SETTING THE "HOOK"
As you begin to transform your early ideas into the initial draft of the first few chapters, consider adding essential elements. One of the first should be the impact statements that grab the reader's imagination with a grip of intrigue that won't let go. That, my dear friend, is the "HOOK!"
After a prospective reader has turned your breathtaking cover, flipped past the "who cares" copyright page, and browsed your heart-felt dedication on the way to the initial page of the first chapter, it's time to set the HOOK and prepare to reel in that prospective looker. Do NOT procrastinate!
Earlier, during "Free the Writer in Your Heart" tips, I mentioned that in order to be successful, an author must seize the reader's attention and hold it throughout the book!
Now's the moment! It's best to set the hook within the FIRST paragraph and page of your story. Readers, librarians, agents, publishers, and movie producers are extremely busy and have so many competitive choices. If you don't snag them immediately, they will drop your book and move on!
The hook within your story shouldn't be like a drawn out joke where the punchline finally hits you like a bolt of lightning. Your chances to acquire an interested party's attention improve significantly if lightning strikes within the first few sentences — the earlier, the better!
But don't let up there, your job has just begun. Carrying the fishing analogy a little further, you cannot allow the line to slacken and release the hook's hold. For you, that means you should "reset the hook" at the end of each chapter.
Failure to maintain a tight line as the readers transitions from one chapter to another, risks them putting the book down and escaping. Instead, keep your readers on the edge of their seats and unwilling to break the swelling mystery, tension, or excitement.
Entice them with such irresistible intrigue, they are compelled to turn the page and continue the connection with your story through to the next chapter — NO potty breaks, treks to the fridge, or settling into bed for a good night's sleep are to be allowed.
Repeat this with each chapter's conclusion throughout the book and watch for reviews that exclaim your book was so captivating they couldn't put it down.
If executed effectively, these are examples of the kind of review comments you can anticipate:
"I found myself riveted by the entrancing and utterly unique new world that spins out before our eyes ... The New World is a fast-paced adventure that follows three compelling protagonists to a powerful climax. I tore right through this book, and could hardly wait to see what would happen next." — San Francisco Book Review
"I'm a busy mom with not much time to read or rest, but this book had me hooked! I can't put it down! The author's vivid descriptions have my imagination running wild." — Julie (Amazon review)
"Oh sh__: What a blast beginning or the end to start (beginning to end)! Unable to stop turning pages! My heart raced through this entire book! Loved it, loved it, I want more!" — Dennis M., (Goodreads review)
"WOW! That was great!. Edge of your seat, heart thumping GREAT! What an ending!" — Vickie K. (Amazon review)
Each of the quotes above is a sample of many similar reviews of the books in my series. See Amazon's "Look inside" feature of my sequel, The New World: Blue Moon Generation, and my initial book, The New World: A Step Backward, for real examples of implementing hooks that grab attention at the beginning of the story and end of chapters.
After a prospective reader has turned your breathtaking cover, flipped past the "who cares" copyright page, and browsed your heart-felt dedication on the way to the initial page of the first chapter, it's time to set the HOOK and prepare to reel in that prospective looker. Do NOT procrastinate!
Earlier, during "Free the Writer in Your Heart" tips, I mentioned that in order to be successful, an author must seize the reader's attention and hold it throughout the book!
Now's the moment! It's best to set the hook within the FIRST paragraph and page of your story. Readers, librarians, agents, publishers, and movie producers are extremely busy and have so many competitive choices. If you don't snag them immediately, they will drop your book and move on!
The hook within your story shouldn't be like a drawn out joke where the punchline finally hits you like a bolt of lightning. Your chances to acquire an interested party's attention improve significantly if lightning strikes within the first few sentences — the earlier, the better!
But don't let up there, your job has just begun. Carrying the fishing analogy a little further, you cannot allow the line to slacken and release the hook's hold. For you, that means you should "reset the hook" at the end of each chapter.
Failure to maintain a tight line as the readers transitions from one chapter to another, risks them putting the book down and escaping. Instead, keep your readers on the edge of their seats and unwilling to break the swelling mystery, tension, or excitement.
Entice them with such irresistible intrigue, they are compelled to turn the page and continue the connection with your story through to the next chapter — NO potty breaks, treks to the fridge, or settling into bed for a good night's sleep are to be allowed.
Repeat this with each chapter's conclusion throughout the book and watch for reviews that exclaim your book was so captivating they couldn't put it down.
If executed effectively, these are examples of the kind of review comments you can anticipate:
"I found myself riveted by the entrancing and utterly unique new world that spins out before our eyes ... The New World is a fast-paced adventure that follows three compelling protagonists to a powerful climax. I tore right through this book, and could hardly wait to see what would happen next." — San Francisco Book Review
"I'm a busy mom with not much time to read or rest, but this book had me hooked! I can't put it down! The author's vivid descriptions have my imagination running wild." — Julie (Amazon review)
"Oh sh__: What a blast beginning or the end to start (beginning to end)! Unable to stop turning pages! My heart raced through this entire book! Loved it, loved it, I want more!" — Dennis M., (Goodreads review)
"WOW! That was great!. Edge of your seat, heart thumping GREAT! What an ending!" — Vickie K. (Amazon review)
Each of the quotes above is a sample of many similar reviews of the books in my series. See Amazon's "Look inside" feature of my sequel, The New World: Blue Moon Generation, and my initial book, The New World: A Step Backward, for real examples of implementing hooks that grab attention at the beginning of the story and end of chapters.