How to Write a Great Hook for a Novel

A great hook in a novel is what gets readers interested in your story.

For a novel to be successful, an author has to compose a great hook. A hook is an immediately arresting first line or opening scene -- it's what draws in your readers and keeps them interested in continuing reading. There are ways to create a great hook, and all that you need is a naturally good imagination.

Instructions

1. Write a first line that instantly draws the reader in, preferably something that contains controversy, mystery or something shocking or frightening. For example, the line, "That morning, when I awoke, I knew I was going to die" contains shock value and would cause readers to want to know why the character knew he was going to die. With a line such as this to snag their attention, they would keep reading.

2. Write good, detailed descriptions of exactly how your character feels and include mentions of his/her surroundings as well. Descriptions are important in literature because they help readers get a clear picture in their minds of the people and objects in the story.

3. Include anecdotes in your opening line, which are displays of your characters' personality, sense of humor or wit. Readers would rather read about a character they can relate to, who has a very real, human personality, rather than one who is dull and flat.

4. Write about an unexpected event that happens to a character in the opening paragraph. An example could be an automobile accident occurring where the driver steps out of his/her demolished vehicle completely unharmed.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a look at some of the novels on your shelves and read the opening lines in them. Chances are, you will get some ideas on how to compose a great hook for your own story.

• No matter what, always be aware of plagiarism. Sometimes, plagiarism is not even intentional, and a writer might have a line stuck in his or her head that might somehow end up in their own story because they forget where they originally read it and misinterpret it as their own idea.

References

• Archetype: How to Write a Hook Line or Logline
• Write101: Writing a Great Hook For Your Book

Resources

• Nathan Bransford: How to Craft a Great Hook
• C. Patrick Schulze: How to Write Your Novel's Hook