A reader that is.
How soon should a reader expect to feel the tug of a hook? That ah-ha moment that keeps them turning the page?
First paragraph, page, or chapter?
At times I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I’ll mess with an opening until I feel that tug myself. Then I can continue writing. Often I’ll rewrite the beginning of a story a dozen times before I feel happy with it. I’m not talking about grammar mistakes. Those are easy fixes by an editor. I’m talking about that “feeling.”
There are a lot of do’s and do not’s but the most important rule to me is “feeling” that tug. That knowing hook.
I’ll be buzzing right along in the middle of a scene when bam, I know something is wrong. The line broke. I have to go back and fix my hook and bait. Wiggle the line until once again I feel that familiar tug.
How about y’all? Do you write until the opening tugs at you to go on or do you just wing it?
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How to Find the Start of Our Story
10 Ways to Start Your Story Better
The 21 Best Tips for Writing Your Opening Scene
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Jean's Writing 
“Hooking” the reader, at least in terms of intrigue and suspense, is something that I tend to still struggle with, I think. I tend to concentrate on drawing the reader to a place, and I try to keep things SOUNDING interesting, if that makes sense, but I don’t know that I’m always as cognizant as I should be of how I’m laying out that trail of breadcrumbs for the reader to follow.
I do try to keep working on that, though. I know of one recent piece in particular where I knew there would be a moment that would punch the reader in the gut when they came to it, and I kind of built towards it.
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Building suspense is a great way to reel a reader in, one day I hope to master this technique. 🙂
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Hook fast? Maaaaybe. Depends on your definition of hook, and what kind of book I’m reading. Since I read tons of non-fiction, I don’t expect an emotionally riveting first sentence, a nice “The purpose of this book is….” will do just fine. In fact, I’ve grown to hate the “Like most moms, Jenny had great expectations about her motherhood. She……” kind of opening that tries to personalize what the writer is about to tell me by introducing me to a fictional ‘composite” of real case histories. As if I won’t believe the writer knows his stuff. Not necessary for me. It’s just blather. Get on with it, I’m not going to live forever. I prefer the “Sink the Bismarck” intro. which goes like this “In May of 1941, the war had just begun. The British had the biggest ships, they had the biggest guns…” Remember the song? A history lesson in less than three minutes and set to music to boot. Perfect!
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I couldn’t agree more, if fact you just made my case for snagging a reader sooner than later. Doesn’t matter the genre. No one likes to read dry tinder. Thanks.
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lol – I’m an obsessive re-writer, but it’s as much for me as for readers. I have to get that certain something happening otherwise I’m incapable of ‘just writing’. Then again, if I do get it right, then the next scene and the one after that tend to be a breeze. If… 🙂
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Sounds like me! LOL
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lol – great minds. 😀
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I also rewrite the “tugs and feels”…whether I’m successful at it or not is another story. I do like a good cliffhanger too!
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I think everyone loves a cliffhanger but I want mine to be really good. Which sometimes backfires on me.
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Check out this article on hooking your reader from Jean’s Writing blog
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I try to hook a reader in the opening paragraph, if not the opening sentence – but…
My research indicates readers are okay with an author taking a little time. So I worry a lot less about hooking them right away.
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You pros make it look so easy. 🙂
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Ha. Pros.
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Many of the books I read don’t hook me until the second or third page, and I’m all right with that. I would hope readers would give me the entire first page, at least.
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Me too. Unless the writing is atrocious then I stop.
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Normally I write until I find the pull. I think it depends on the book though. Some I was because of their first line, but others I am drawn in by the cover or premise instead.
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I like that idea the “pull.” Good term for what I feel lots of times.
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I really think it depends on what the story is and what it is you want your writing to achieve. There does need to be a hook early, but it doesn’t have to be dramatic, it might just be a turn of phrase which hints at something awry or a slight subversion of expectations. Some stories I like to turn things on its head in the opening sentence, but I also like slow burners, where if I’ve written it well, there is a sense of impending doom through the language used and imagery and not anything explicit. I like the readers to have to do plenty of work to fill gaps 🙂
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I enjoy reading slow burners but fear in this fast paced, internet generation others may not feel the same.
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It’s why I write slow-burning flash-fiction 😉
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Oooh I could so go somewhere with that. Better not. LOL
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The first hook is your front cover & title and your back cover blurb. And then as you said Jean- keep reeling in the readers! Thanks a helpful post.
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Good point. Never thought of the blurb being an extension of the hook. Thanks
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I try to hook fast because there is a lot of competition out there. I don’t want someone to give up on my book before they’ve really given it a go! As a reader, it really depends on how I’m feeling. I have the rule that I have to at least read the free Amazon sample before giving up. I don’t always follow that rule, though, especially if there are tons of grammatical errors.
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I too try to read at least a chapter or two before throwing in the towel. The book has to be awful for me to quit earlier.
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