A good hook compels the reader to engage in a story. A great hook heightens the sensory and/or emotional tie that keeps a reader fastened to the pages or screen. I’ve experienced the hook in essays, novels, short stories, and screenplays. It’s exciting, and I immerse myself in the world created before my eyes.
There’s a danger in the hook, though, and I’ve come across it in first pages read aloud in writing sessions. Sometimes what follows lets the hook loosen up. There’s an initial spike of interest, but it’s not sustained. The hook should match the story and writing style. Putting neon lights around your opening line can diminish the initial buildup if it feels disjointed or incoherent from the subsequent text. I’ll quote Stephen King on that one: “The best writers hook their readers with voice, not just action.”
But let’s put the undone hook aside and focus on why it’s a crucial literary technique. The first few drafts of my second novel, The Years In Between, start in medias res. The protagonist Lori walks down a school corridor, and, in her mind, the walls start closing in. Her books tumble to the floor. The panic rising within her is palpable on her first day back after losing her mom and dad to a devastating tornado. But we don’t know why she’s distraught until a few pages into the story. I held on to that opening for a few drafts.
My current publisher of Unearthing Christmas, the first book of The Miriam Chronicles series, advised me that I should state up front what happened to Lori. Her advice: “Don’t wait. Tell us!”
So, now, as published, the first sentence reads as follows: “Lori Hopkins heard the news from her grandmother. Her best friend, Joy, was found lifeless from a deadly tornado. The same one that killed Lori’s mom and dad.” A few readers, including my sister, preferred knowing what happened to the protagonist in the opening line.
Blog writers and writing coaches claim there are several types of hooks. Depending on what you research, the number goes from four to eight, typically. Most blogs focus on the essay hook, which translates into a provocative thesis statement. My goal is to hook the reader into a fictitious world! Oh, how the craft of writing is so important when creating characters from the ether itself.
So, instead of focusing on the types of hooks, I’m more concerned with what they should achieve! As writers, we inherently know what we want to do from the get go: Create tension! We also want to vividly describe the environs without relying on clichés. I recently participated in a writing review session where the first page of novels were read aloud. A literary agent gave instant feedback. She pointed out that starting a story with a character getting dressed is practically a no-no, especially if the character is gazing into a mirror. Interestingly enough, I read a book from a bestselling novelist that uses a mirror reflection for a dramatic effect since there’s something very telling about the image. Let’s trust that we’re savvy enough, as writers, to understand what rules can be broken if done with an inventive spirit.
If I had to say in one word what I want a hook to do, it would be: Build! Build suspense, build interest, and build a buy-in to the story!!
I love the classics, especially Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. These authors, among others, set the stage for romantic heroes and sweeping sagas. Without a doubt, Austen’s opening line in Pride and Prejudice introduces the societal norms with added intrigue. She states, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” In a Tale of Two Cities, the same effect is dramatically achieved. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …” What a foundation for magnificent moments of storytelling and unforgettable characters that fulfill any reader’s expectations!
However you achieve your hook, make sure it’s not simply compelling word choices! Get the story’s voice right from the beginning. Set the tone and allow readers to lean in for a closer look! Be your own best reader and listen to your story! Does it interest you? Do you want to keep reading? Why? Answer these questions first, and the journey will be a satisfying one! Happy writing!!