Write Fiction With a Hook

Start a Book to Grab Reader’s Attention

Aug 25, 2009 Tara McClendon

Regardless of whether a book is science fiction, fantasy fiction, or literary fiction, agents and editors all say the same thing: Writers need a great hook.

Before a person starts writing a book, he or she should consider whether or not the story has what it takes to grab and keep the reader’s attention. If it doesn't, then it won't matter how wonderful the story might be, it won’t get the attention it needs to sell.

Bait the Story with a Literary Hook

In most cases, there are two parts to the hook. The first part is the bait, or the element of the story that entices readers to pick up the book. If writers plan to market to agents and editors, they need to be able to sum up the entire story in one sentence—preferably not a convoluted one. If the book is already published, the hook may be what appears on the book’s jacket.

To use the bait successfully, writers need to be able to identify the conflict for the story and the players involved in an engaging manner. An author needs to pick strong verbs to show the action of his or her story and needs to use concrete nouns. This means providing information that makes the reader ask questions.

For example, the bait Stephenie Meyer might have used to pitch Twilight could have been what Little, Brown and Company used for the jacket description, “When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn.”

In the example, the bait introduces the characters and identifies two possible conflicts—the move and the mystery surrounding Edward. It also engages the reader’s curiosity by leaving out some of the key details. The interested person must read the story to find out that Edward is a vampire.

Tempt Readers with a Narrative Hook

After a writer puts the bait on the hook, he or she still needs to follow up with the second part. Most writers use a narrative hook, the term for the literary device at the beginning of a book or story. In the actual experience of fishing, a person must jerk on the line to set the hook in the fish's mouth. In writing, this part of the hook should occur with the first line of text for the story, and it can continue through the first paragraph, page, or chapter.

There are several ways to use a narrative hook, but many of them include in media res, which means in the middle of things. In this technique, writers want to start in a place that makes the reader curious enough to find out why the character is where he or she is. Some ways to begin a book in this method include the following options:

• Begin with dialogue.
• Start with a question.
• Introduce something that varies from daily life.

Reel in the Catch with Creative Writing

A successful hook will capture the reader’s attention, but once an author has it, he or she needs to continue to pull the reader into the world created. Writers can do this by using different literary techniques like cliffhangers, pacing, and plot in conjunction with the hook.

The copyright of the article Write Fiction With a Hook in Writing Fiction is owned by Tara McClendon. Permission to republish Write Fiction With a Hook in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Hook Readers with Writing Tools

What do you think about this article?

---

NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.

post your comment

What is 10+0?

Comments

Sep 29, 2009 3:18 PM

Guest :

Great article. In fact, the best I've found on 'hooking' the reader after hours of searching! Big thank you.

1 Comment: