Write Your First Sentence Down
Thirty easy ways to write your first sentence down, so you start strong and the rest flows.
The start is the hardest. A plan makes it easy.
40 tips that really help
These ideas come from Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (Susan Jeffers), The Upside of Stress (Kelly McGonigal), The 5 Second Rule (Mel Robbins), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.
The start is the hardest part
For most speakers, nerves peak in the minute before they begin and in the first sentence. A sentence you have already decided on removes the scariest decision of all: how to start.
Write your first sentence before anything else.
Write it out in full
Even if you plan to speak from notes, write your first sentence word for word. A written sentence is a safe landing when your mind is racing.
Write your opening sentence on a card.
Keep it short and simple
A first sentence of ten to fifteen words is easier to say clearly. “Thank you all for coming, I am glad to be here” is plenty.
Trim your first sentence to fifteen words or fewer.
Start with a greeting
“Good morning, everyone” gives you a gentle runway and invites a reply. Greetings warm the room and your voice.
Open with a warm greeting and smile.
Start with thanks
“Thank you for having me” is honest, kind and easy to say. Gratitude sets a friendly tone and relaxes you.
Begin with a short thank-you.
Start with a question
“How many of you have ever felt nervous before a talk?” invites a show of hands and takes pressure off you. Questions turn the audience into participants.
Prepare one easy question to ask your audience.
Start with a story
A thirty-second story about something that happened to you is easy to tell because you lived it. It also gives listeners a reason to lean in.
Write a two-sentence story to open with.
Start with a surprising fact
A single surprising number or fact can wake the room. Be sure it is true and relevant.
Find one accurate, interesting fact for your opening.
Start with the point
“Today I want to show you three ways to save time.” Stating the point right away calms you because you know where you are going.
State your main point in one sentence.
Start with your name and role
“I am Sam, and I look after customer service” is simple and grounding. It lets you say something true and easy first.
Practise your name and role line.
Start with a pause
A two-second pause before speaking looks confident and gives you time to breathe. The audience will settle too.
Pause, breathe, smile, then speak.
Say it out loud
A sentence feels different spoken than written. Say your opening aloud until it sounds natural.
Say your first sentence five times aloud.
Practise with a friend
Say your first sentence to a friend. Their smile or nod is a wonderful, calming signal.
Tell a friend your opening sentence.
Practise in the mirror
Look at your face as you say it. A calm face and eye contact are part of the opening.
Say your first line to your mirror with a smile.
Memorise it, not everything
It is far easier to memorise one sentence than a whole speech. You can then relax into your notes.
Memorise your first sentence and your last.
Put it on a card
A card in your hand or on the lectern is a safety net. Even if you do not look at it, knowing it is there helps.
Write your sentence in large letters.
Mark your breath
Write a slash where you will take a breath: “Good morning, / everyone, / and thank you for coming.” Planning breaths slows you down.
Add slashes to your sentence for breaths.
Avoid "Um, so..."
Fillers at the start signal nerves. Replace them with a pause and your written line.
Practise removing “um” from your opening.
Avoid apologising at the start
“Sorry, I am not very good at this” lowers expectations and can make listeners tense. Begin with warmth, not apology.
Replace an apology with a thank you.
Avoid starting with nerves
“I am so nervous” can make people watch for signs. If you want to mention nerves, say it lightly and move on.
Say it once, with a smile, or not at all.
Use the same opening each time
If you give regular talks, a familiar opening becomes a ritual. Familiarity calms you.
Create a standard opening you can adapt.
Write your first sentence for emails and calls too
A clear first sentence helps in phone calls and meetings. “Hi Priya, it is Sam from the design team, I am calling about the Friday meeting” works every time.
Write a first sentence for your next call.
Write a first sentence for interviews
“Thank you for seeing me, I have been looking forward to this” is warm and positive. It starts you well.
Prepare a first sentence for your next interview.
Write a first sentence for meeting new people
“Hi, I am Sam, how do you know the host?” is a complete, friendly start. Prepare two like it.
Memorise two first sentences for parties.
Write a first sentence for a hard conversation
“I want to talk about something that matters to me, and I want us both to feel okay” opens kindly. A gentle first line sets the tone.
Write your gentle first sentence.
