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Abstract

le and an end</a>. — <a href="https://readmedium.com/dear-woke-allies-your-assistance-with-racism-is-no-longer-required-c29207c46606">Steve QJ</a></blockquote>Steve opens with a reminder that children aren’t skilled at accomplishing tasks. He moves on to the problem of a child trying to “help”. This is an instantly relatable situation for anyone who has ever dealt with a child, in other words, roughly 99.9% of the adult population.His writing is vivid so the reader instantly taps into that frustration of knowing we are supposed to be patient with children but also that universal moment we all have from time to time of, “For the love of God child, could you please just get out of my way so I can get this done already.”This beautifully transitions to the essence of the article where he points out that the “help” of white allies in fighting racism can be every bit as frustrating and unhelpful as that of unskilled children assisting in a task they are not prepared for.Consider for a moment the challenge that faced Steve as he set out to write his article. His primary audience is white people who want to be anti-racist. He has something important to say to them but they aren’t going to be happy to hear it. It’s always risky to find fault with your readers if you care about them agreeing with your argument.Often when a writer criticizes the stated audience they are really writing for a different audience altogether, those who agree with them already. The point is to pump up and solidify the home team not really to convert the other side.I don’t think that is what is going on in Steve’s article, or at the very least, not exclusively. I sense real frustration here and a desire to help “helpers” see how their “help” isn’t actually “helpful”.How do you do that without alienating them? Speaking as Steve’s target audience here, a white liberal who wants to do my bit against racism, his opening is the perfect answer.</

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p>The scenario of children wanting to help but instead impairing and frustrating the adults is a perfect analogy for the problem Steve is addressing. By leading with this instantly recognizable situation, Steve sucks the reader into the emotional frame of mind of a frustrated adult.Thus, when Steve moves on to point out how “allies” are getting in the way of important work, he already has the audience approaching the situation from the mindset of the real stakeholders in the fight against racism as opposed to immediately defaulting to the viewpoint of the childish allies.So the opener serves not only to hook the reader and set up the argument, but it also disarms the natural tendency of the reader to immediately turn defensive by carefully funneling their point of view.Brilliant writing Steve!So what can we learn from this as writers? First, and most importantly, I took Steve’s article to heart. He has an important message that I think is valuable for all white people to open themselves up to hear.Second, we can learn from his example. When you want to get an important message across and you know your audience might have trouble hearing what you have to say, consider how you can use your opening to lead them where you need them to go.Use universally experienced scenarios to draw your reader in emotionally to the proper point of view to be ready to hear you.Will it work every time? Of course not, but every bit you can nudge a resistant reader in the correct direction is helpful. Thanks to Steve, I’m adding this one to my tool kit.You can find all of my stories about writing <a href="https://marydj03.medium.com/list/writing-389b466f1011">here</a>. Join Medium to read not just my stories but all the other fantastic content lurking around every corner. Use <a href="https://marydj03.medium.com/membership">this link</a> and I’ll get a small commission when you sign up.</article></body>

The Best Opening I’ve Seen in a Long Time

A lesson on how to hook readers instantly

The pressure to write a good opening to a story about good openings is so strong that I’ve been staring at a blank screen for the past five minutes. Perhaps that’s why I was so enthralled with the opening to Steve QJ’s story, “Anti-Racism” Is Becoming Troublingly Racist. I marvel to watch a master at work.

As a writer, when I find someone else who so perfectly nails a bit of the craft, I need to stop, marvel, celebrate, and share it.

What I love about Steve’s opening is that not only does it do the job of a classic hook by snagging my attention and reeling me in, but it sets up the argument of his article in such a way that I am practically forced to agree with his premise before he even gets to the meat of it.

Take a few minutes to read Steve’s story and savor it before coming back here for my take on the brilliance of his opening:

You’re not supposed to talk about how frustrating it is to watch children screw things up. You’re supposed to be patient when it takes them seventeen minutes to tie their shoelaces. You’re supposed to applaud their migraine-inducing attempts to play the violin. You’re supposed to give your undivided attention as they tell stories that somehow lack a beginning, a middle and an end. — Steve QJ

Steve opens with a reminder that children aren’t skilled at accomplishing tasks. He moves on to the problem of a child trying to “help”. This is an instantly relatable situation for anyone who has ever dealt with a child, in other words, roughly 99.9% of the adult population.

His writing is vivid so the reader instantly taps into that frustration of knowing we are supposed to be patient with children but also that universal moment we all have from time to time of, “For the love of God child, could you please just get out of my way so I can get this done already.”

This beautifully transitions to the essence of the article where he points out that the “help” of white allies in fighting racism can be every bit as frustrating and unhelpful as that of unskilled children assisting in a task they are not prepared for.

Consider for a moment the challenge that faced Steve as he set out to write his article. His primary audience is white people who want to be anti-racist. He has something important to say to them but they aren’t going to be happy to hear it. It’s always risky to find fault with your readers if you care about them agreeing with your argument.

Often when a writer criticizes the stated audience they are really writing for a different audience altogether, those who agree with them already. The point is to pump up and solidify the home team not really to convert the other side.

I don’t think that is what is going on in Steve’s article, or at the very least, not exclusively. I sense real frustration here and a desire to help “helpers” see how their “help” isn’t actually “helpful”.

How do you do that without alienating them? Speaking as Steve’s target audience here, a white liberal who wants to do my bit against racism, his opening is the perfect answer.

The scenario of children wanting to help but instead impairing and frustrating the adults is a perfect analogy for the problem Steve is addressing. By leading with this instantly recognizable situation, Steve sucks the reader into the emotional frame of mind of a frustrated adult.

Thus, when Steve moves on to point out how “allies” are getting in the way of important work, he already has the audience approaching the situation from the mindset of the real stakeholders in the fight against racism as opposed to immediately defaulting to the viewpoint of the childish allies.

So the opener serves not only to hook the reader and set up the argument, but it also disarms the natural tendency of the reader to immediately turn defensive by carefully funneling their point of view.

Brilliant writing Steve!

So what can we learn from this as writers? First, and most importantly, I took Steve’s article to heart. He has an important message that I think is valuable for all white people to open themselves up to hear.

Second, we can learn from his example. When you want to get an important message across and you know your audience might have trouble hearing what you have to say, consider how you can use your opening to lead them where you need them to go.

Use universally experienced scenarios to draw your reader in emotionally to the proper point of view to be ready to hear you.

Will it work every time? Of course not, but every bit you can nudge a resistant reader in the correct direction is helpful. Thanks to Steve, I’m adding this one to my tool kit.

You can find all of my stories about writing here. Join Medium to read not just my stories but all the other fantastic content lurking around every corner. Use this link and I’ll get a small commission when you sign up.