3 Proven Methods for Crafting Story Hooks That Keep Readers Reading—With Examples

80% of your job as an excellent storyteller is capturing your audience’s attention in the first 10 seconds. That’s not a gimmick or an empty promise.

Julian Shapiro sums it up perfectly in this Tweet.

So, let’s break down what makes up a good story hook so you can start capturing people’s attention.

Your title is your first hook. This is as true for opening Twitter threads as it is for the title of a novel. Even if your opening scene is action-packed and has a lot of forward momentum, nobody will know it if they don’t click to read it or pluck it from a library shelf.

• Book Example: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee hints at violence and injustice, setting the stage for the novel’s deep exploration of societal issues.

• Book Example: "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn creates an immediate sense of mystery and conspiracy, enticing readers with its promise of a gripping plot.

• Twitter Example: “Christian stories don't have to be cheesy or preachy. Here is how you can avoid both and still write an excellent story.” Focus on effectiveness over brevity.

• Twitter Example: “If James Patterson can make $800 million writing thrillers, there's just no reason I can't make $100 million from my writing.” This bold statement is written by one of the most-read writers on the internet.

Don’t waste the first words your readers will hear/read. Craft a good hook in your title.

Drop your readers into the middle of the action. Chaos and confusion can work to the writer’s advantage, engaging readers by making them responsible for keeping up. Choose “because” over “and then” to create forward momentum.

• And Then: As the clock struck midnight, Sarah sneaked into the musty attic, her heart racing. The floor creaked under her weight, and she winced. She walked through the dark corridors, and then she found a locked cabinet. She pulled out the key she had stolen and unlocked the cabinet. And then she screamed.

• Because: As the clock struck midnight, Sarah sneaked into the musty attic, her heart racing. The floor creaked beneath her, sending a rat scurrying away. Seeing it made her jump, and the flashlight slipped from her grip, clattering loudly against the hardwood. Shifting noises echoed from below, heightening her tension. She could barely hear the pounding of steps over her racing heart. With trembling hands, she inserted the stolen key into the lock. The cabinet swung open, and she let out a scream.

Make a surprising statement. Starting with a surprising or controversial statement can hook your readers and keep them engaged as they look forward to how you’ll back it up.

It’s like setting up a thesis statement for a research paper; you have to prove the statement true with the body of your work. Here are two examples that do just that:

• Example 1: In George Orwell’s 1984, the novel opens with the jarring line: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” Pattern interrupt. You've heard the phrase, "The clock strikes twelve." Orwell uses that to his advantage, bending the ending to catch you by surprise. It tells the reader this world is not like the one you live in (yet).

• Example 2: The film The Sixth Sense begins with a startling line: “I see dead people.” Yeah, I don’t have to say much about this one. Not only does this circle back around with the movie’s climatic twist, but it is also an enticing opener.

To summarize: Writing great stories doesn’t matter if you can’t write great hooks. Your first sentences should provide a glimpse into the story’s tone and promise, and the title itself is the first hook—whether for a book, Twitter thread, or any other platform.

Write on!

Payton