The best first impression you can make on a reader is a compelling first-line hook.
No one wants to spend fifty pages trying to get into a book. In fact, if you haven’t managed to grab the reader’s attention by the end of chapter one, they probably won’t read the book at all.
Let’s face it, we’ve all got short attention spans, and they’re getting even shorter. We know we need to write something stellar to hook people in.
But how do we actually do that? How do you not annoy or bore your readers? How do you make sure they want the rest of your story?
These are some of the questions I’m going to help answer.
If you are struggling with writing your first-line hook, you are not alone!
I’m pretty sure we all do at some point in our writing career.
But I want you to know that you absolutely can write a successful first-line hook.
I’m going to give you a guide and some tips to help you do just that.
In this post:
- What a narrative hook is and why you need one.
- The best methods for crafting the first line.
- Things to avoid when writing a hook.
- Questions to prompt your writing.
- Tips on how to write a hook.
- Plus lots of examples of successful hooks
I like to keep a notebook with all of my tools and resources for writing. So I have created a cheat sheet that has the main highlights of this post. Plus, there are worksheets that you can use to brainstorm and write hook ideas. You can download the PDF for free here!
First-Line Hook Explained:
The first line of your story should serve as a hook to grab readers’ attention. It’s a way of opening your story that immediately makes them want to keep reading.
The way you write a hook can vary vastly depending on the type of book you are writing – the plot, genre, setting, etc.
Your goal is to make the best one for your story in particular. You want it to represent your novel in the best way so that readers get a good idea of what they can expect if they continue.
If you’ve ever watched Family Guy, there is a famous scene where one of the characters is following a trail of candy and every time he finds one he says, “Ooo, piece of candy!” That is exactly what comes to mind when I think about first-line hooks.
It’s that reaction you want from your readers, the first-line hook is that initial piece of candy that makes your readers want to follow your trail.
There are no set rules about first-line hooks, nothing is concrete or absolute. And despite the term “first-line hook,” it can be more than one sentence that build off one another to create the desired effect.
Examples of hooks that are more than one line:
“When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’d killed himself. And billions of others.”
Year One by nora roberts
“Night fell as death rode into the Great Library of Summershall. It arrived within a carriage.”
Sorcery of thorns by margaret rogerson
Anything that gets readers wanting to continue is a successful first-line hook.
There are so many different ways to accomplish this, no two are the same, and many successful authors have their own unique methods.
Variety is the best part, as it gives you a chance to showcase your unique story and voice.
Although there are no set rules, there are certain methods that you can follow, as well as specific things you may want to avoid, in order to craft the best hook for your book.
The following tips and strategies will help you if you are struggling to write that perfect hook.
Seven Methods for Crafting a Compelling First-Line Hook:
There are many ways to write a first-line hook. Depending on your story, you may want to focus on a certain aspect to give readers a good idea of what they can expect.
You don’t want to do every single one of these things.
Focus on doing one (or maybe two) of these things really well.
Don’t try to do them all or do too much. Just stick to one thing and nail it.
You can always come back later and revamp it or add more.
1. Make Your Readers Question
Start by making your readers question what is happening. Leave them with an open-ended piece of information that makes them want to continue reading to find out more.
The reader should instantly have a question in their mind after reading the first sentence.
You want to spark imagination and excitement in the reader.
This is the most universal hook that will work for basically any book in any genre. It’s universal because it just plain works so well, and can be the most compelling of all the methods for crafting a hook.
You’re essentially creating mystery, intrigue, and curiosity.
Examples:
“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart.”
The Shadows Between Us by tricia Levenseller
This statement creates the mystery and curiosity that makes readers want to learn more.
“It took seven years to get the letter right.”
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
This simple statement immediately leaves readers with many questions about the letter, the reason for it, the writer, why it has taken so long, and the intended recipient.
“The man billed as Prospero the Enchanter receives a fair amount of correspondence via the theater office, but this is the first envelope addressed to him that contains a suicide note, and it is also the first to arrive carefully pinned to the coat of a five-year-old girl.”
