anecdotal ledes quickie

Here are a few tips about writing anectodal ledes...it's not exactly from the most prestious academic institution, but I liked this explanation.

Anecdotal ledes (from about.com)

These are seen often in magazine stories or feature-style centerpieces in newspapers. An anecdotal lede opens with a little story that is integral to the story as whole, and may hook readers with the personal side of a story or humor. Here's an example crafted especially for this page:

"Ida Smith knew bears lived in the hills behind her Woodland home by the calling cards they left: overturned garbage cans, tufts of hair in her idyllic swimming pool, trampled petunias in the flower beds.

'I had heard tales of a giant black bear named Bud roaming through these parts,' Smith said as she swept up banana peels dumped out of her trash bin by the eager overnight visitor. 'But I never thought I'd see him right outside my window like that.'

Smith was one of five residents who spotted the legendary bear Wednesday, an intimidating animal that has created an atmosphere of fear in the quiet bedroom community."

And move into your facts, quotes, etc.

**My personal thought** The "why are you writing this story" should follow soon after--this is called the nut graph...however, my personal opinion is to not get caught up in the "one paragraph" theory. but the "why are you writing this story" needs to be up high.