Types of Narrative Hooks in Writing

A narrative hook is a writing technique where the story begins at a crucial point. The hook poses a question in the reader’s mind about how the protagonist got in the mental or physical state he’s in. It poses a question as to what will happen next so the reader will feel compelled to continue the story. The hook can be either a physical event or an emotional one. If a reader picks up a book and can’t put it down, the hook has been successful.

 The Question-Posing Hook

 “Three days before her death, my mother told me-these weren't her last words, but they were pretty close-that my brother was still alive..."

 This first sentence of Harlan Coben's thriller Gone for Good compels a person to read on to find out what happened. Why was the protagonist led to believe his own sibling was dead? Where has the brother been all this time? Has the absentee brother been up to no good? The reader must keep turning pages to find out the secret.

 The Immediate Danger Hook

 “Twelve hundred pounds of charging horseflesh hit the wooden railings chest high and somersaulted into the north stands. Faces frozen with horror moved in desperate slow motion to get out of the path of the crazed beast.”

 The first lines of Cut Throat by Lyndon Stacey hit at imminent danger. A horse has crashed through the gate protecting the crowd and someone is going to get hurt.

 The Emotional Hook

 “With draft beer and a smile, Ned Pearsall raised a toast to his deceased neighbor, whose death greatly pleased him.”

 The first line of Velocity by Dean Koontz plays upon the emotions of the reader by making one wonder what the neighbor had done to make the protagonist feel this way about him.

 Should all Suspense Novels and Thrillers Begin with a Hook?

 The narrative hook starts with a heart-pounding revelation or action, then goes back and describes how the protagonist got in the situation they find themselves in at the beginning of the book as opposed to building up to that crucial event. A novel that does not use a narrative hook usually begins with some insight into the main character or a description of a setting, then gradually works up to scenes of action.

 We live in a fast-paced world. It has become a tradition for suspense books to begin with a quick, page-turning draw-in. Still, if all books started with a hook, they would become tedious. The narrative hook should be used only if it fits in with the story, and over-use should be avoided.

 Beware the Empty Hook

 A hook should promise what it delivers. If an exciting scene is set up at the beginning it should be resolved satisfactorily, not just used as a way to cheat the reader into buying a story that is otherwise dull and uneventful, or one that contains blocks of action that do not come together to make a cohesive whole.

 The hook should be strong enough to draw a reader in, but should not be overly exaggerated or “hokey”. A hook should draw readers in, not drive them away.

 For more writing tips, see Suite 101.

Planning a First Novel: Five Steps to Complete Before Writing a Fiction Book

Before starting a novel, it makes sense to make a few plans before beginning. A little pre-planning will give a new writer confidence and make the first draft go more smoothly. If a few items are decided upon and gathered beforehand, the writer will have necessary details and information at their fingertips.

1. Get Organized

Before starting a new project, get organized by preparing the computer and paper files. You will need to to name computer files for a first draft that can be saved and kept separate from a second or any following drafts. It helps to keep the latest draft of the novel in progress carefully marked and separate from the working drafts. Also, find some way to copy the final draft to a flash drive or to a file-hosting service such as Dropbox, so there is more than one copy in case of a computer crash.

You will also need paper files for notes and research. Always keep your research in a separate file from the book notes so you won’t have to shuffle through tons of research to find notes related to the actual writing.

2. Make a Character Bio for Each Character

Before starting a novel, make a character biography for each main character. This handy reference sheet will provide a description and background information for each character. This detailed character information will become invaluable later on. It also serves as a quick, handy reference as to a character's eye and hair color when writing about a character.

3. Create a General Plot Outline

Make a general plan of events. A plot outline is usually broken down into chapters. Key events are planned that will happen in the first part of the book, the middle section, and the ending. Though it is not necessary to work out every single detail of the book before writing it, the more that is planned or plotted ahead of time, the more smoothly the actual writing will go. Plotting the book ahead of time also saves revision.

4. Describe the Setting

Having a ready-made description of the setting keeps the writer from having to stop working on the story to create a background. The writer should know beforehand the general area in which the story will take place. Writing down a description of a town, the landscape, and other important settings within the story will allow the writer to focus upon the characters and action of the book.

5. Gather Necessary Research

If research is needed for the plot, gather and organize it ahead of time. If the novel is set back in time, then a general knowledge of the time era is necessary so the writer won't have to stop in the middle of a scene to see how people talked or dressed. If a novel is a police procedural set in Los Angeles, then knowing a little about how the police department is set up, and having a good idea of what the area looks like is helpful for giving the book a sense of reality.

While the actual writing of the novel does not need to be delayed until all of these steps are completed, the more knowledge the writer has about plot, character and setting beforehand, the easier writing the first draft will be.

20 New Year's Resolutions for New and Published Authors

The New Year is the perfect time to set writing goals and make plans for the next year. The resolutions a writer makes depend upon individual aspirations. A goal should be realistic enough to be attainable yet large enough to take a writer to the next level.

Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Aspiring and Beginning Writers

It is important for a new or aspiring writer to set a goal of writing every day. Commit to write something every single day, whether it be a journal entry, a sketch or observation, or a contribution to a future novel or short story.

The path to getting published is to write and not get discouraged. Seek help in the form of joining a local or online critique group or discussion group for writers. Read books on the craft of writing and experiment with different styles and points of view. Study the different ways of publishing and research markets for manuscripts. All of these steps pave the way to future publication. Below are some steps new writers can take toward being published in the New Year:

• Write every day
• Keep a daily journal
• Start a short story
• Start plotting a novel
• Finish a short story
• Send out a finished story
• Read a book on the craft of writing
• Join a critique group
• Experiment with different genres and styles
• Start a file of plot ideas

Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Published Authors

The work doesn’t stop once an author gets published. Published writers need to do double duty by concentrating on marketing as well as honing their craft.

A good resolution for a published author is to do more marketing online by creating or updating a web page or starting a blog. Networking is also a valuable tool for getting the name out.

Published authors also need to continue growing and learning until they reach that next level. Getting out of the comfort zone and trying something new may be a good new year’s goal. Here are ten suggestions for goals for published writers:

• Spend more time marketing
• Join a social network
• Go to a writer’s conference and network
• Schedule book signings
• Get a better contract
• Find a better-paying publisher
• Improve skills by reading advanced book on writing and plotting
• Try writing a screenplay
• Experiment with a new genre
• Ask for a bigger advance

There are many resolutions a writer can make that will ensure the new year gets off to a good start.

This article was first published on Suite 101.