colours differently” or “Did you know we all see colours differently?” you can try the following

Example 1: relatable everyday dialogue

“That car is a nice green”

“What are you talking about? It’s clearly brown!”

I’ve had a variation of this argument countless times in my life, and it’s always just as jarring. How can other people’s perception of colour be so different?

Example 2: reference to a pop culture phenomenon

“Is the dress blue and black or white and gold?” was the question that divided people across the globe in 2015.

Example 3: a relevant scene from history

Isaac Newton sat among a clutter of prisms and notebooks, staring at the shimmering band of colours on his wall and trying to decide where one hue truly ended and the next began. In the end, he chose seven — not because the spectrum demanded it, but because the number felt elegantly in tune with the musical scale he loved.

Now it’s your turn to try this: Could you start your article by describing an experiment gone wrong, the hardships of life before a discovery, or by relating the discovery to historic events?

How to make them care: mix the mundane with the extraordinary

We like stories that mirror our experiences, but at the same time, we crave novelty. The most popular stories satisfy these seemingly contradictory cravings by mixing the mundane with the extraordinary. For example, underneath the extraordinary, supernatural layer of glittery vampires and werewolves, Twilight contains very relatable topics like love, heartbreak, and friendship.

As science communicators, we can use the same concept to our advantage by drawing analogies inspired by daily life. Establishing this link at the very beginning can make it much easier for a reader to become invested in your article. And the “extraordinary” part? At its simplest, it’s science. It’s the meat of your story, the thing you want to communicate.

When you relate science to everyday life, it might make the reader go “Huh, I hadn’t thought about that” and leave them thinking about it for days to come. Or, you could take this a step further and have science be the mundane part, mixing it with something extraordinary: why not teach us about the immune system using immune cells as characters, recounting their bloody battles against invaders?

The goal of science communication is to make people care and make them want to learn more. So be as creative as you can!

Examples from previous TSB articles

Why and how do we get anxious by Emmi Olkkonen

“The hunter grasped a spear tightly to stop it from slipping from her sweaty hands, as she waited in the silence of the night. She was a strong and persistent hunter, but she knew that alone in the dark, she was vulnerable. […] And the voices that whispered into her ear painted a picture of all the possible ways that things could go wrong, the voices that told her to run home to the safety of campfires… She could not silence them. And yet, she fought them and stayed.

Far from wild beasts, in our cozy, modern, urbanized world, the same voices still warn us of future threats.”

Here, the author Emmi has played to her strengths by providing us a vivid account from the history of humankind. Some readers may be discouraged by the two-paragraph length of the introduction, but we believe the writing is strong enough to keep the reader engaged. The choice to describe a scene from early humanity may seem a bit puzzling to the reader at first, but it’s followed by relating the subject to modern life, which makes it clear that anxiety has always been with us.

Laura Danti At the intersection of sex and gender: differences of sex development by laura danti

“One of the first major decisions about your life is made even before your birth: a gender is assigned based on the corresponding biological sex so that female babies are girls and male babies are boys. Consequently, upon birth, you get brought up according to the societal norms and gender roles associated with being a boy or a girl. It seems rather simple, right? But what about the children who do not neatly fit in those boxes? While assigning a gender to the corresponding sex seems straightforward, things are not always as easy. Welcome to the world of differences of sex development, also known as DSD.”

Laura excelled at making her topic relatable. Nearly everyone can relate to being assigned male or female at birth and being brought up accordingly. After getting us all on board, she then poses a thought-provoking question, “But what about the children who do not neatly fit in those boxes?” and ends by creating a need for change by stating, “While assigning a gender to the corresponding sex seems straightforward, things are not always as easy.” Notice how little background she gives; the only jargon we get introduced to is “DSD,” and we don’t need any more to understand what to expect from the rest of the article.

Mind the plastic: exploring microplastics’ effects on health By Giuseppe Cardone

“Let’s play a game. Wherever you are, without turning around or changing your field of vision, count how many plastic objects you see. In my small 50 m² apartment, I count 46. This little exercise gives you a glimpse of how plastics have contributed to advancing modern technology and society, thanks to their affordability, durability, and versatility. However, the widespread use of these materials also contributes to pollution, including the formation of microplastics.”

Giuseppe “gets in late” by encouraging the reader to look around them, instantly thrusting them into the topic. With Giuseppe’s game, the reader is forced to think about the abundance of plastics in their environment, making the topic easily relatable. After making the reader aware of the abundance of plastics, Giuseppe then clearly outlines the problem of pollution. Based on the first paragraph, we can expect to learn about the effects of microplastics and to be engaged by vivid descriptions throughout.

The end of the beginning

Lo and behold, you now have the recipe to start on your own piece. A good beginning hooks the reader by dropping them right into the action and providing them with something new or engaging that they cannot look away from. The same goes for writing about science – we drop them in the middle of an experiment and show them the way through.

Whatever tone you set, remember that playing to your strengths from the beginning will help you stay consistent throughout the article. Sticking to a tone and focused storyline can make for an engaging article that conveys your interests to an audience. But more on that later!