Hooks

    The beginning of your story is probably the most important part of your manuscript, because you have to convince people to keep reading.   In order to get a publisher or an agent, you must sell them on your story, and they will only read a part of the story before they make their decision.  That is why you have to write a great hook.  The hook sells the reader on the story and makes them want to continue reading.  So, here are some great hooks.

     Start your story with the description of a place.  This does not sound like it would hook the reader, and does not sound very exciting, but it works.  A great example is the Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.  Tolkien begins his book with the description of Bilbo’s hole and tells the reader how it differs from the average hole.  Once you read the description of the hole, you learned about hobbits, the next thing you knew you had a wizard drawing pictures on the door to the hole, and a company of dwarves coming for dinner.

     Begin at a life changing moment for your main character.  This could include coming of age stories where the character has to step into adulthood because of a tragic event.   

     Present the readers with a mystery.  Keep them wondering about a character’s motivation for doing something.  Tell them about something they do not understand.  Everyone in town knows about the house at the end of the street—well, the reader doesn’t and if you paint a great picture of that house they will want to know.

     Create sympathy or hatred toward the main character.  Everyone who read Cinderella felt sympathy for the poor girl.  Her stepmother made her do all the work, while her stepsisters got to do whatever they want, including going to the ball to meet the prince. 

     Begin with your main character in a state of confusion.  They could awaken or come to consciousness in a strange place.  Perhaps they woke with a gun in their hand or blood on their clothing and have to piece together what happened.

     End the first chapter with a cliffhanger.  Many agents will take one chapter of your novel, and if you impress them with your writing and leave them at a point in the book that is unfinished, they may want to see more.  What happened when the girl opened the door?  What sort of terror is lurking in that dark basement?