The night circus by erin morgenstern
There is a lot going on in this sentence. The author does a great job of giving little pieces of information that together add up to some intriguing questions and create an interesting scene for readers.
“Pa was taking too long to cut the boys’ throats.”
A merciful crow by margaret owen
Clearly this one has shock value – and it instantly has the reader intrigued and wanting to know more. A perfect example of short and powerful.
2. Introduce Character
This method is especially good if your book is heavily character-based and their arcs are important.
Make them irresistible and someone the reader wants to keep getting to know. Make them immediately relatable and show them in a situation that your readers can identify with.
Think about what matters most to the protagonist and how they relate to the world around them.
Create a conflict that demonstrates what your character is trying to achieve, what their goals and motivations are.
What are the protagonist’s inherent personality traits that will help the reader make a connection with them?
Describe how the character is taking action, being proactive towards their desires, or suffering from an issue. Are there any internal or external conflicts?
You could also give some backstory.
The introduction of your characters will give the reader a solid impression of what the story will be about.
Examples:
“I will die drowning; it has always been known.”
half sick of shadows by laura sebastian
This immediately evokes emotions from the readers and makes them want to know more about this character and the circumstances surrounding their death.
“When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.”
circe by madeline miller
This is a great introduction to this character and how they relate to the world around them.
“Father told me I’m broken.”
the bone shard daughter by andrea stewart
This is a very simple yet powerful statement that says a lot in just a few words. Not only do readers get a feel for this character, but also insight into their relationship with their father as well. This sentiment is also one that is relatable to the human condition and will connect readers to the protagonist.
“Hecter was like a castaway who had washed up in a room of velvet curtains and marble floors.”
the beautiful ones by silvia moreno-garcia
This is a unique and evocative way to introduce a character through specific and unique imagery.
3. Set up the Story World
If your story is heavily atmospheric and based in world-building, this is a great way to start.
Paint a vivid picture of the details in a scene using all the senses. Strong imagery is important to the atmosphere of the story to create a sensory experience.
Keep it simple, but describe something in an unusual way that will grab their attention.
Give readers a visual that draws them in and immerses them in the story world.
Think about what unique elements your story has that will draw people in, something that readers may not have read much before.
Does your story have a unique society, system, or structure? Start by giving a few intriguing details about these unique world-building aspects.
Examples:
“The gallows had been erected in the shadow of the clock tower, partly so that the spectators could witness the executions without the nuisance of sun in their eyes, and partly so that the Tribunal could keep its killings on precise schedule.”
Bloodleaf by crystal smith
This is a great introduction to the unique society and social structure within the story world.
“New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead.”
the beautiful by renée ahdieh
A unique statement about the story world that draws readers in wanting to learn more.
“The calming echo of a holy chant filtered down from the sanctuary and into the cellars.”
wicked saints by emily a. duncan
This paints an interesting atmospheric scene.
“The orange gas giant, Zeus, hung low above the horizon, huge and heavy and glowing with a ruddy half-light. Around it glittered a field of stars, bright against the black of space, while beneath the giant’s lidless glare stretched a grey wasteland streaked with stone.”
to sleep in a sea of stars by christopher paolini
This is a good example of painting a vivid picture with strong imagery of the setting in which the story takes place.
“Long ago, when the gods were young and Asgard was new, there came a witch from the edge of the worlds.”
the witch’s heart by genevieve gornichec
This gives a unique voice and intriguing introduction into the mythical story world.
4. Introduce Conflict
Start your story at a critical moment.
You can start in the middle of an action scene to immediately draw readers into the plot and want to find out what happens next.
You can also start in the middle of some big shift in the story, something that creates tension.
A first-line hook with this method is a striking moment in the story, like a snapshot, that will instantly grab your readers’ attention.
Examples:
“Everything is burning, so many flames it looks as if we set the sky on fire.”
the nature of witches by rachel griffin
This is a good example of starting the story at a striking moment.
“We break out at midnight, just as we agreed. Like ghosts risen from our graves to reclaim the lives that were stolen from us, we flee.”
child of light by terry brooks
This is a great example of a first-line hook that takes place at a major shift in the story. Readers get a sense that something big is happening and are intrigued to find out more.