Write a first sentence for meetings
“I would like to add one point” is clear and calm. It claims your space without rushing.
Memorise one meeting opener.
Read it over lightly
Do not read your opening word for word if you can avoid it. Glance at it, then look up.
Look at the card, then at the audience.
Use eye contact in the first sentence
Look at one friendly face as you speak the first line. It anchors you and warms the room.
Find a friendly face before you speak.
Smile as you say it
A small smile lifts your voice and your mood. It also signals friendliness to others.
Smile gently while saying your first line.
Slow your pace
Nerves speed you up. Speak the first sentence slower than feels natural. It will sound normal to the room.
Say your sentence at half speed in practice.
Plan your second sentence too
Having two lines ready helps you start with momentum. After two sentences, most people settle.
Write your first two sentences.
Plan a bridge to your main point
A sentence such as “Let me start with a story” moves you smoothly from the opening to the main part. Bridges reduce the chance of freezing.
Write one bridge sentence.
Rehearse your opening more than anything
Spend a third of your practice time on the first minute. A strong start boosts confidence for the rest.
Practise your first minute five times.
Record your opening
Listen to your voice saying your first sentence. You may find it sounds calmer than you feel.
Record and play back your opening.
Be kind about the first stumble
If you stumble on the first line, smile and say it again. People are forgiving at the start.
Practise a restart: “Let me begin again.”
Use a trigger to begin
Pick a physical cue, such as setting down your water, to signal the start. Cues reduce hesitation.
Choose your cue.
Trust the first sentence
Once you have said it, momentum carries you. The hardest part is done.
Tell yourself, “I only need to say one sentence.”
Celebrate the start
When you have said your first sentence, quietly acknowledge it. You crossed the hardest line.
Give yourself a mental thumbs-up.
Lean on a template
A simple three-part opener, such as greeting, thanks and purpose, works for almost any event: “Good morning, thank you for coming, today I want to show you three quick ideas.” Fill in the blanks and you are never starting from scratch.
Write a greeting, thanks and purpose line for your next event.
Have a spare opener
Keep a second first sentence ready in case the room, the mood or the news changes. A spare removes the panic of having your plan spoiled.
Write a back-up opening on the back of your card.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many everyday situations.
“My first line is ready.”
“Let me read it once.”
“I will say it slowly.”
“I know how I begin.”
“Here is my opening.”
“Now I just continue.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
Write it
Shorten it
Say it aloud
Memorise it
Card it
Breathe
Start
Further reading
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (Susan Jeffers)
- The Upside of Stress (Kelly McGonigal)
- The 5 Second Rule (Mel Robbins)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
More lessons in “Overcoming Nervousness”
Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.
← Previous: Plan for the Slip, Then Let It GoNext: Practise Out Loud, Not in Your Head →
- Nerves Are Energy in Disguise
- What Happens in Your Body When You Panic
- Fear Rises, Peaks and Falls
- Everyone Gets Nervous, Even the Best
- Name Your Nerve Triggers
- Nerves vs Real Danger
- Why Avoiding Makes It Worse
- The Long-Exhale Breath
- Five Slow Breaths Before Anything
- Shake It Out: Release Tension
- Cool Water, Calm Mind
- Ground Yourself With Your Five Senses
- Relax Your Jaw and Shoulders
- The Sixty-Second Reset
- Say "I Am Excited" Instead of "I Am Nervous"
- Replace What-If With What-Then
- The Worst-Case, Likely-Case Exercise
- Stop Predicting Failure
- A Calm Phrase to Repeat
- Picture It Going Well
- Plan for the Slip, Then Let It Go
- Write Your First Sentence Down
- Practise Out Loud, Not in Your Head
- The Ten-Minute Pre-Event Ritual
- Sleep, Water and Food Before Big Days
- Check Your Space and Tools
- Use a Cue Card, Not a Script
- Arrive Early and Settle In
- Before an Important Phone Call
- Before a Job Interview
- Before a Presentation
- Before Meeting Someone New
- Before a Hard Conversation
- Before Speaking in a Meeting
- Daily Habits That Lower Anxiety
- Move Your Body to Burn Off Nerves
- Limit Caffeine and Doom-Scrolling
- Keep a Courage Log
- Reward Yourself for Facing Fear
- When to Ask for Professional Help
