A lead is the beginning of a story that catches the reader's attention and makes them want to continue reading. There are different types of leads such as question leads, set-up leads, talking leads, and snapshot leads. A question lead draws the reader in with a question. A set-up lead establishes the action for the whole story in a few sentences. A talking lead starts with a line or two of dialogue. A snapshot lead creates a picture of the setting or character in the reader's mind.