Baghdad.

Several US riflemen have cordoned off the area.

The roadside bomb has been isolated.

And Sergeant J.T. Sanborn seems a little too relaxed, as he remotely controls the disposal robot.

This is the first two minutes we see in The Hurt Locker, a movie that went on to win six Academy Awards in 2010.

Its opening scene is a prime example of irresistible storytelling – starting in the thickest of the action.

You’ve seen this approach a hundred times over …

Think of Troy, which starts with Achilles in a one-on-one battle. Gladiator, with Maximus leading the fight against a barbarian horde. Or 300, with its now infamous THIS IS SPARTA introduction (yes, I’ve got a tickle spot for swords and shields).

As viewers, we’re given a truckload of credit by the director – who knows we’re gonna build a fast story around the action in our heads.

Learn how to do this with your blog intros and you become a more explosive writer over time. [Read more…]

In 1872, George Davey went down for a month’s hard labour in Wandsworth Prison.

He was 10 years old.

Before I let you know his crime, I want to confess my own – see if you can relate …

I once felt the internet was riddled with repeats of the same idea, the same arguments – even the same content.

Nothing NEW left to discuss.

“Nobody’s gonna read my article, when they could spend their time reading [INSERT FAVOURITE BLOGGER HERE].” I’d say to myself.

Now I reckon that’s all bollocks.

Let me explain why … [Read more…]