“The gravity stabilizers were failing again.”
brightly burning by alexa donne
A simple way to start in the middle of an action scene that draws readers into the moment.
“That bastard was leaving me again.”
fable by adrienne young
Another short and powerful statement that immediately grabs readers’ attention and pulls them into the plot of the story.
5. Surprise Your Readers
Do you have a fresh perspective or something that differs from the status quo?
Use your first line hook to challenge your readers’ existing beliefs and typical tropes.
Start with something unusual or quirky about your story:
Surprise your readers with an interesting setting, location, circumstance, situation, or time period.
Create an unusual comparison or contrast.
“A demon was knitting outside the hospital.”
the hearts we sold by emily lloyd-jones
This hook successfully accomplishes the quirky story circumstance.
“In Faerie, there are no fish sticks, no ketchup, no television.”
the cruel prince by holly black
This is a great example of an interesting contrast of information that takes what readers are familiar with and compares it to a place in the story world.
“The trees have to be tied down by sunset.”
The wolf and the woodsman by ava reid
This is a good example of setting up a unique and unusual setting/situation that is a quirky start to a story of forest magic:
“The bottom of the lake tasted like mud, salt, and regret.”
six crimson cranes by elizabeth lim
This is an intriguing circumstance and unusual comparison that leaves readers wanting more information.
6. Showcase Your Voice
This is especially good if your voice is a central aspect of the story.
Do you have a quirky narrator? Showcase your unique narrative voice and style.
You can show readers that the character thinks in a way that the average person doesn’t.
Play around with word choice and sentence structure to create a thrilling rhythm.
Examples:
“She would come at daybreak – the woman whose letter I held in my hands, the woman whose name I did not yet know.”
the lost apothecary by sarah penner
This line gives readers a glimpse of the narrative voice and style of this author.
“I am Ariadne, princess of Crete, though my story takes us a long way from the rocky shores of my home.”
ariadne by jennifer saint
The wording and sentence structure give readers the feel of the story’s theme as a mythical retelling.
“They named the child Rory, because the firstborn of every generation was always a Rory, and had been since the first of that name had cut his way through the cursed briars on the homeworld and saved the kingdom of Thorne – and, incidentally, the princess – from the consequences of poor manners.”
how rory thorne destroyed the multiverse by k. eason
This is a great introduction to a book that has an incredibly unique narrator voice and style, a prominent element throughout the story.
7. Introduce Theme
This is especially good if your overarching themes are an important element. Use your first line hook to draw readers into the emotional and psychological aspects of your story.
You could present a moral dilemma, a social or cultural plight, or even just the unique atmosphere of your story.
This is a great way to set up how you want your readers to feel and what you want them to be thinking about while reading.
Be sure that you are not imposing meaning into the story, you are trying to evoke emotions and thoughts from the reader, not influence them.
Examples:
“Vlad Dracul’s heavy brow descended like a storm when the doctor informed him that his wife had given birth to a girl.”
and i darken by kiersten white
In this first line hook, readers are introduced to a cultural concept that is prominent throughout the story, that girls are less desirable.
“This day is made for sailing.”
All the stars and teeth by adalyn grace
A perfectly simple first line for a book that is entirely themed around the ocean.
“There’s something haunting about a body touched by magic.”
serpent and dove by shelby mahurin
This is a great example of introducing a concept that prevails as both a social and moral dilemma within the story world and throughout the plot, that magic is evil.
Things to Avoid (and what to do instead):
It’s equally as important to know what to avoid doing when writing your first line hook. Although, again, there are no rules, there are definitely faux pas that you may want to be aware of.
Certainly there are instances where these things have been done successfully. However, if you are struggling or want to play it safe, these are a few things you may want to avoid.
Clichés
Of course, you knew I was going to say it. Clichés are typically something you want to avoid in all your writing, but especially in the first line. You don’t want to pick up a book just to be rolling your eyes at the first line.
