The Wattys Boot Camp Mentorship Program is back for 2023! Have you written a story that you plan to submit to the Wattys? If the answer is yes, you've come to the right place. This program helps you prepare your submission to make it the best it can...
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What is a hook?
Simply stated, a hook in narrative writing is the technique of creating an enticing beginning — the very first line or opening of a story — designed to capture the reader's interest. This hook can be viewed as the promise we as writers make to our readers about what's in store for them should they decide to continue reading. But there is more to writing the first chapter of a novel than coming up with a great hook. A number of elements need to be in place in those first few pages to pique the reader's interest, a symphony if you will. We will explore those elements here.
📌PROTIP: If you're looking for inspiration for your next story's hook, you might try researching Best First Lines in NovelsorBest Opening Lines to get those creative juices flowing.
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What elements do I need to entice readers straight out of the gate? Simple answer: Hook and Inciting Incident.
We know that in most successful stories, the hook is found in the first chapter. As writers, we don't want to take too long to get the show started. We want to pull our readers in by the collar and keep them in their seats until the final curtain. Most importantly, whether it's a shocking event or a family feud, we need to make sure that hook relates to the story in some way, even if it isn't immediately obvious.
Another important element in a narrative is the inciting incident. This is the Call to Adventure (which the hero usually starts out by rejecting). It's the moment when their world is significantly rocked by the conflict for the first time. This can happen in the first chapter, but it more frequently happens in the chapters following, usually somewhere between the hook and the end of the first act.
