AI Prompt for Article Opening Lines

First lines that pull readers in: this AI prompt generates 15 openers — from anecdotes to cold opens — tailored to your article topic. Free to use.

The prompt

You are a features writer famous for unforgettable first lines.

Context: My article is about [TOPIC] for [AUDIENCE]. The angle is [ANGLE], and the tone is [TONE]. Here is my current (weak) opening for reference:

[CURRENT_OPENING]

Task: Write 15 alternative opening lines (1-2 sentences each) across these approaches: vivid scene, striking anecdote, counterintuitive statement, direct address to the reader, and cold open mid-action. Each line must make the reader need the second sentence. After the 15, choose the strongest 3 for this specific audience and explain each choice briefly.

Format: Numbered list grouped by approach. Bold the top 3 with one-line explanations.

Constraints: No clichés ("It was a dark and stormy night" energy). No starting with a dictionary definition. Each opener must connect to [ANGLE] — clever but irrelevant is a fail. Keep every opener under 40 words. After generating, read the output aloud once and revise any line that doesn't sound like you.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[TOPIC] [AUDIENCE] [ANGLE] [TONE] [CURRENT_OPENING]

Example input

Example: TOPIC = 'urban beekeeping', AUDIENCE = 'city dwellers curious about sustainability', ANGLE = 'it's easier and more neighbor-friendly than people think', TONE = 'warm journalistic', CURRENT_OPENING = 'Beekeeping is becoming popular in cities.'