Mundane Information
You don’t want to start with something that is too familiar, unimportant, boring, or just your average every day stuff. It’s not going to be attention-grabbing enough to your readers.
Giving unnecessary information (fluff) is also not a good precursor for the rest of the story. Instead, find something that is unique and crucial to your story to get the reader immediately invested.
Overstimulation
You don’t want to throw too much information at your readers all at once. Info-dumping can be overwhelming – too many names, places, etc.
Don’t write an enormous amount of description. Trickle in your story content like breadcrumbs instead.
Excessive Jargon
Make sure that your first line is not too complex, awkwardly worded, or full of words that are unique to your story.
You want to make sure that your readers can follow along and easily comprehend your first line.
Make your first line short and powerful.
Abstract
Don’t write a first line with concepts that are too abstract. You always want to ground your readers into the story with concrete information about the story and characters.
Dialogue
Starting with dialogue can be confusing to readers because there is no prior context for who is speaking.
If your opening scene consists of characters speaking, try to start the dialogue after a few lines that anchor your readers into the scene first.
Prompts for Writing Your First Line Hook:
The primary question you should ask yourself is:
What is the most engaging aspect of my book as a whole?
Answering this will give you an idea of which method will work best for you and let you know what to highlight early on to the reader.
Other things you may want to consider are:
What is most important to my readers?
Your audience matters so much, especially at the beginning of the book, because they want to know if this book is for them.
Think about your ideal reader, your target market (age, gender, interests, desires, etc.), and use that as a basis for which method to use.
Set their expectations so the right people who will enjoy this book will keep reading.
What does my character care about?
Think of relatable motivations between your audience and your protagonist. Why would your readers be invested in the experiences and transformation of your characters?
Tips for Writing a Compelling First Line Hook:
Experiment.
Don’t be afraid to write and rewrite until you come up with the best first-line hook. Try coming up with several different versions and see what you like most. Try using several different methods or combining them in different ways. Here is an example of a first line that combines introducing character and introducing story world:
“After a year of slavery in the Salt Mine of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point.”
throne of glass by sarah j. maas
Study other hooks.
Do some research or look at the first lines of books that you loved. Analyze what made you want to keep reading, what methods they used, and why their first line worked.
Simple is better.
Don’t overwrite it. It doesn’t have to be flashy or shocking, it just needs to be deep and meaningful to your story.
And don’t get hung up on perfectionism either!
Your first line hook does NOT have to be the most prolific, epic piece of writing in literature to be compelling. And it doesn’t have to have the shock value of death to grab readers’ attention.
For example, here is a first-line hook that is simple, understated, and does nothing but make the reader smile and laugh:
“Nonna Maria buzzed around the kitchen like she’d guzzled every drop of espresso in our restaurant.”
the kingdom of the wicked by kerri maniscalco
This works perfectly well to evoke an emotion from the reader and make them keep reading, without being epic or shocking. It also gives a little insight into the character’s world, relationships, and perspective.
Effective and efficient should be your goal.
Have more than one?
Scatter them throughout the first chapter to keep building the reader’s investment in the story and keep hooking them in more and more. You can also put hooks in many other places, like the book’s description on the cover, chapter titles, book blurbs, etc.
Get feedback.
Get a fresh perspective. Asking your friends and family can be helpful, but they ultimately might not be your ideal reader. If you have critique partners or beta readers, you can ask for their feedback as well. But if you really want to take your story up a level, work with a professional editor.
Come back to it later.
Complete your first draft before scrutinizing over the first line. Just write a temporary version, keep going, and come back to it once you are done. Things will evolve after finishing the first draft so don’t waste time on this in the beginning because it may change later. Perfect your hook during the editing phase.
Remember, the purpose of the first-line hook is to make your readers want to continue. Look back at your first line and ask yourself, would this make me want to read more?
The best way to learn more about first-line hooks is to look at examples. Look through all your favorite books. Or use Amazon’s Look Inside feature to see the first line in almost any book.
I hope these methods, tips, and examples have given you some inspiration and ideas to apply to your own first line hook.
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