Comments on: Oh, That First Line! http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:54:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Katie Cummings http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/#comment-19842 Katie Cummings Mon, 14 May 2007 22:40:24 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/#comment-19842 Couldn't agree more. The first line sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Great point. Couldn’t agree more. The first line sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Great point.

]]> By: Jonathan Kantor http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/#comment-19831 Jonathan Kantor Mon, 14 May 2007 20:01:57 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/#comment-19831 Hi Katie, Yes, it's true that the first line in a technical white paper is very different from the first line in a business white paper. In either case it seems that a lot is resting on that first line. If a poor impression is made, it doesn't bode very well for reader interest in the rest of the paper. Jonathan Hi Katie,

Yes, it’s true that the first line in a technical white paper is very different from the first line in a business white paper.

In either case it seems that a lot is resting on that first line. If a poor impression is made, it doesn’t bode very well for reader interest in the rest of the paper.

Jonathan

]]> By: Katie Cummings http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/#comment-19830 Katie Cummings Mon, 14 May 2007 19:54:58 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/14/oh-that-first-line/#comment-19830 I guess it depends on the subject of the white paper. If it is a specific and extremely technical subject, I would expect a longer first sentence, but otherwise I guess I'd prefer a shorter first line to get to the heart of the matter as quick as possible. I'd throw it away and never read it if it were poorly written, maybe because I'm such a grammar nag, but also because I don't have time to read crap and wouldn't want to if I did have the time. I read to learn most of the time and if something is poorly written, it suggests the author may not be an authority and not so smart after all. I guess it depends on the subject of the white paper. If it is a specific and extremely technical subject, I would expect a longer first sentence, but otherwise I guess I’d prefer a shorter first line to get to the heart of the matter as quick as possible. I’d throw it away and never read it if it were poorly written, maybe because I’m such a grammar nag, but also because I don’t have time to read crap and wouldn’t want to if I did have the time. I read to learn most of the time and if something is poorly written, it suggests the author may not be an authority and not so smart after all.

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